The Bubbly

I think champagne is the most overlooked and under rated beverage. I know that everyone loves champagne for the celebration effect, that's not what I mean. Of course, we all drink champagne on New Year's and to toast at a wedding, but what about in everyday life? It tastes just as good, makes you feel just as good, so why not have a glass on a random day? The only exceptions to this may be the sophisticated Europeans that make me so jealous and my friend Cristy, who appreciates a good mimosa on most weekends, no matter where she is.

(Side story...One summer Saturday morning, shortly after Cristy's wedding, the two of us headed down to the beach to sit and relax. We had a jug of OJ, a bottle of champagne and two beach chairs. The two beach chairs were wedding presents and one was monogrammed bride and the other groom. Let's just say that as we sat there side by side in those chairs and then popped the champagne cork twenty feet, we got some stares. We didn't care- we were looking at the ocean with a mimosa in hand...what's better than that?)

While in Europe, particularly Brest, France, I discovered how enjoyable a cool glass of champagne can be in the afternoon, or before a nice meal. For those I was visiting, it was an everyday routine, but for me, it was a new, fascinating luxury! I was determined to bring this sophisticated habit back to my life in the U.S. As a sophomore in college, in the land of frats and kegs, it's hard to be sophisticated and take the time out to enjoy something nice like a glass of champagne. Impossible even. If a bottle of champagne were to emerge (and it would have been the cheapest I could find) a guy would have inevitably grabbed it and chugged-that is the way of the college years.

Anyways...years later I have rediscovered my love and appreciation for a good glass of champagne. Of course, I frequently treat myself to a nice Pinot Noir or Cabernet, but this is lighter and nicer for the summer. I recently had a glass of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin. It was perfect and, when sipped slowly, just set my palate right for a great meal to come. My only hang up would be the need to open a large bottle when i just want one glass and no one is joining me. Solution- Some stores sell very small, one glass portions! This may be common knowledge, but it's news to me and I'm stoked! Now my fine champagne flutes that were a wedding gift, can finally be put to more frequent use...well, at least one of them will.

The Triple Perfecta

For my second anniversary, my husband and I went on a memorable trip to Charleston, SC. Only being 3 hours from Wilmington, it's not a far trip, but for some reason we don't make it down there enough. On Saturday night we went to the Penninsula Grille located in the Planter's Inn. Now, Charleston is known for it's wonderful cuisine and quaint restaurants, but this one really exceeded them all. It is a little on the expensive side, but we decided if we're going to eat a good meal we might as well go big. Here's how the evening of fine dining (and drinking) played out:

We had a drink in the Champagne and Oyster Bar while we waited for our table. I had a glass of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, a phenomenal champagne that I happen to have just read about, and it lived up to expectation. This started the evening off on a high note, I must say. My husband had Maker's Mark on the rocks, which is nothing new, but keeps him happy.

After being seated, we ordered the first course, consisting of three types of lobster (ravioli, tempura and plain, all in a lobster bisque) and a corn and lobster chowder. Holy perfect appetizer, batman. I could have stopped there and never eaten again, having gone out on a high note, but more was to come.

Next, of course, came the entrees. Mine was a perfectly prepared portion of grouper on a bed of succotash that had a little lobster thrown in for good measure. My husband had a NY Strip with crumbled blue cheese and a balsamic reduction. There was not a morsel left on his plate. I don't mean he just ate it all, I mean, there was no fat to be cut off...that's a steak. Just to emphasize the amazingness of this steak- I am a vegetarian and I had a big 'ol bite. All of this enjoyed with a full-bodied cabernet for Hubs and a light Pinot Noir for me.


The third dish rounding out our "triple perfecta" was dessert. The Penninsula Grille is known for their Coconut Cake, so begrugingly, we ordered a slice. Since I was also on my own triple perfecta for the evening, but for drinks, I ordered a chocolate martini. Sipping that with layer upon layer of toasted coconut cake was a great way to end the meal. Sadly, we actually high fived at the table, much to the proper Southern patron's dismay.

There is actually a "fact sheet" on the Penninsula Grille Coconut Cake. http://www.peninsulagrill.com/pdf/CoconutCakes.pdf

To summarize, go to Penninsula Grille. It's wonderful and you'll feel like an adult eating there-even if you lose yourself and high five at the end.

French Women Don't Get Fat

In all my studies as a Nutritionist, never once did a teacher or class hit so perfectly on weight management. I learned about the science of the body and food, calories, carbohydrates, protein, glucose...I could go on for hours. This book explains the simple way to balance the paradox that is managing weight and being a happy, normal person. It actually works. Any book that encourages, drinking wine, eating chocolate and riding my sweet beach cruiser to work is the plan for me! A switch just flipped in my head...I no longer obsess about what I'm eating (or not eating), I just eat three good meals, and if one is a little bit heavier, the next one will be light. For some people, this is kind of a "duh" moment. Not me, I guess I'm a little behind. Read the book. It'll make you want to drink good champagne and choose one bite of something really, really good over a while bunch of just okay. Quality over quantity people! I kind of want to move to France, but I don't think my high school French would get me very far. Au Revoir!

Mireille Guiliano is the author of French Women Don't Get Fat and she has a few more books along the same theme. My next read will be French Women For All Seasons. She has a great website as well to check out:

http://mireilleguiliano.com/

Chocolate Covered Caffeine.

There is an unenforceable rule in my house that I am not allowed to consume caffeinated beverages after 9:00 am. Yep, a.m. I am so sensitive to caffeine, that any time after that would keep me awake that night, annoying my husband with mindless chatter. Hence, the rule. Last night though, while enjoying a cookie dough Frosty from Wendy's, I realized the treat in a bright yellow cup would be a definite rule breaker.

Hours later, after counting backwards, counting sheep, and counting make believe lottery winnings, my mind really began to wander. All my thoughts seemed to co-mingle, but basically it was this: I just read French Women Don't Get Fat (which deserves much more than a mere mention, so I'll embellish later) and it was consuming my mind; I thought about my BS in Food and Nutrition, and how I focus only on the Nutrition side and forget about the Food side; and I just got back from an amazing trip to Charleston, SC where we indulged in the wonderful local fare. To sum it up...I kept thinking about how much I love food, and now I'm going to write about it.