| Have you ever experienced dining in a 3-star | | | | Looking for a way to dazzle at your next party? |
| restaurant in France? | | | | Start with Champagne! |
| Upon arrival, you are immediately given an | | | | "What?" you ask. "Champagne's only for special |
| extraordinarily tasty little something that the | | | | occasions!" |
| French refer to as an amuse-gueule, or | | | | According to market statistics, the average |
| "palate-tickler." The reason it is such a winner is | | | | American drinks Champagne on only two |
| quite simple: | | | | occasions per year, New Year's Eve and on some |
| 1. You're starving. | | | | other celebration such as a birthday or wedding. |
| 2. They know that, and so they present you | | | | Because Americans only seem to associate |
| arguably the best thing you'll have all night and it's | | | | drinking Champagne with celebrations, you can |
| usually on the house! This sets the hook, just as | | | | use this to your advantage when entertaining! |
| movie previews entice us to buy show tickets. | | | | People will say "Oh, you shouldn't have!", or "Just |
| You can learn from this. While pursuing a degree | | | | for us?" Show your guests that you will always |
| in professional wine tasting at the Universite de | | | | go out of your way for them. You don't need to |
| Bordeaux, I learned that your ability to discern | | | | spend a lot of money either--$10 to $14 can get |
| subtlety is at its best when you're experiencing | | | | you something acceptable from Spain or California. |
| hunger. Your appetite is extremely fragile. All of | | | | Only spend serious money on Champagne when |
| our tasting sessions were conducted within 30 to | | | | you know the recipients would recognize the |
| 45 minutes to avoid palate saturation. | | | | difference...not many do! |
| Too often, we allow our guests to overindulge in | | | | And, if you're going to serve Champagne, try it |
| hors d'ouevres, which takes most of the edge off | | | | with the following recipe: |
| their appetites. If your intentions are to "WOW" | | | | Parmesan Toasts (makes 60) |
| your guests, you want them to maintain their | | | | 1/2 cup chopped shallots |
| hunger edge. My suggestion would be that you | | | | 1 1/2 cups Parmesan Cheese (2 years old+) |
| lead with your favorite food and wine combination | | | | 1/2 cup mayonnaise |
| first. Then, you can ratchet back from there as | | | | 5 cloves chopped garlic |
| appetites begin to decline. | | | | Optional pinch cayenne/black pepper/parsley |
| Give them the best you can offer them--first ! | | | | Pipe onto sour dough toast rounds and broil until |
| The same applies if you're invited to a pot-luck | | | | brown on top. Serve hot! This recipe is magnetic |
| dinner; always bring the first course. | | | | with champagne. |
| Champagne Dazzles! | | | | Enjoy! |