The Chef's Cookbook » drinks

Chinese Wine Taking Over The World!

TheSaltyChef — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:32:04 +0000

Many people think that products made in China are often cheap and inferior to those made elsewhere in the world. It’s a reputation that effects most exports from China, including clothing and electronics, however that reputation may be about to change for one specific product!

Despite the fact that Ningxia in northern China has only been growing grapes for wine production for the last decade, it has beaten off competition from the Bordeaux region of France in a blind wine tasting which was help in Beijing.

10 wine experts, 5 from China and 5 from France sampled a mixture of 5 wines from each region and ranked each wine individually. Surprisingly to everyone involved and the wine lovers across the world, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Grace Vineyards in Ningxia came out as the favorite bottle! In fact, the top 4 spots were all taken by bottles of wine from Ningxia, with a 2009 Medoc from Bordeaux being the highest ranking French wine in 5th position.

A similar wine test was carried out in 1976, which also had similar results, with Bordeaux wines being beaten by the New World wines.

Each bottle of wine that was used in the taste test was produced in either 2008 or 2009, with a price tag in China of 200-400yuan, which is around $30-$60. Many have argued this caused an unfair test as imported wine is levied with a 48% import tax!

Even taking into account the price difference though, the French wine experts all admitted that the Chinese wine has enormous potential and could become one of the world’s finest wine producing regions. There has been a huge increase in wine drinking over the last few years in China, and it is now the single largest export client of the Bordeaux region. The wine consumption in China is growing at such a rate that they expect it to overtake the USA within years to become the largest wine consuming nation in the world.

Many wine companies are now looking to purchase and grow their own vineyards in the Ningxia in order to cash in on the new area.

The event was arranged when a bottle from Ningxia was crowned the best Bordeaux style wine at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London.

So, when you start seeing Chinese wine on the shelves of the wine merchants in the coming years, don’t dismiss it as being cheap or inferior wine with giving it a taste first!

The author has worked in the wine and gourmet food industry for years and is interested in the development of new world wines.

Favorite Thanksgiving Cocktails

TheSaltyChef — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:51:37 +0000

Here are my favorite cocktails for the season!

Pumpkin Pie

* 1 part kahlua
* 1 part spiced pumpkin pie filling
* 2 parts coconut rum
* 4 parts cold milk
* 6 ice cubes
* Garnish with cinnamon

Put everything but the cinnamon in a blender. Mix on high. Serve in graham cracker crust highball glasses and sprinkle the top with cinnamon.

Smashing Pumpkin Spice

* 1 part Goldschlager
* 1 part Irish CrÃ¨me
* 1 part Kahlua
* Cinnamon candies
* Sprinkle pumpkin pie spice

Drop 3-4 cinnamon candies in the bottom of a martini glass. Mix the Goldschlager, Irish CrÃ¨me, and Kahlua in a martini shaker with ice. Strain into a martini glass and sprinkle pumpkin pie spice on top.

Gingersnap

* Â½ part ginger brandy
* 1 part spiced rum
* 4 parts eggnog
* Crumbled gingersnaps

Put your gingersnaps in a blender and grind until you have cookie crumbs. Use the cookies to rim highball glasses. Mix the eggnog, rum, and brandy in your glasses. Serve with an intact gingersnap for dunking.

Turkey Shooter

* 3 parts Wild Turkey
* 1 part crÃ¨me de methe

Chill both ingredients. Pour the Wild Turkey into a brandy snifter then carefully float the crÃ¨me de methe on top. The whiskey will warm you up while the mint flavor keeps you cool.

Diet Cola Drains Calcium In Women?

TheSaltyChef — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:22:53 +0000

They may contain zero calories, no sugar and provide an energy boost, but diet soda could drain calcium and phosphorous from your body, according to a preliminary study presented at a medical convention.

A small study from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center reported that healthy women who drank diet cola excrete more calcium and phosphorous than non-cola drinkers. In the study, 20 health women were randomized to drink 24 ounces of water or diet cola on two days. Their urine was collected up to three hours later.

Those who drank diet cola excreted more calcium and phosphorous than the control group. The mean calcium excretion three hours after drinking cola was 6.85 milligrams higher than after drinking water. Mean phosphorous excretion was 41 milligrams higher in the cola group than the control group, according to the abstract. Calcium and phosphorus are both important nutrients that work together to build strong bones and teeth.

Previous studies have reported that cola drinkers (both diet AND regular soda) have lower bone mineral density and increased fracture rate compared to non-cola drinkers

With all the studies done, it is hard to say if this is in fact true. Another thing is it is a small study, so it may not provide enough evidence to prove the theory.

Dinosaur Punch

TheSaltyChef — Mon, 17 May 2010 15:23:54 +0000

This refreshing drink got its name from being Barney-colored.

Ingredients

* 4 cups grape juice
* One 6 oz. can frozen lemonade concentrate

* 2 cups ginger ale, chilled

Instructions

In a punch bowl, stir together the grape juice and lemonade concentrate. Add the ginger ale and serve immediately. Garnish with ice cubes made of lemonade. Makes about 6-3/4 cups.

Banana Lemonade Cooler

TheSaltyChef — Wed, 12 May 2010 15:12:36 +0000

Ingredients

* 1 large banana
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 4 tsp. honey

* 6 ice cubes
* 2 small mint leaves
* Lemon slice, for garnish

Instructions

In container of electric blender combine banana, juice, 2 tablespoons water, honey, ice and mint leaves. Blend until smooth. Pour over ice cubes in tall glass. Garnish with lemon. Makes one 12-ounce drink.

FREE STARBUCKS GIFT CARD

TheSaltyChef — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:22:49 +0000

Do you love Starbucks coffee? I do and I am giving away a FREE $10 gift card as a giveaway for the month of February!

All you have to do is leave 1 comment on the blog per day. All names will be put into a random drawing at the end of the month!

Good Luck!

Happy New Year Toast!

TheSaltyChef — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:00:07 +0000

Stir the eggnog, lift the toddy, Happy New Year, everybody. ~ Phyllis McGinley

MERRY CHRITSMAS!

TheSaltyChef — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 16:06:20 +0000

Well we all made it! We are still alive to tell about it! Here is a recipe for a pick me up!

Maggie’s Energy

Drink Recipe courtesy Happy Trails

Ingredients

4 small gingko or ginseng tea bags
2 quarts water
1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 cups sugar or sugar substitute
1 large or 2 small herbal tea bags

Directions

In a medium pitcher, brew all the tea bags in 1 quart of water. Add the lemon juice to a large pitcher. Add the sugar and the remaining water and mix well. Pour the tea into the lemonade mix and stir. Refrigerate and serve chilled.

Cuisinart WCH-950 CleanWater 2-Gallon Countertop Water-Filtration System

TheSaltyChef — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:27:46 +0000

Pour a glass of fresh, clean, filtered water without opening the refrigerator or a bottle with this countertop water-filtration system. Attractively housed in brushed stainless steel, the 2-gallon unit dispenses 500 mL of hot water (194 degrees F), 800 mL of cold water (44 degrees F), or room-temperature water. Its upper water tank holds approximately 1/2 gallon of unfiltered water, while the lower water tank holds about a gallon of filtered water. Better than bottled water, the countertop filtration system reduces contaminants that can alter taste and purity. It reduces chlorine (97.5 percent), mercury (92.8 percent), benzene (84.1 percent), cadmium (96.6 percent), copper (85.0 percent), tetrachloroethylene (92.5 percent), and toluene (89.8 percent). The included filter lasts for about 80 gallons or three to four months of average household use. Other details include a 12-week filter timer, a flip-top lid for convenient filling, a removable water tank, blue and red LED “water-ready” indicator lights, two separate spigots, and simple push-button controls with a child safety lock on the hot-water option. Weighing about 14 pounds, the water-filtration system measures 10 by 10 by 14-1/2 inches and carries a three-year limited warranty.

* Countertop water-filtration system with 2 spigots and 2-gallon capacity

* Dispenses filtered hot water, cold water, and room-temperature water

* Included filter reduces contaminants and lasts for about 80 gallons

* Removable water tank; blue and red LED “water-ready” indicator lights

* Measures 10 by 10 by 14-1/2 inches; 3-year limited warranty

Christmas Float

TheSaltyChef — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 03:25:10 +0000

Try this drink at holiday parties!

INGREDIENTS:
# 1 can cola
# 3 scoops of chocolate or vanilla ice cream
# 4 cherries
# 2 red and green gum drops
# Red and green M&M’s
# Whipped cream (optional)

RECIPE DIRECTIONS:

1. Scoop ice cream into a long glass or two.
2. Slowly pour chilled cola over the top and allow to froth.
3. Add cherries, gum drops, M&M’s and optional cream, as your decorating sense and sweet tooth dictate.