Mix and Match Food with Drinks Like a Pro

It’s not the same when you eat a pizza while drinking coke and when eating a pizza with wine on the side. This is why it’s a very good thing to know what drink to mix with which food. Some combinations are simply better. This knowledge will come in handy during a dinner party that you plan to organize.  It’s also good for a date that you want to invite home and surprise, as well as for your own pleasure.

Match with red wine

Red wine is pretty popular with thousands and thousands of people enjoying each sip of it. Say you have a bottle of good red wine and want to invite a couple of friends over, then you should definitely know what food to make in order for this to be an unforgettable experience. If you have a bottle of good Pinot Noir, you should definitely prepare an earthy dish, such as mushrooms or pasta, because light red wine matches perfectly with robust flavors. If you, on the other hand, want to drink a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon, make sure to prepare a dish that will consist of rich meats, such as veal, beef, lamb or pork. Here, the options are numerous, as you can prepare burgers and steaks with whatever you want on the side. Red meats match perfectly with red wine, and if you’re a lover of either one of those, this is the combination that you should go for.

Match with white wine

On the other hand, there are also those who prefer drinking white wine. You should know that acidity and strength play very important roles in the mixing of wine and food. That’s why salty foods mix exceptionally well with champagne – for example, salty chicken bites. The sweet taste of champagne goes perfectly with the salty taste of the dish you’ve decided to make and balance it out. On the other hand, if you love drinking Pinot Grigio, then you should consider making light fish dishes. When you think about it, wherever you go that’s on the coast, you will be offered white wine with your fish dish. Finally, many of us simply adore Chardonnay, which goes best alongside a plate full of tasty pasta. If you want the best of the best, you should make your pasta with a cream sauce. Put it in a plate, have a glass of Chardonnay next to it and voila!

Match with cocktails

There are simply so many cocktails that it’s a bit difficult to determine exactly which food matches well with a certain cocktail. Many people tend to match cocktails with finger food, and it does taste amazing, especially if you use different types of finger food so as not to be dull. Another thing that many people encourage is having a different cocktail for each of the five dishes served in good restaurants. Here, again, you have certain rules as you cannot order Margaritas while somebody else orders a Bloody Mary and still be eating the same dish. The best idea would be to consult with a good mixologist in NYC and see which combinations work well, and which don’t. This type of matching is a bit more extreme and it’s not at all friendly for dinner parties at your place, but it’s always good to know that you have this option if you want to go to a classy restaurant.

Match with beer

Let’s focus on the most popular alcoholic drink of them all – the almighty beer. It’s not considered very fancy, but there’s probably not a person in the world who doesn’t like drinking it. Here’s something that many people can agree with – some of our favorite dishes are best followed with a beer. Smoked or barbecued dishes are simply a must, but it’s better to visit a burger joint for this one. As for the meals you can make at home that match well with beer, there is Mexican food, any meals with pork and, obviously, burgers. If you want to go one step ahead, make a stew – it does take a bit longer to prepare, but the combination of the strong flavor of the stew with a bit of beer on the side simply feels incredible.

Match with soft drinks

What about everyone who doesn’t like the taste of alcohol and always orders soft drinks? There has to be something that matches well with an apple or orange juice, right? Well, the thing that goes best with a soft drink is different types of cakes and canapés. On the other hand, a soft drink could be regarded as a substitute for champagne which means that you can enjoy a salty dish while drinking a glass of orange juice. Other things that you can eat while drinking a soft drink are burgers, different fish meals and spicy dishes.If you’re planning a dinner party, go all in and start mixing food and drinks just to make everyone feel better and show your friends how to enjoy every bite and sip.