I am entertaining on xmas day for the first time ....?!
I am serving prawn cocktail/stuffed mushrooms for starter, traditional turkey dinner for main and xmas pudding/choc pudding for dessert!. I have never held a dinner party before (hence the menu not being very adventurous!!) and wondered if anyone could recommend wines or drinks i could serve with each course!.
Many thanks & Merry Christmas :-))Www@FoodAQ@Com
Many thanks & Merry Christmas :-))Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
As long as your guests are not wine snobs, don't worry about it too much!. Traditionally we drink white wine with turkey so get a box or two of medium dry white Australian or maybe South African!. But a couple of bottles of medium red in case there is anyone who doesn't like white!.
As a welcome drink, you could try buck's fizz!. Use Asti Spumanti if you don't want to spend too much!. You might want to consider a cheese course at the end and traditionally this is served with port!. also brandy is popular when you serve the coffee!.
Daigoro: I am presuming you are in Oz!. On this side of the planet we do not have the weather at Christmas for a nice barbecue in the garden!Www@FoodAQ@Com
As a welcome drink, you could try buck's fizz!. Use Asti Spumanti if you don't want to spend too much!. You might want to consider a cheese course at the end and traditionally this is served with port!. also brandy is popular when you serve the coffee!.
Daigoro: I am presuming you are in Oz!. On this side of the planet we do not have the weather at Christmas for a nice barbecue in the garden!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Hello! I normally have the family over at christmas - normally 22 of us - so I know what its like!!! Just make sure you have plenty to drink - have red wine, white wine and plenty of beer in and a few spirits, also a few soft drinks for non-drinkers/ drivers and any children - you won't go wrong then - there'll be something for everyone!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Wow, i am entertaining for the first time this Xmas too and have the exact same menu as you!!! LOL!. I was also worrying about the table decoration i!.e!. tablcloth, runner, napkins etc!.
I hope you get your answer on this question and this question may also help me!
So far i have mulled wine, sparkling wine (white and rose), beer and spirits but do not know what gets served with what!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I hope you get your answer on this question and this question may also help me!
So far i have mulled wine, sparkling wine (white and rose), beer and spirits but do not know what gets served with what!. Good luck!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Everyone has their own taste when it comes to wine!.!.!.!.I would have a selection of white ( a pinot grigio is good), blush ( white zin) and of course red ( a cabernet)!.!.!.!.!.!.You could also have Mimosa punch ( champange & OJ) for people to choose from as well!.!.!.!.!.!.Enjoy your party!!Www@FoodAQ@Com
Rather than giving them a glass of pure wine or drink, try for some mix and match! You can get some of the good wine and drink recipes here, a lot of them are worth giving a try!.
http://www!.ifood!.tv/network/frozen_drink!.!.!.
Enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.ifood!.tv/network/frozen_drink!.!.!.
Enjoy!Www@FoodAQ@Com
just something simple like piesporter or asti & don't try being cleaver with anything as this is your first time im sure everybody will understand if you don't get it perfect & to get rid of some of the leftover turkey later make a turkey cocktail just like prawn but turkey instead it works with chicken as wellWww@FoodAQ@Com
I think you should try to be a bit more adventrous witht the desert's kraftfoods!.com is amazing!.
as for wine!.!.!. im to young to drink!.!.!.
and for other types of drinks!.!.!. I would try some kind of punch!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
as for wine!.!.!. im to young to drink!.!.!.
and for other types of drinks!.!.!. I would try some kind of punch!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
bucks fizz is quite popular when i go for xmas dinner, because people can have it the way they like!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Aww, I'm sure you are always entertaining at christmas!.!.!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
whats with prwan cocktails and mushrooms!? what ever happened to the barbeque!?Www@FoodAQ@Com
yesWww@FoodAQ@Com
We had a party last night--the kind with about 80 people and lots of standing around talking, eating and of course drinking wine!. Finding good wines to serve at parties is always a bit of a challenge, because you need to find a wine that is affordable, that suits a wide variety of palates, and that doesn't require food to be at its best!.
I set a strict under $10 limit for party wines, and usually head over to a wine superstore like Beverages and More to make my selections!. For most parties I stick pretty much to pinot noirs from New Zealand and Sauvignon Blancs from California or New Zealand!. This time, though, I went a bit mad and decided to get chardonnay and sauvignon blanc for the white wines, and two red blends because I just couldn't find an affordable pinot!. But I did find four wines that promised to have good QPR or very good QPR!.
I ended up with the 2004 Falesco Vitiano ($9!.99, Beverages and More; even less elsewhere, like Wine Library)!. Made from equal parts of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot it has received high marks from critics, but mixed reviews from consumers!. Still, I thought it would appeal to folks who loved cabernet, but be a little softer and less in need of food to drink well!. I was right, and people were drinking this down with great enthusiasm!. I didn't get a chance to drink a proper glass and think about it, but will post a full review in the upcoming weeks!.
My other red choice was the 2005 Rosenblum Chateau La Paws Cote du Bone Rhone ($9!.99, Beverages and More), a red blend of 98% Syrah mixed with touches of petite sirah and zinfandel!. I love syrahs--so drinkable, so lush tasting!. From my brief encounter with this wine last night it was very juicy and fruit forward!. A bit simple but very quaffable, which is what you are looking for in a party wine!. I think this would be excellent with bistro fare, like burgers, rotisserie chicken, and French onion soup as well as your Friday night pizza!.
For the whites, I picked up the latest release of the 2006 Pomelo by Mason Cellars ($9!.99, Beverages and More)!. I reviewed the 2005 Pomelo in November, and this wine was consistent with its grapefruity flavors and aromas!. Definitely a hit, and its Stelvin screw-top closure made it a great wine for a party!. The other white was definitely most popular among the dedicated oaky chardonnay lovers!. The 2004 Buehler Chardonnay Russian River Valley ($9!.99, Beverages and More), was bright gold in color, with aromas of smoke, pears, and apples!. There were proncounced oaky flavors, tempered slightly by ripe pear and a barely discernible rocky taste, which was more apparent when the wine was cool!. As it warmed, however, the oak took over!. It was my least favorite wine, but it was a big hit among the Chard Brigade!.
Parties are a wine challenge, but it is possible to serve some good wines like these without breaking the bank!. What do you serve at your parties, and how do you figure out what types of wine to buy!? Leave your comments and suggestion since I still think I could do a better job finding wines that are more interesting and get people talking about the wine, and not just drinking it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I set a strict under $10 limit for party wines, and usually head over to a wine superstore like Beverages and More to make my selections!. For most parties I stick pretty much to pinot noirs from New Zealand and Sauvignon Blancs from California or New Zealand!. This time, though, I went a bit mad and decided to get chardonnay and sauvignon blanc for the white wines, and two red blends because I just couldn't find an affordable pinot!. But I did find four wines that promised to have good QPR or very good QPR!.
I ended up with the 2004 Falesco Vitiano ($9!.99, Beverages and More; even less elsewhere, like Wine Library)!. Made from equal parts of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot it has received high marks from critics, but mixed reviews from consumers!. Still, I thought it would appeal to folks who loved cabernet, but be a little softer and less in need of food to drink well!. I was right, and people were drinking this down with great enthusiasm!. I didn't get a chance to drink a proper glass and think about it, but will post a full review in the upcoming weeks!.
My other red choice was the 2005 Rosenblum Chateau La Paws Cote du Bone Rhone ($9!.99, Beverages and More), a red blend of 98% Syrah mixed with touches of petite sirah and zinfandel!. I love syrahs--so drinkable, so lush tasting!. From my brief encounter with this wine last night it was very juicy and fruit forward!. A bit simple but very quaffable, which is what you are looking for in a party wine!. I think this would be excellent with bistro fare, like burgers, rotisserie chicken, and French onion soup as well as your Friday night pizza!.
For the whites, I picked up the latest release of the 2006 Pomelo by Mason Cellars ($9!.99, Beverages and More)!. I reviewed the 2005 Pomelo in November, and this wine was consistent with its grapefruity flavors and aromas!. Definitely a hit, and its Stelvin screw-top closure made it a great wine for a party!. The other white was definitely most popular among the dedicated oaky chardonnay lovers!. The 2004 Buehler Chardonnay Russian River Valley ($9!.99, Beverages and More), was bright gold in color, with aromas of smoke, pears, and apples!. There were proncounced oaky flavors, tempered slightly by ripe pear and a barely discernible rocky taste, which was more apparent when the wine was cool!. As it warmed, however, the oak took over!. It was my least favorite wine, but it was a big hit among the Chard Brigade!.
Parties are a wine challenge, but it is possible to serve some good wines like these without breaking the bank!. What do you serve at your parties, and how do you figure out what types of wine to buy!? Leave your comments and suggestion since I still think I could do a better job finding wines that are more interesting and get people talking about the wine, and not just drinking it!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
