Great foods to pair with champagne

Tradition and ritual often go hand in hand and so for the past 26 years, my husband and I have celebrated every special occasion, and sometimes just for the heck of it,

with champagne, pate, crackers and caviar (Sevruga). Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentine’s, Christmas, Easter, Ground Hog Day….Ground Hog day?

Our bubbly libation of choice is either Pommery, Perrier Jouet Fleur or Veuve Clicquot (if the widow Clicquot only knew), but sometimes a Piper Heidsick (my dad’s favorite), Moet et Chandon Brut or Henkell Trocken will have to do.

For those interested, and who wouldn’t be, Champagne is a wine of which its aroma bouquet has 4 distinct characteristics:

ESPRIT, CORPS, COEUR and AME – (SPIRIT, BODY, HEART and SOUL)

SPIRIT: are the young bruts, vintage or not, including blanc de blancs and blancs de noir- they are light and lively, great with hors d’oeuvres such as

Crevettes and Langostinos ILE ST. LOUIS – where we toss Large shrimp and Crab with a SPICY Remoulade or a

Classic combo like Caviar, Salmon and Blini, topped with sour cream, chive, dill

BODY: are young demi secs or bruts with pinot meunier or pinot noir grapes,

strong and full, perfect match for heartier foods. Pair this with either a

Wild Mushroom Tartlet made with Puff Pastry, filled with sauteed Shitake, Porcini, Champignon, Roasted peppers and Vidalia onions, finished with a Chipotle jelly and sliced Bosc pears

HEART: choose this kind of champagne for dessert , nv or vintage,

fully developed bruts and demi secs. Perfect foil for A Chocoholic Extravaganza that might include dark Chocolate truffles, dusted with, Chocolate cups filled with a duet of Mousse: Raspberry & Mint, a trio of Tartlettes filled w/ Lemon Curd, French Vanilla Cream & Sour Cherry confiture. Blackberry Sorbet, Large Strawberries dipped in Belgian Callebaut Chocolate. I could go on and on and on.

SOUL: these champagnes have a history, are complex and have often

special cuvees or rare millesimes of a single harvest. These rare, vintaged bottles stand on its own, best paired with a second glass of the same champagne, and then maybe a third just for good measure.

At our restaurant we serve 4 different splits of champagne Pommery’s Pop (served with a straw…how decadent is that), Argentina’s Chandon Brut, Nicolas Feuillate Pink and Blanc and California Coppola’s Sofia. These 187 ml are just enough for 2 glasses, perfect as an aperitive, with an appetizer, main course or dessert, or….again just for the heck of it

BOTTLE SIZES

QUARTER BOTTLE 0.187 Ltr

HALF BOTTLE 0.375 Ltr

BOTTLE 0.750 Ltr

MAGNUM 1.5 Ltr

JEROBAUM 3 Ltrs

MATHUSALEM 6 Ltrs

SALMANAZAR 9 Ltrs

BALTHAZAR 12 Ltr

NABUCHODONOSOR 15 Ltrs (20 Bottles)