In Part 1 of Wine For Dummies, we focused on the basics of a variety of white wines. This time we will focus on simplifying the seemingly complex world of red wines. So sit back with your favourite glass of white wine (you have hopefully found the right one for you by now!) and read on to familiarise yourself with red wines in time for your next dinner party!
Red Wines
Not surprisingly, red wines are made from red grapes. The colour of the wine doesn’t, however, come from the grape juice itself, but instead comes from the grapes fermenting with their skins still on. This process also increases the amount of tannin in the wine. Tannin is the natural substance present in a grape skin that gives the wine part of its flavour. It also helps in the wine’s aging process – wines that contain a high amount of tannin age very well. That having been said, let’s take a closer look at the different types of red wines....
Zinfandel
Zinfandel (pronounced zin-fan-del) is known as one of the world’s most versatile grape types. A true Zinfandel is a zesty red with flavours of berry and pepper. There is also a “White Zinfandel” variation, which is actually pink in colour. This wine is made by leaving the grape skins in contact with the juice just long enough for them to pass along some of their colour and is lighter and sweeter than the original red Zinfandel wine. Zinfandel wines are best served with tomato-based pastas, pizza and grilled meats.
Shiraz
Shiraz (pronounce shi-raz) or Syrah (pronounced sah-ra) are both names of the same variety of wine. A Shiraz can be produced into some of the world’s finest, deepest and darkest red wines with intense flavours. You can expect the taste of wild black-fruit such as blackcurrant as well as a peppery flavour. A Shiraz is a wonderful companion to a red meat dish such as steak, beef, wild game and stews.
Merlot
Merlot (pronounced mer-lo) is a great “introductory” wine for new red-wine drinkers as it is easy to drink and quite a soft wine. This wine is lower in tannin and takes a shorter time to mature. Typically, a Merlot has hints of black-cherry and herbal flavours are also detected.
Cabernet Sauvignon
A Cabernet Sauvignon (pronounced ka-ber-nay so-vee-nyon) is considered to be one of the world’s best varieties. This wine is served best with simply prepared red meat, is rather dry and tastes of cherry, black currants, tea leaves or tobacco. This wine is also high in tannin, which means that it will age very well.
Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir (pronounced pee-no nwar) is lighter in colour and softer in texture than either Cabernet or Merlot and has less tannin. Tastes include hints of cherry, strawberry and plum. This wine is often paired with foods such as grilled salmon, chicken and lamb.
Sangiovese
Sangiovese (pronounced san-gee-o-ve-zee) is a dry red wine – full bodied and high in tannin. This wine may contain a hint of fruit such as berry and plums, violets and sometimes nuts . Sangiovese is a wonderful partner to Italian food or other Mediterranean-style cooking.
Now that you have the basics of Red and White wines covered, you should be able navigate your way around a restaurant’s wine list without feeling completely out of your depth. Join us next time as we delve into the slightly more decadent world of Champagnes, Ports and Sherries.
Catering for Business Meetings: Our Top Tips
So you have been assigned the task of organizing the catering for an upcoming company meeting! This can be a somewhat daunting task if the only thing you know about food is that you like it. Not to worry, in this article we have compiled our top tips on catering for business meetings to help you keep a smile on your boss' face!
Type of Business Meeting?
The first step in catering for a business meeting is to decide what type of meeting it is? Are you entertaining important clients, hosting a product launch, training new staff or are you having a brainstorming session with employees. If it is a casual meeting you may want to consider getting simple inexpensive food such as hot and cold platters from a local restaurant. If it is something a little more formal, you may consider getting a catering company to supply an array of specially prepared and presented snacks or a sophisticated lunch platter.
Consider Using a Professional Caterer
If your budget allows, why not consider using a professional caterer to prepare the food? Caterers not only have experience in knowing how to cater for groups and the quantities to order per person, but they also have the know-how to create tasty and beautifully presented food. Using a professional catering team will no doubt impress your clients but will also save you a few headaches and precious time!
Special Dietary Requirements
If you are supplying meals to guests or a large number of people, then take the time to find out if anyone has special dietary requirements and make the necessary changes with the caterer. This will be highly appreciated amongst those who have specific dietary needs and will prevent any awkward or embarrassing situations.
Spicy / not spicy
Be careful about selecting food that is very spicy. Not everyone can enjoy or tolerate this type of food so rather select something that will suit most palates. If you are planning on serving spicy food then make sure to serve a ‘mild’ version as well.
Choose easy to eat foods
If you have ordered canapés or platters for the boardroom (ie. you are not having a sit-down lunch/dinner), then make sure that the snacks are easy to eat with a single fork or spoon and are easy enough to eat without cutlery if necessary.
Real Food
After a long meeting, people usually want something that will satisfy their hunger until the next break. Make sure you offer a variety of protein snacks, not just rabbit food!
Consider your budget
If you need to provide food for 12 people and there is a budget of R200, don’t expect too much at all, in fact expect your clients to go quite hungry. You might be able to get two platters of crudités or one sandwich platter for R200. Our advice would be to consult a caterer to estimate costs for the type of food you want and the number of people attending the meeting. If you want canapés with intricate garnishing and presentation, expect to spend more than if you were to serve finger sandwiches and fried foods.
Males and Females
Women tend to have smaller appetites than men and may also prefer lighter meals and non-greasy snacks. If you are using a professional caterer, you may want to let them know the number of men and women that need to be catered for and this could effect the types of foods and quantities they choose to serve.
Food Safety
You don’t want food poisoning to be the reason why your staff or clients found a meeting memorable. Make sure that food is stored properly and safely at the correct temperature. Make sure to cover food if it is being stored for later and always ensure that you use a reputable caterer that complies with hygiene and food safety guidelines.
Equipment and Space
Do you have space to store all the food? Is there enough space to dish up or will you have to set up an extra table? Do you have the appropriate equipment to keep everything warm or cool? These are points that may seem quite trivial but it’s these little things that can make the difference between a flawless meeting and a not-so-flawless meeting, so be prepared.
Type of Business Meeting?
The first step in catering for a business meeting is to decide what type of meeting it is? Are you entertaining important clients, hosting a product launch, training new staff or are you having a brainstorming session with employees. If it is a casual meeting you may want to consider getting simple inexpensive food such as hot and cold platters from a local restaurant. If it is something a little more formal, you may consider getting a catering company to supply an array of specially prepared and presented snacks or a sophisticated lunch platter.
Consider Using a Professional Caterer
If your budget allows, why not consider using a professional caterer to prepare the food? Caterers not only have experience in knowing how to cater for groups and the quantities to order per person, but they also have the know-how to create tasty and beautifully presented food. Using a professional catering team will no doubt impress your clients but will also save you a few headaches and precious time!
Special Dietary Requirements
If you are supplying meals to guests or a large number of people, then take the time to find out if anyone has special dietary requirements and make the necessary changes with the caterer. This will be highly appreciated amongst those who have specific dietary needs and will prevent any awkward or embarrassing situations.
Spicy / not spicy
Be careful about selecting food that is very spicy. Not everyone can enjoy or tolerate this type of food so rather select something that will suit most palates. If you are planning on serving spicy food then make sure to serve a ‘mild’ version as well.
Choose easy to eat foods
If you have ordered canapés or platters for the boardroom (ie. you are not having a sit-down lunch/dinner), then make sure that the snacks are easy to eat with a single fork or spoon and are easy enough to eat without cutlery if necessary.
Real Food
After a long meeting, people usually want something that will satisfy their hunger until the next break. Make sure you offer a variety of protein snacks, not just rabbit food!
Consider your budget
If you need to provide food for 12 people and there is a budget of R200, don’t expect too much at all, in fact expect your clients to go quite hungry. You might be able to get two platters of crudités or one sandwich platter for R200. Our advice would be to consult a caterer to estimate costs for the type of food you want and the number of people attending the meeting. If you want canapés with intricate garnishing and presentation, expect to spend more than if you were to serve finger sandwiches and fried foods.
Males and Females
Women tend to have smaller appetites than men and may also prefer lighter meals and non-greasy snacks. If you are using a professional caterer, you may want to let them know the number of men and women that need to be catered for and this could effect the types of foods and quantities they choose to serve.
Food Safety
You don’t want food poisoning to be the reason why your staff or clients found a meeting memorable. Make sure that food is stored properly and safely at the correct temperature. Make sure to cover food if it is being stored for later and always ensure that you use a reputable caterer that complies with hygiene and food safety guidelines.
Equipment and Space
Do you have space to store all the food? Is there enough space to dish up or will you have to set up an extra table? Do you have the appropriate equipment to keep everything warm or cool? These are points that may seem quite trivial but it’s these little things that can make the difference between a flawless meeting and a not-so-flawless meeting, so be prepared.
Learn To Cook
Learning how to cook is not as difficult as many people think and it is a skill that will always come in handy. All you need to get started is a little bit of time, patience and motivation. In this article we look at the ways in which you can get in touch with your inner chef:
1. Buy a basic recipe book:
If you love books, purchase one for baking and one for cooking. Make sure the recipes are simple and easy to follow and if you can, try buy a local book as they are likely to list ingredients available locally.
2. Experiment with your mothers, grandmothers or aunties recipe book:
We all have one of these cherished books in the family – all the great classics like scones, pancakes, cheese puffs, milk tart, lasagna, dumplings etc etc. Try out one recipe at a time and watch your cooking skills develop.
3. Go on a basic cooking course:
A cooking course is a fast and effective way of learning the basics of cooking, quickly and correctly with the supervision of a skilled chef.
4. Make something simple:
Start off by making something simple – basic spaghetti bolognaise or a cottage pie or even fish and chips.
5. Ask a Friend:
Why not ask one of your friends who is good at cooking to come and help you prepare a dish one evening. He or she can give you tips whilst you cook and guide you through the process of creating a great meal.
6. Cooking DVDs:
These are great if you want to learn how to master a specific cooking or baking skill. Watch the DVD a few times and then try it out on your own.
7. Watch the cooking channel:
There are plenty of cooking programs on TV. Check out your TV guide and make a note of the times and channels of a few cooking programs and then sit back, relax and learn how to cook by watching talented local and international chefs.
1. Buy a basic recipe book:
If you love books, purchase one for baking and one for cooking. Make sure the recipes are simple and easy to follow and if you can, try buy a local book as they are likely to list ingredients available locally.
2. Experiment with your mothers, grandmothers or aunties recipe book:
We all have one of these cherished books in the family – all the great classics like scones, pancakes, cheese puffs, milk tart, lasagna, dumplings etc etc. Try out one recipe at a time and watch your cooking skills develop.
3. Go on a basic cooking course:
A cooking course is a fast and effective way of learning the basics of cooking, quickly and correctly with the supervision of a skilled chef.
4. Make something simple:
Start off by making something simple – basic spaghetti bolognaise or a cottage pie or even fish and chips.
5. Ask a Friend:
Why not ask one of your friends who is good at cooking to come and help you prepare a dish one evening. He or she can give you tips whilst you cook and guide you through the process of creating a great meal.
6. Cooking DVDs:
These are great if you want to learn how to master a specific cooking or baking skill. Watch the DVD a few times and then try it out on your own.
7. Watch the cooking channel:
There are plenty of cooking programs on TV. Check out your TV guide and make a note of the times and channels of a few cooking programs and then sit back, relax and learn how to cook by watching talented local and international chefs.
Wine For Dummies - Part 1
So, you’ve done the hard part... You’ve asked her on a date and you’re having the woman of your dreams (this could be the beginning of something big!) over to dinner - which you’ll cook, of course. You’re going to dazzle her with your charm, charisma, sophistication and intelligence. You’ll have a fabulous dinner with a bottle of your favourite wine... Hang on... What is your favourite wine? In that moment, while imagining your perfect date, you didn’t factor into the equation the fact that you don’t have a clue about wine! How are you supposed to serve a Chardonnay to your date when you don’t even know what it’s expected to taste like? Allow us to set your mind at ease. We’ve put together a list of all the major wine classifications with details of their tastes and what foods would complement that particular wine.
White Wines
Most white wine is made from white grapes - there are, however, exceptions to every rule. Wine gets its colour from letting the skin soak in the juice - a lighter colour (white wine) is achieve by limiting the amount of time the juice is in contact with the skins. Not allowing the skins to soak in the juice limits the amount of tannin in the wine. High amounts of tannin are the reason for the mouth-drying quality of a wine. The oak barrel in which a wine is stored can also contribute to the tannin in a wine. Now that we've covered the basics, let's have a closer look at the different varieties of white wine.
Riesling
Riesling (pronounced rees-ling) is a fresh tasting wine. Typically, this type of wine should have the aroma of fresh apples. Rieslings vary in taste depending on where they were produced – for example, a German Riesling usually has a slightly sweet taste but one produced in the Eastern USA will generally have a drier taste. Rieslings go really well with fish, chicken and pork dishes.
Gewürztraminer
Pronounced Gah-vurtz-tra-meener, this wine is very aromatic and sweet. The typical taste you would expect to encounter would be fruity flavours and the aroma is that of rose petal, peach, lychee and allspice. This wine is not as refreshing as some of the other dry white wines, but is ideal with Asian food, pork and grilled sausages.
Chardonnay
A Chardonnay (pronounced shar-doe-nay) is one of the most popular choices and is relatively dry. This wine has a wide-bodied flavour with a velvety feel. You can expect rich citrus flavours such as lemon and grapefruit and even a buttery tone such as vanilla, toast, coconut and toffee. This wine is an ideal partner to fish and chicken dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc
This particular wine (pronounced so-vee-nyon blah) is a versatile wine. Lighter than a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc shows a herbal character. The flavours most dominant are apple, pear and gooseberry as well as melon, mango and blackcurrant. The foods best suited to this variety of wine are seafood, poultry and salads.
Chenin Blanc
A Chenin Blanc (pronounced shay-non blah) is a crisp balanced semi-dry to dry wine. This wine has flavours of apples, pears and tropical fruit and is a great choice when serving chicken, seafood and fish.
Now that you have an idea of the white wine selection you’re up against, you should find it easier to concentrate on your date rather than your lack of wine knowledge. Plan the meal you’d like to serve and then pick a wine to compliment that meal. Join us in Part 2 of our Wine for Dummies article when we take a closer look at Red Wine. Until then, good luck on that date!
White Wines
Most white wine is made from white grapes - there are, however, exceptions to every rule. Wine gets its colour from letting the skin soak in the juice - a lighter colour (white wine) is achieve by limiting the amount of time the juice is in contact with the skins. Not allowing the skins to soak in the juice limits the amount of tannin in the wine. High amounts of tannin are the reason for the mouth-drying quality of a wine. The oak barrel in which a wine is stored can also contribute to the tannin in a wine. Now that we've covered the basics, let's have a closer look at the different varieties of white wine.
Riesling
Riesling (pronounced rees-ling) is a fresh tasting wine. Typically, this type of wine should have the aroma of fresh apples. Rieslings vary in taste depending on where they were produced – for example, a German Riesling usually has a slightly sweet taste but one produced in the Eastern USA will generally have a drier taste. Rieslings go really well with fish, chicken and pork dishes.
Gewürztraminer
Pronounced Gah-vurtz-tra-meener, this wine is very aromatic and sweet. The typical taste you would expect to encounter would be fruity flavours and the aroma is that of rose petal, peach, lychee and allspice. This wine is not as refreshing as some of the other dry white wines, but is ideal with Asian food, pork and grilled sausages.
Chardonnay
A Chardonnay (pronounced shar-doe-nay) is one of the most popular choices and is relatively dry. This wine has a wide-bodied flavour with a velvety feel. You can expect rich citrus flavours such as lemon and grapefruit and even a buttery tone such as vanilla, toast, coconut and toffee. This wine is an ideal partner to fish and chicken dishes.
Sauvignon Blanc
This particular wine (pronounced so-vee-nyon blah) is a versatile wine. Lighter than a Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc shows a herbal character. The flavours most dominant are apple, pear and gooseberry as well as melon, mango and blackcurrant. The foods best suited to this variety of wine are seafood, poultry and salads.
Chenin Blanc
A Chenin Blanc (pronounced shay-non blah) is a crisp balanced semi-dry to dry wine. This wine has flavours of apples, pears and tropical fruit and is a great choice when serving chicken, seafood and fish.
Now that you have an idea of the white wine selection you’re up against, you should find it easier to concentrate on your date rather than your lack of wine knowledge. Plan the meal you’d like to serve and then pick a wine to compliment that meal. Join us in Part 2 of our Wine for Dummies article when we take a closer look at Red Wine. Until then, good luck on that date!
Happy Independence Day!
South Africans generally don’t give a second thought to the American Independence Day, but we at SouthAfricanFoodies.co.za take every opportunity we can to celebrate food, so why not this one? We think this is a great excuse to entertain, so take your hat off to John Hancock (the guy that signed the Declaration of Independence), George Washington and Abe Lincoln.
Why not hold a typical American barbeque with burgers and hotdogs on the grill. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like venturing out into the winter cold, perhaps serve up oven-fried chicken, a shrimp dish such as Bayou Fried Shrimp or a hearty meatloaf. Dessert could feature Apple or Pecan Nut Pie. There’s always the option of holding a movie marathon (think “Forest Gump”, “Born On The Fourth Of July” or “Independence Day”) with buckets of popcorn dripping in extra butter!
Have a great weekend, and remember, always find an excuse to celebrate food!
Why not hold a typical American barbeque with burgers and hotdogs on the grill. Alternatively, if you don’t feel like venturing out into the winter cold, perhaps serve up oven-fried chicken, a shrimp dish such as Bayou Fried Shrimp or a hearty meatloaf. Dessert could feature Apple or Pecan Nut Pie. There’s always the option of holding a movie marathon (think “Forest Gump”, “Born On The Fourth Of July” or “Independence Day”) with buckets of popcorn dripping in extra butter!
Have a great weekend, and remember, always find an excuse to celebrate food!
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