301897 Wed Apr 19 13:43:36 -0700 2006 23 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1686272 Does anyone else like a glass of sparkling wine with or before their dinner? I really like to start off with a nice Prosecco or something similar - how about anyone else? Wed Apr 19 13:43:36 -0700 2006 0 Suburban Sandy 1 1686285 "I only drink champagne when I'm happy, and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company, I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty." - Lily Bollinger Smart lady, that Lily Bollinger. Wed Apr 19 15:30:13 -0700 2006 1686272 0 FlyFish 2 1686287 Now THAT'S a quote! Yeah, I like a glass of the bubbly stuff when the opportunity presents itself. Mmmmm proseco. Wed Apr 19 15:35:06 -0700 2006 1686285 0 jdherbert 3 1686289 I think it is a lovely idea and should try it more at home - I guess I need to find some reasonable half bottles/splits! Wed Apr 19 16:00:13 -0700 2006 1686287 0 MMRuth 4 1686307 My DH is not crazy about bubbly but can appreciate the good French stuff. I can't drink a whole bottle by myself so I look for decent splits to have on hand and do like proseco too. Anytime is fine for me day or night. I do like a good rose champange, if you have not tried one make an opportunity to do so. It is not the old pink champange and is very different. Wed Apr 19 17:39:24 -0700 2006 1686289 0 Candy 5 1686338 Look for a champagne stopper like the one at the link below - they really work! I'm a solo drinker at home, because my husband doesn't drink (except for Eiswein). The champagne stopper keeps an open bottle for quite a while - anywhere from 4 days to two weeks (but the bubbles start to fade after about 7 or 8 days). Count me in as a prosecco-before-dinner drinker, too! And when I can afford it, I do love real French champagne. Anne Link: http://www.org-etc.com/organizeeverything1/chambotstop.html Thu Apr 20 02:12:57 -0700 2006 1686307 0 AnneInMpls 6 1686342 Thanks ... I actually have one, but didn't realize the champagne would keep so long! Another reason to give it a try. Thu Apr 20 07:34:10 -0700 2006 1686338 0 MMRuth 1 1686292 Bubbly is one of the four basic food groups: Bubbly, cheese, chocolate and pasta. It's not a pyramid, because it's non-hierarchical. Wed Apr 19 16:11:38 -0700 2006 1686272 0 Karl S 2 1686303 You have correctly identified four EXAMPLES from the 4 basic food groups, however the groups themselves are more broad. Simply: alcohol fat caffeine sugar Wed Apr 19 17:14:48 -0700 2006 1686292 0 danna 3 1686311 You left one out, FRIED!!!! Being from the south, that's usually placed at the top of the list. However, there's certainly nothing wrong with using a nice bottle of bubbly to wash it down. Wed Apr 19 18:25:10 -0700 2006 1686303 0 Monty 4 1686333 Uh...and Carbs! My personal fave. I think Fried falls under Fat. Thu Apr 20 00:45:35 -0700 2006 1686311 0 Gayle 5 1686344 Fried = fat Carbs = sugar Weren't you guys listening in school? ;-) fat,caffeine,alcohol,sugar. That's why they say Irish Coffee is the perfect food. Thu Apr 20 09:13:29 -0700 2006 1686333 0 danna 1 1686294 Absolutely, I'm particularly fond of Demi-Sec's and other sweeter varieties. Wed Apr 19 16:26:38 -0700 2006 1686272 0 JB 1 1686299 Some days, even before breakfast. Any time is good for sparkling wines. Wed Apr 19 16:53:13 -0700 2006 1686272 0 Babs 1 1686300 My wife and I recently made a commitment with our friends to drink champagne more often. Including before dinner. It has made us considerably happier people. That "special occasion" you were saving the champagne for is right now. Enjoy! Wed Apr 19 16:55:43 -0700 2006 1686272 0 bg 1 1686304 My husband and I have a bottle of bubbly on Sunday morning as we wake up with breakfast. We started this practice several years ago as a celebration as we watch Formula One races broadcast live at 4:00 am on the west coast. For some inexplicable reason, we kept on with the bubbly ritual after the race season ended. We are very very happy! Wed Apr 19 17:18:39 -0700 2006 1686272 0 Inquiring Minds 1 1686309 I can't conceive of a situation where bubbly before, during, and/or after a meal would NOT be a good idea. Wed Apr 19 17:47:23 -0700 2006 1686272 0 Morgan 1 1686318 My father ALWAYS had a bottle or two of champagne in the fridge. It was there for special events like someone dropping in for a visit, or arriving home from work, or the fact that the sun was shining, or that it was raining and you needed something to cheer you up. I do try to follow my father's example. P. S. When my husband-to-be and I arrived in the middle of the night to announce our engagement, my father went for the celebratory bottle only to find that my brother and his friends had drunk all the champagne over the weekend. We ended up toasting our engagement with beer and diet coke. Wed Apr 19 20:23:12 -0700 2006 1686272 0 ratbin 2 1686436 Maybe someone should design a fridge with a locked compartment? Fri Apr 21 17:53:30 -0700 2006 1686318 0 JBC 1 1686327 For years I thought I didn't like champagne and then luckily learned that I didn't like cheap champagne. That made all the difference. I find bubbly wines wonderful; as a matter of fact we had a rose sparkling wine with our ham at Easter and it was delightful. Wed Apr 19 21:59:44 -0700 2006 1686272 0 jillp 1 1686348 I prefer a bubbly belgian beer like Duvel. Its a great apertif. Thu Apr 20 09:49:34 -0700 2006 1686272 0 rl 1 1686405 i've seen it done a lot at posh events and parties. not that i go to that many. but i think i've seen champagne served the minute you walk in the door at most dinner things i've been to. it's great. although i always find alcohol decreases my appetite. Fri Apr 21 05:11:03 -0700 2006 1686272 0 hobokeg 1 1686583 Opened a bottle of champagne while making fried oysters (after husband opening a bottle of red wine) Friday night. Finished both by the time dinner was over. Oops! Mon Apr 24 15:41:39 -0700 2006 1686272 0 MMRuth 1 1686740 Whenever I have a dinner party I start off with an apéritif. A Champagne Cocktail, a Bellini ( champagne or sparkling wine and peach purée) or a Kir Royale ( champagne or sparkling wine and Crème de Cassis ) They are festive and elegant, and delicious, and go well with hors d'oevres. Wed Apr 26 06:07:20 -0700 2006 1686272 0 Fleur