Evite has a nifty drink calculator. You enter the party duration (4 hours), Guest Count of number of light (20) Avergage (60) and Heavy (40) drinkers that will attend. You put in if you’re serving wine, beer, or liquor (or any combination) and viola- you have what you should buy. We used said calculator for the Mr. and Mrs. Lush Reception, imputing the above numbers, overestimating a smidge because I’d rather have things left over than run out. Results were: 217Bottle(s)/Can(s) of Beer, 44Bottle(s) of Wine and 11Bottle(s) of Liquor (1 liter). We purchased about that much, but ended up with an abundance of alcohol leftover. Realistically, we went through less than 150 bottles of beer, 22-25 bottles of wine, and 7 bottles of liquor for about 95 adults and 15 kids. Astonishing how far off it was. I mean, really, I figured it would be right about on if I added a few more light drinkers and moved some avg drinkers to heavy drinkers, thinking evite wouldn't really know what a heavy drinker is. But no, I guess if you say heavy drinker, evite really thinks you’re a boozehound- we overpurchased by at least 40%.
However, when putting in what I would actually consider to be a heavy drinker, (ie someone who consumes over a bottle of wine by themselves, or 10+ mixed drinks) I changed it to 25 heavy, 50 avg, and 25 light. It came up with the following results: 167Bottle(s)/Can(s) of Beer, 34Bottle(s) of Wine and 9 Bottle(s) of Liquor (1 liter). Much much closer to actual numbers used. Hmm. Who knew-evite and I agree on what a heavy drinker is!!!
Although, worse things could happen-now we’re forced to have a party.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
My love hate relationship with Chicken Marsala and pairing
As you might know from reading my blog, I make Chicken Marsala from time to time and am always on the lookout for the perfect wine to pair with it. I serve it with a side of pasta alfredo and my sauce has a slightly creamy texture, but the base of the sauce, Marsala Wine, isn't white, so it goes with many things. Which, some could say is a great feature of a dish-that it tastes good with a lot of wines that you aren't stuck with a certain kind, but I think its a bit of a pain because nothing tastes perfect with it. The latest effort was the 2000 Pietra Santa Sassolino form Gold Medal Wine Club.
Its a "Tuscan-inspired blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, from grapes grown 
exclusively on the Pietra Santa estate. Sassolino translates to “little stone” in Italian, and is in reference to the granite and limestone rich soils that add interesting characters and flavors to the wine. The 2000 Sassolino was awarded 87 Points – “Highly Recommended” by the Beverage Tasting Institute. On the nose, rich aromas of cherry, sandalwood, sage and vanilla are present, and the wine opens with good concentration and a medium body. The Sassolino is loaded with ripe, mouthfilling fruit, and displays opulent raspberry and blueberry flavors with hints of mint and spice. Pietra Santa’s Sassolino has excellent balance, soft tannins, and a supple texture that pairs well with grilled steaks or lamb chops. Aged 25 months in oak. 54% Sangiovese, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy now until 2010. Pietra Santa’s Sassolino is a proprietary blend of the winery. This is a special wine not only to the family, but also to the winery’s enthusiasts who have anticipated each vintage release since 1993."
exclusively on the Pietra Santa estate. Sassolino translates to “little stone” in Italian, and is in reference to the granite and limestone rich soils that add interesting characters and flavors to the wine. The 2000 Sassolino was awarded 87 Points – “Highly Recommended” by the Beverage Tasting Institute. On the nose, rich aromas of cherry, sandalwood, sage and vanilla are present, and the wine opens with good concentration and a medium body. The Sassolino is loaded with ripe, mouthfilling fruit, and displays opulent raspberry and blueberry flavors with hints of mint and spice. Pietra Santa’s Sassolino has excellent balance, soft tannins, and a supple texture that pairs well with grilled steaks or lamb chops. Aged 25 months in oak. 54% Sangiovese, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon. Enjoy now until 2010. Pietra Santa’s Sassolino is a proprietary blend of the winery. This is a special wine not only to the family, but also to the winery’s enthusiasts who have anticipated each vintage release since 1993."We decanted the wine for about 30 minutes, although in retrospect it could've used about 90+ minutes. It was great though- a bit harsh on the oak at first, but as I said we should've decanted it a bit more. It was also very good with the Marsala. Probably still not the perfect pair, but I guess I'll be *forced* to keep on trying.
Oh the demands of being a winelush.
My Eyes Are A Natural Dehydration Meter
Odd thing about my experience with Lasik-its turned my eyes into a natural dehydration meter. When I’m dehydrated, my eyes will sting and water. It didn’t used to happen. But now, post-Lasik, it happens. I was reminded of this today, after a night of some salty pizza and Chianti, while driving to work, when my eyes teared up. But, clearly my body is saying its thirsty, so I guess I shouldn’t complain. Its just….weird.
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