Vino Veritas

Partial part of the world knows it, and the other part of the world wants to learn it. Wine is a sublime art. Rarely is it only choose if you want a white or a red or a rosé or sparkling, it is also much more than that.

Thankfully the fruit accompanied us when God kicked Adam and Eve, and carried along the magical quality of sugar turning to alcohol. Welcome wine. The saviour to many of us- on a tardy weekday or a relaxed weekend dusk. However, wine brings many of us to much embarrassment- for lack of knowledge, lack of pleasing palette combination often leaves the host in the dust.

What is Wine?

Wine is simply aged grape juice that tastes brilliantly as it does when the sugar in it turns to alcohol with some yeast action on the surface of the grape. This process of fermantation comes with some twists, in various temperatures, for various time periods, with various qualities and kinds of grapes and the right storage that lends each wine the unique taste that it bears.

Aged wine is just a fine way to describe the better tasting and the rather expensive wine. These ones are usually matured in oak barrels and from here comes the woody accents lent to the wine.

Wine Etiquette

1) Hold the Glass by the stem. Not only does it give a better swirling technique, but it revolves the wine in a manner so as to not readjust the temperature of the wine.

2) You can ask for a spitting cup during a Wine Tasting. It is not considered rude- and lets you enjoy the flavors you desire rather liberally.

3) Should you just be introducing wine to your palette- start with white wine. White wine is sweeter to the palette and you can slowly progress to the complex red wines.

4) Ordering Wine at a Restaurant- Always ask for your Wine Sommelier. Each restaurant has one. Little do people benefit from a wine steward. Ask them to guide you a suitable wine with your dining preferences. The right wine is a palette cleanser as well as a flavor catalyst.

5) Coordinate Colors- If you are at a loss for wine pairing, coordinate colors. Usually white wines go the best with white fleshed food and red wines are more suitable with, say a red roasted salmon, a well- cooked steak or red sauces. This is a crude cheat code to choosing the right wine.

6) NEVER wear white to a Wine Tasting!

7) While Serving wine, never fill more than half the size of the glass.

8) Pour sparkling and blush wines with ease. Let the bubbles be preserved in this manner and pour right in the centre of the glass for the aroma to drift upwards.

SPEAK YOUR FRENCH WINE

Learn how to pronounce your favorite wines instead of just pointing out to the waiter the name on the menu. Rather belligerent innit?

REDS

Beaujolais- Bho-Jo-Lay

Beaujolais Nouveau- Bho-Jo-Lay New-Voh

Beaujolais Villages- Bho-Jo-Lay Vih-Lahzh

Bourgogne- Boor-Gon-Yeh

Bordeaux- Bore-DOH

Cabernet- Cab-air-NAY

Cabernet Sauvignon- Cab-Air-Nay Saw-Veen-YawN

Cabernet Franc- Cab-Air-Nay FrohN

Chateauneuf-du-Pape- Shah-toe-Nuff-duh-Pahp

Pinot Noir- Pee-Noe Nwahr

Syrah- SiH-RAH

WHITES

Vin Blanc- Vin-BloN

Chenin Blanc- Shay-Nan BloN

Chardonnay- Shar-Doe-Nay

Chablis- Sha-Blee

Pinot Blanc- Pee-Noe-Blon

Pinot Gris- Pee-noe- GREE

Sancerre- Sahn-Sair

Sauvignon Blanc- Saw-Veen-Yawn Blon

Semillon- Seh-mee- Yohn

GIFTING WINE

Never Bring your guests Chilled Wine. This is indicative of the fact that you want the wine to be served at the dinner, and it is not polite to have gifts opened during the course of the dinner. Usually the hosts have the meal and the choice of beverage well planned in advance. It is rude to shove your wine to them.

Should you not know the wine preferences of your hosts, it is always suggested to bring white wine during summers and red during winters.

Always consider gifting with a tissue paper or an appropriate gift bag. Never bring the wine bottle as it is.

Wine Pairing

Pairing the right food with the right fine is the epitome of wine talent.

Cabernet Sauvignon – red meats and smoked flavors

Chardonnay – all kinds of grilled chicken and fish.

Merlot – All Italian flavors and red meats.

Pinot Noir – light foods such as salmon and salads blend well with Pinot

Sauvignon Blanc – white colored foods. Fishes, cheeses and Light Fruit

Syrah – heavy and spicy gravy foods

Zinfandel – Italian food with tomato and basil flavors.

Tres, Très Bon!

Newspaper On Your Tips!

Unique Manicures are my thing! What could be more unique than having the headlines of the day on your nails! Here’s how I did it

1) Trim, Clean and Buff your nails.

2) Apply a base coat followed by a white nail polish. Instead of applying a fat wet coat- apply two light coats to opaque the nails.

3) Once the nails are completely dry, tear bits of newspaper and let them soak in a flat bowl containing some rubbing alcohol (available over the counter)

4) Over this, stick the newspaper clipping and press hard for some 15 seconds.

5) The newspaper ink will transfer easily.

6) Apply a transparent nail polish to smoothen the look!

Coffee Macaroons

Its so easy to bring in a French Boulangerie! These macaroons are pretty little yummy things. And I hate how they are charged so expensive in cafes around town. I mean who would want to stop eating these anything below a dozen? These bite-sized French treats are novelties from heaven.

The first time I tried baking Macaroons at home- SHIP WRECK! I mean, I still screw up on the shapes- but dayumm, these taste yummy enough to turn Laduree green with envy. This has become a family favorite- a sweet everyone digs into and conveniently manages to forget their diets. Just btw- macaroons do not use any butter, oil and heavy cream. They use almond flour instead of regular flour and that makes it an healthy alternative.

I chose to fill my macaroon meringues with the ever green Nutella. However, a chocolate ganache frosting takes minutes to whip up and is just as easy to make!

For the Meringues:

3/4rd cup Almond Flour

1 cup granulated/castor/confectioner’s sugar

1/4th tsp Cream of Tartar

1/2 tsp salt

3 tbs granulated sugar

2 egg whites at room temperature

1 tbsp cocoa powder

1 tbsp coffee powder

2 tbsp warm water

For the Filling:

Nutella

1) Sift the blended mixture of almond flour, cocoa powder and sugar, and set aside.

2). With an electric beater, Beat the egg whites, salt and cream of tartar. Start from medium speed and increase slowly to maximum speed. Slowly add the sugar spoon by spoon and keep on beating until you see frothy firm peaks.

3) Add the dry mixture slowly to the mixture of egg whites. The eggs here will deflate a little- but thats cool!

4) Mix 2 tbsp warm water with the coffee powder and add the solution to your mixture.

5) Slowly fold the mixture to incorporate the dry with the wet and get a non-dropping batter.

6) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and set baking sheets on the baking tray.

7) Add the mixture to the piping bag and drop coin sized batter at even distances.

8) Let the tray rest for 20 minutes, in order for the air bubbles to escape.

9) Bake until the shells can be tapped and they hold their stiffness. This is usually 30-35 minutes.

10) Separate the meringues from the baking sheet and make pairs of two, while adding a dollop of Nutella to seal them.

11) Let it chill in the fridge for an hour- or not- I COULDN’T WAIT!

Indoor Spa

A Leaf From Coachella

As much as there is brimming love for the coveted music festival, I am rather desperately waiting to see spring in its full glory portrayed on fashionistas from all over the world.

Of Sunglasses

Of Ombé and Dip Dyed

Clockwise from the upper left corner- Free People , Forever 21 , Asos.com, Forever 21 , Asos.com, H&M

Of Grunge and Bohemé

Clockwise- Asos.com, Zara, Zara, Free People, Forever 21, Forever 21, Michael Kors

Chilly Lips

Recently I compiled up a list of some of the most gorgeous reds available. However, I personally stick to red mattes when it comes to my lips. The bloodier the better. It all sums up to the mood and the time of the day. A daily wear would most likely be a coral red, and a night out would mostly be a red-blue deep lipstick (the one that stains the lips like a vampire).

My girls and I often describe our mood of the day as some of our commonly used MAC lipstick shades. While Lady Danger is so day wear, a Russian Red tends to rock my date night with the town.

My Glitter Half

For the longest time ever, I have been craving for a pair of mixed glitter pumps. Not the tacky kinds, but the ones where you look at them and think of those shoes as completely pointless without the shimmer. I found a similar pair at shoedazzle, however, couldn’t purchase it online (Doesn’t ship to my country, sigh!)

Recently I bumped into the same pair (same!) at an H&M store and was thrilled to grab the last pair- YES! The last pair was a 6.5 luckily. The best part- they are super comfortable, go with any outfit and look so debonair. I think my fling with bling is turning into an affair for life!

Skinny Jeans Baked Beans