Wine serves a lot of different purposes in our house.
Sure, we'll use it for celebrations, but most of the time it's paired with more mundane offerings ranging from iFratelli's Pizza to Charlotte's famous spicy chicken dip. I even introduced Charlotte to the elegant pairing of red wine and crunchy peanut butter back in our college days (Don't taze me Bro'...It's really good!).
That's why I was happy to see the folks at Turning Leaf had completed a national survey on take out foods and the wines we're pairing with them. Charlotte's hot bean dip did not make the Top 10 (Note to survey-taker-guy - this was an obvious oversight) but you may be surprised what they know about our dining habits.
Friday Night? All right!
The most popular night for turning to take out? Friday night. Seems that by the time we get to the end of the week we're just too tired to cook (Charlotte and I are guilty as charged).
Homemade? Don't bet on it!
More than one-third said they've passed off take out food as something they made from scratch. (Boomer Brief Rule - It's not deception if it comes from a really, really, really good place).
Let's see
if Larry King is still breathing
When asked where they prefer to eat take out, there was a 50/50 split between cozying up on the couch and watching a little TV and sitting down at the table. (Boomer Brief Rule - Where you eat is an easy decision when either, a) Mad Men, b) Breaking Bad, c) Grey's Anatomy or d) Private Practice are on TV (the last two are for Charlotte).
Don't quibble over a nibble
Survey says 61% nibble a little before anyone else gets a shot at the food. (Boomer Brief Rule - You're NOT sneaking a taste if the iFratelli's pizza slice you're putting on Charlotte's plate has a little cheese hanging off to one side.)
Grape escape
The survey showed that people still lean towards Merlot as their red wine of choice (29%). You white wine drinkers are still big on the Chardonnay (28%). (Boomer Brief Rule - Red or White make for a very good night.)
Turning Leaf Wines
I have to confess it's been a while since I sat down with a glass of Turning Leaf, so they graciously offered to send us some take out and a little wine so we could get reacquainted. Charlotte and I sampled the Turning Leaf Merlot and Chardonnay with some terrific barbecue and wonderful Mexican food. Here's what we found.
Turning Leaf Merlot
Remember a couple of years ago when Justin Timberlake said he was "bringing sexy back!"? Remember how I said WTF? I didn't know sexy had even gone missing! Well, turns out Turning Leaf is doing the same thing with Merlot. Forget Paul Giamatti's Merlot rant in Sideways - this red really surprised me.
When Merlot popularity hit an all-time high a couple of years ago, any vintner with grapes was turning it out. Back then, most merlot had a "thin" almost "watery" consistency that bordered on bad Welch's grape juice. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Turning Leaf has turned Merlot back to the fine Cabernet cousin we all know and love.
Turning Leaf Merlot Winemaker Notes
Black pepper spice and fresh herbal qualities understate ripe raspberry aromas and flavors. Our Merlot is a medium-bodied wine, with a rich juicy texture.
What I Like About It
I found a velvety taste of plum, with rich notes of currant, wild blackberry and a hint of oak.
What I Ate With It
Chicken chimichanga with rice, beans, queso, fresh salsa and tortilla chips.
Corkscrewed Rating
Wines are rated on a scale of one-five corks. A one-cork wine is good for killing fire ants; five-cork wines are reserved for sharing with your very best friends.
THREE CORKS
This is a go-to wine for any night of the week.
Turning Leaf Chardonnay Winemaker Notes
Succulent apple, pear, and grapefruit as well as toasted oak flavors on the nose continue through to the taste of the wine. The texture of the wine is medium bodied, with soft oak characters.
What I Like About It
It had a rich texture with notes of ripe apple and berries with a dry finish.
What I Ate With It
Baby Bell cheese and Stacy's multigrain pita chips.
Corkscrewed Rating
Wines are rated on a scale of one-five corks. A one-cork wine is good for killing fire ants; five-cork wines are reserved for sharing with your very best friends.
THREE CORKS
You can't go wrong with this white - this is the Goldilocks of Chardonnay's - it's just right.
What It Cost
Both wines retail for around $8 per bottle.
Where You Can Find Turning Leaf
Available in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area at Kroger and Tom Thumb and most liquor stores.
About Me
I've been a wine lover since about 12 (that's not a typo). My earliest grape experience was probably at my cousin Nancy's wine tasting wedding rehearsal dinner (thanks for including me, Cuz!). Since then, I've graduated from Boone's Farm (Ugh! What was I thinking?) to a slightly more sophisticated palate. By the time I reached college I was the only guy in the dorm with a dog-eared copy of Frank Schoonmaker's, Encyclopedia of Wine (Hasting's House, 1965). Today, my tastes run more toward the reds, but I'm always on the lookout for a great white wine.
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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