Food & Wine Pairings To Try This Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the time of the year where you surround yourselves with the ones you love. This Thanksgiving, why not surround yourselves with the ones you love and a bottle of these wines to share with the table? Not sure what to drink or how to pair it with? Don’t worry we’ve got you covered with a food and wine guide is guaranteed to make your guests think you’re secretly a sommelier.

For Those Drinking White

Sauvignon Blanc

Enjoy a glass of fruity Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018. Cloudy Bay, produced in the Marlborough region which produces wines with an extra fruity aroma and flavor. If you enjoy the taste of lime, grapefruit, and nectarine, you'll definitely enjoy sharing a glass with your loved ones this Thanksgiving. We suggest pairing this with your sides like scallops and green beans.

Bordeaux

Made from the best varieties of white grapes in the Bordeaux region 2016 Mouton Cadet Blanc will fill the room with a wonderfully fruity smell. Meanwhile, it will fill your tastebuds with a delicious blend of grapefruit and lemon flavors. Since white bordeaux is rare, you may not want to miss out on your chance to share a bottle around your Thanksgiving table this year. This too will pair well with scallops with citrus fruit, oysters, seafood linguine.

For Those Drinking Red

Grenache

Bonterra Grenache 2015 will give you the taste of Thanksgiving dinner all on its own. The grapes used in this wine were grown on a previous cherry farm, so keeping with history, this wine features black cherries. You'll also enjoy the taste of sage, rosemary, and cracked black pepper, which is perfect to go along with your turkey this year. They even have a whole list of recipes you can find here.

Bordeaux

The Château Couronneau 2015, Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux ($19) is biodynamic wine from Côtes de Bordeaux’s newest and smallest appellation. This Merlot-forward red has a bouquet of ripe plums, blackberries, dark cherries and violet. This stunning wine enhances any dish with a fruit component such as duck with cherry chutney or a pork roast with winter fruit and Port sauce.

Merlot

The Elysian Merlot, the debut wine in Bonterra Organic Vineyards’ Elysian Collection, plays off the bucolic ideals and pastoral tranquility of northern California’s organic farmland, highlighting the diverse natural elements that create unique environments for grape cultivation, handpicked from plots teeming with life and biodiversity. The Elysian Merlot embodies the essence of a wine vinified from organically grown grapes, with a harmonious chorus of black plum, carob, raspberries and soulful minerality. This will pair perfect with any red meat you may be eating.

Cabernet Sauvignon

For those who can’t resist dessert this Thanksgiving, Spoken Barrel's Cabernet Sauvignon gives off the aromas of cherry, black currant, dark chocolate, and roasted oak, which are all symbolic scents of fall. This wine also tastes of blackberry, cherry, and vanilla. Whatever dessert you plan on serving this Thanksgiving, consider serving a glass to your guests with their dessert. Will be using the recipe below for the perfect tart,

Spoken Barrel Apple, Shallot and Blue Cheese Tart

 Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 ½ cups shallots, thinly sliced, (about 3 large shallots)

• 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator overnight

• 1 small pink lady apple, thinly sliced and seeds removed

• 1 ½ tsp thyme leaves, roughly chopped

• 4 oz mild blue cheese, crumbled

• 1 Tbsp honey

1.       Preheat oven to 400°F.

2.       Over medium high heat, sauté shallots with 1 Tbsp olive oil and a pinch of salt until soft and starting to caramelize, about 5 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool slightly

3.       Using a rolling pin, roll out the puff pastry until 12x12”, dusting your work surface with flour as needed.

4.       Assemble the tart by evenly spreading the shallots over the pastry, followed by the apples, thyme and blue cheese allowing a ½“ border.

5.       Bake the tart for 20 minutes or until golden brown, puffed and crisp. Drizzle over the honey and serve warm or at room temperature with Spoken Barrel wine.

Have something you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

A guide to pairing up drinks with BBQs with love

We embrace the concept of LOVE in families, business, and also in food. Barbecuing is not just another form of getting foods on the table but a total skill that should be driven by a piece of passion.

Passion births the essence of skill in choosing accompaniments for barbecues which is why we hold it dearly at heart; hence, this bbq and drink pairing chart.

Many days before we discovered the skill to this art, we couldn’t care about what drinks we took with what food, so obviously, enjoyment downplayed.

Now, as BBQ professionals, we love to walk you through this wine and beer food pairing path for we attest to the fact that there is some real good to be felt when a perfect pairing is done.

Are we sure you really need this guide?

Have a think through this - have you ever been in a state where you had a good meal but yet a few minutes after, you had a strong craving to gobble up on some drink?

Exactly! Food and drinks are meant to be paired as a satisfying balance to the tummy and tongue so it is pretty old-fashioned to leave one out of the other. In the same way, barbecues should always have a fantastic drink pair up to enjoy the complete taste and flavors that it sits in.

A few questions for you to ponder over.

• Why do certain foods get spicier on the tongue after a cold drink to stop the spiciness?

• Some drinks make the taste of food bitter, why so?

• You had champagne with meat and you didn’t like the after-taste in your mouth. What went wrong?

Right here, we have all these questions answered

It is wrong to take just any drink lying on your counter with just any barbecue. There’s a skill to this, chap, and from this infographic, you will be well in the know on how to go about it.

Imagine putting in work to make some well-thought-out seasoned pork chops on your grill smoker combo and after, the taste goes bad simply because you had it with the wrong drink.

As a general rule of play, always pair spicy and sour foods with drinks with lesser levels of tannin and alcohol content while sweet foods can go with stronger drinks.

In the same way, thicker meat portions should go with stronger drinks because of the strong flavoring while leaner meats, cheese, fish, and vegetables can go with mild flavored and sweet drinks.

Have something you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

The Cool New Collaboration Between Moët and Chandon With Virgil Abloh

By Shaunna Redman

A good rosé goes a long way, but a designer bottle goes even further. For those of who have tried and love Moët’s Nectar Imperial Rosé, the #1 rosé champagne in the U.S., you can look forward to a new limited edition bottle design by Virgil Abloh.

Virgil Abloh

Moët’s iconic Nectar Imperial Rosé is getting an exclusive, limited edition collection of custom designed bottles created by Virgil Abloh. Virgil Abloh is currently the artistic director of Louis Vuitton, and has previously worked with companies such as Nike and IKEA. This was Virgil Abloh’s first time working with a liquor brand.

Virgil Abloh has been spending the past year working with Moët and Chandon. They came up with an all-white design of the bottle’s original design. There is also a special message on each bottle which says, “Do Not Drop”.

Starting on October 15th, 750ml “ready-to-wear” bottles will become available both nationwide and in select cities according to the listing. Meanwhile, Virgil Abloh will also be revealing special, limited number 3L jeroboam bottles some time in early October. These 3L jeroboam bottles will be exclusive to friends and family.

Have something you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Everything To Know Before your Labor Day Weekend BBQ

Summer is a great time to go outdoors and start grilling, but if you’re up for a challenge then you should consider trying Argentine Asado. Asado is Argentina’s version of a traditional barbeque that strictly uses wood for fuel. Grilling beef the Argentine way takes years to master and is considered a rite of passage amongst Argentinians.

Mario Graziano, a recent recipient of Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce Business Man of the Year title, and his son Leo are two experts from Argentina who have mastered the art of asado. They brought their culinary smarts to Miami in 1990, then opened a chain of steakhouses, bakeries and markets which were entitled Graziano’s. Below are a few of their secret tips to making their amazing asado.

1. Start with quality ingredients.

When preparing to grill this summer, don’t skimp on the quality of your food. You want to get the best products you can. Getting locally sourced beef which has been grass-fed will give you a more flavorful taste, and it is noticeable leaner.

A staple for any backyard chef, propane grills offer a wide variety of grilling options that will delight the entire family.

2. Fire is the heart and soul of Argentine grilling.

When it comes to asado, only wood is used to give the beef a smokey taste and to remain to the traditional roots of adado. Although, the trick to grilling the perfect asado is to not let the beef touch the flames. Graziano’s has Quebracho wood ordered on a quarterly basis to give the asado its smoky flavors that it is known for.

3. One flip is all it takes.

There is no need to keep flipping the beef when it comes to asado. Flipping the beef once will keep it juicy while also giving the outside a nice brown crust.

4. No fancy tricks. Just salt.

When it comes to asado, it is believed that the flavor comes from the quality of the beef you are grilling, which is enhanced by only salt. When grilling your asado, salt it from above and serve it with some homemade chimichurri.

5. Patience is everything.

Asado takes time and patience as it best cooked low and slow. The process can take up to three hours, but it’s well worth the wait. While you’re waiting, gather your friends and family around and enjoy some Carbernet Sauvignon or Mendoza Malbec. Leo Graziano’s pick is Las Perdices Cabernet Franc.

For those who need the ultimate bbq wine Ravage 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon that come along with the ultimate summer grilling kit – complete with expert grilling advice from Pitmaster Hugh Mangum. During summer grilling. Whether making flavorful steak tacos or opting for equally as delicious lamb shoulder pitas, Ravage’s smooth, fruit forward Cabernet Sauvignon enhances the flavors of any sizzling-hot meal. 

For those you who are looking for a new sauce to try out Williams Family Kitchen’s has recently debuted NONO SAUCE which brings an extra shine to supper time, grilling, side dishes, family gatherings and fills all your meals with flavor and soul.

Produced in partnership with NYC’s iconic leading purveyor and retailer of fine foods, DEAN & DELUCA, this spicy yet sweet blend will become your culinary secret weapon and can be purchased online here.

By Shaunna Redman

So You've Sorted The Steak, But What Are You Drinking?

Steak, glorious steak. It’s any meat lovers dream, isn’t it? Done right, a decent steak is a no-fuss way of getting your meat fix in one hit. Add thick cut chips and onion rings, and you've got a plate to set anyone's mouth watering. We love steak so much, in fact, that we took a close look at a few favorite New York steakhouses. If you haven’t tried them yet, you really should.

But, whether you’re buying from the pros or cooking up your own steak fest with the best cast iron skillet money could buy, you may be guilty of forgetting one crucial factor. And, no, we aren’t talking about your onion rings. We’re referring to the drink you choose to go with your meaty meal.

Everyone knows the horror of undoing a fantastic plate of food with the wrong refreshment. While this is often an afterthought, it’s the one thing that can ruin you (or your chef’s) efforts. As such, it’s worth sparing a thought for your drinks ahead of time. But, what exactly could you pick to complement your meal?

Red red wine

Nothing works quite as well for complementing red meat as red wine. Imagine all those beautiful red hues together. How much would the colors of your glass bring that red river of sweet blood to life? Alright, enough with the poetics. The fact is, the hearty depths of a full-bodied wine taste bloody fantastic with steak. See what we did there? Anyway, the thing to remember here is that you need something bold. A glass of Shiraz is always a good bet, or a Cabernet Sauvignon. Bear in mind that different wines pair with different steaks. A steak with fat on it, can balance the strong tones of wines like those mentioned. A lean steak, on the other hand, could work with a lighter option.

What about white?

To some people, the idea of pairing white wine with steak is a sin. But, we’re calling them out. In reality, dry white wine can work just as well here as red. This works exceptionally well if you add an acidic touch to your meal. A small drizzle of lemon or white wine vinegar across your steak could make a Pinot Grigio the perfect accompaniment. It’s also worth noting that rose can work pretty well here, but we’ll leave that shock for another day…

But, it doesn’t get better than beer

All that wine business aside, many would still argue that you can’t beat a beer, and we don’t disagree. As much as wine can compliment those flavors, it just doesn’t have the refreshing note of an icy cold pint. Unlike the deep tones of wine, you may be best off opting for a light beer or ale in this instance. Pale or amber ale always work well, as does lager. The key to remember here that the main thing you’re looking for is refreshment. Focus on that, and a decent steak is sure to follow.

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.

Beer Gardens Not To Miss In NYC

As the weather becomes warmer and the summer months start to approach, what better way to spend your day than sitting outside with friends enjoying a cold pint of beer? Beer gardens are a popular and favorite among New York locals as a way to relax and enjoy yourself during the summer months. Below are the top beer gardens to visit in NYC.

Photo via @Jayh7779

The Standard Biergarten

Located at the Standard Hotel, this beer garden is known to be pretty cheap when comparing it to the other Standard Hotel venues. Customers should expect beers like the traditional Ayinger Weisse and Koestritzer Dark beer. All drinks are served at picnic tables alongside brats, currywurst and pretzels. Forget traveling to Germany, the Standard will give you the experiences you came looking for.

Zum Schneider

This place will bring you back to your days at Oktoberfest. Located in Alphabet City, this beer garden attracts beer lovers and German expats from all over. Customers can choose from a dozen German brews on tap. You can also enjoy all types of German foods while experiencing fun events with live music.

Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden

This authentic Czech beer garden is located in Queens and is a huge hit for family and friends during the summer time. Customers can sit outside on picnic tables under the trees while enjoying small plates of sausage and other small delights. You can purchase a variety of European and domestic beers (pints $6, pitchers $16). Known to be one of the largest and oldest outdoor drinking venue in the city, this place is a must try.

Related Stories

• The Real Estate Apps You Should Be Using                              
• Hudson Yards’ Hottest New Building The Charlie West                       
•  Inside The Manhattan View at MiMA Tower Residences

Have a listing you think should be featured contact us or email at Jeremy@offthemrkt.com to tell us more! Follow Off The MRKT on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook.