It has been
a while, so let me update you:
I found
someone who can deal with my level of annoying, so that took up a bit of time.
You know, priorities. If you were also being given gourmet doughnuts by the
half dozen, you would have slacked off too. Then I moved away from Ontario,
packed up my life which is now mostly sitting in a storage unit, but also a
significant amount is in my mother’s basement (thanks mama, love you) because I’m
a GROWN UP.
Whatever,
at least I am not in my mom’s basement. It will be another 17 months before
that.
Then
Christmas happened, you know. You have stopped caring about my excuses? Yeah me too.
Fast
forward, I’m in London now. I have a fantastic flat in East London, which means
I have a diet of kebabs and curry and I don’t mind at all. My pants still
kind-of fit. There is clearly a shortage of sommeliers in London because I currently
have 3 job offers, and have another trial shift this week. I have never worked
at a restaurant in my life, and I am not talking Denny’s over here people.
These are places I would only go if someone else was paying. Also, no one has
asked me for a reference and I have been offering. So, I guess that means I don’t
seem like a kleptomaniac, which is nice. School is good, I am not going to lie
and say I am sailing through. I am doing
quite well, but I am also working my tail off for every single drop of
knowledge I can squeeze out.
So I was
going to write about something else today, but I just read an infuriating article.
I bet everyone missed my rants, so here we go again. Valentines day is
tomorrow, or as the more jaded among you like to call it ‘singles awareness day’.
Personally, I have always called it ‘day before half price heart shaped
chocolate’ so, to each their own.
For my
previous romantic themed blog, please see my entry here about how to swipe
right on the correct bottle of wine for the occasion.
It’s
Valentines day, so you’re going to get a bottle of pink bubbly. Surprise, you
are so wise and out of the box. Thanks for your super creative suggestion,
Einstein. Oh what about an Italian red, because that sounds romantic? It does
sound romantic, and would pair beautifully with the spaghetti neither of you
will be eating because slurping those noodles and getting sauce everywhere isn’t
sexy.
Here are
some actual human suggestions, for you know, people with brains.
You’re
single and sad: My recommendation is vodka. Drink only vodka and water. Add cayenne
pepper and some lemon and if anyone asks you can say you are doing a cleanse.
You’re
single and happy: Drink whatever you want because you don’t have to get anyone
else’s opinion. You do you, solidarity.
Let’s do
this on things you may want to eat. I am not going to throw random wines at you
because I am not sponsored, and you should do your own research about what’s available
to you.
Something
Green with Citrus: Buy a Saove. It is from Italy, close to Verona (what up,
Romeo and Juliette). You can hit the Italian segment without having to get
tomato sauce all over yourself. Pretty delicate unobtrusive wine, get a Saove Classico
for a higher quality version. Pretty citrusy, a touch of green, and some nice
toasty aspects.
Some sort
of white fish in a buttery sauce with cooked greens: You know what else is
romantic? Being unique. Get a Pansa Blanca from Spain. Pansa Blanca is the name
of the grape, but the grape is also known as Xarel-Lo (pronounced sah-rehl-low)
and used for Cava (Spanish sparkling wine) production. You can get lighter versions,
with a little bit of minerality and saline aspect to go with the fish.
Typically, they all are crisp with some aromatics and herbaceous aspect. Boom. Match
with the greens, cut through the butter based sauce.
Meat that isn’t
smoked or BBQed: Look, if you want something pink, it should go with the meal.
Go to the France section, and get something from Provence. Beautiful pink
colour, typically dry with a little bit of berry fruit and present, but
balanced, acidity. This will pair with most of your pork/ duck section. It wouldn’t
ruin a pasta dish with a little tomato (rosé pasta, rosé wine). Basically, if
you are making dinner because you either arnt organized enough to make
reservations, or don’t want to pay $100 an oyster for a set menu you don’t even
like, a Provence rosé is a pretty safe bet.
Red meat,
or meat that is smoked or BBQed: Cab Sauv right? Well yes, but you’re also
being plain and boring and you are likely doing a ‘cleanse’ if that is your
answer. You know what one of my favourite words to say is? Blaufränkisch. That
just also happens to be the name of a grape. Late ripening, pretty spicy and
can take on leathery smoky aspects. It’s Austrian, but is known through central
and eastern Europe through different names. As of late, it is also becoming
popular in the Finger Lakes, NY and this is my favourite video about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dbvVj0mDAU
Look, I love
bubbles as much as the next person. I am a huge bubble fan, there is always a
reason for bubbles. Valentine’s day is a great excuse for bubbles, I am all for
it.
But if you’re
just going to pour me pink bubbles because they are pink bubbles? Well, I like
bubbles almost as much as I like original thought. So, you win some you lose
some.
All my love,
M
