If dinner is going to be from the drive-thru, do yourself a favor and skip the fast food soda fountain.
If you’re going to take a night off from cooking, you can still put a little thought into what you drink.
Burgers
A craft root beer or ginger beer is perfect with a cheeseburger, said Dave Del Bene, general manager at Clyde’s restaurant in Washington. “A delicious draft root beer is stunning on its own, but with a burger, it makes a pretty good afternoon.”
Fried chicken
Class up the takeout bucket of chicken with refreshing peach and mint shakes. Just boil water and fresh mint and let it steep, said Food Network star Ingrid Hoffman. Then blend with peaches, vanilla ice cream and ice cubes.
Pizza
Most people pair beer or an Italian wine with pizza, but a Spanish garnacha, or grenache, wine pairs nicely with the herbs in the tomato sauce, said David Snyder, a Philadelphia restaurant critic and wine connoisseur.
Pad thai
A Latin Bellini with mango is a natural complement to Thai food, Hoffman said. Put mango chunks in a blender and puree until smooth. Add a bit of sparking wine as needed to blend. Spoon some of the mango puree into flutes, then fill with sparkling wine.
Mexican food
Try a Sangria Senorial, a nonalcoholic soda with a similar flavor to Sangria wine. It’s made with wine grapes, lemon and cane sugar. Find it at Mexican food markets or online.
Sushi
A ginger lime crush — ginger, water, lime juice, sugar and ice cubes combined in a blender — is the perfect complement to the fresh taste of raw fish, and saltiness of soy sauce, Hoffman said.
Fried rice
Try pineapple mojitos. The pineapple works well in Asian food, Hoffman said. Using a pestle or the end of a wooden spoon, in a tall glass mash together fresh mint, sugar and lime. Add ice and top off with pineapple juice concentrate, white rum and club soda.
Beef teriyaki
Hoffman recommends a mandarin orange Champagne cocktail, since the orange will complement the beef. In a blender, combine orange sections, vodka, sparkling wine and lemon sorbet. Puree and enjoy.
Victoria Brett
For The Associated Press
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
