Share:

It’s the middle of the week which means that for a lot of people, dinner is starting to feel like a chore and reheating leftovers sounds way better than whipping something up. I’m all about ease and convenience so I’m not going to sit here and tell you to that you absolutely have to snap out of it and test out a new recipe tonight. If you don’t want to cook, don’t cook! Either go out and treat yourself or reheat something from earlier in the week. However, if you go the leftover route, I do suggest making one small tweak: spice it up with some new wine.

It’s amazing what a glass of wine can do to elevate your meal but you need to have an open mind about it. If you ALWAYS have the same glass of cabernet whenever you eat spaghetti and meatballs, simply changing what’s in your glass could be enough to make a standard dish feel new again.

It would take forever, and way more than a blog post, to go over new wine options for every dish out there so instead, I’ll go with some generic staples/comfort dishes to get you started.

Fried Chicken

This is a really great place to start because there isn’t much that is more comforting than fried chicken. But you know what you probably never thought of pairing with it? Champagne. It’s the perfect match, I promise! If you’re in search of something a little more budget friendly, I’d go with a Spanish Cava. The cava will be nice and crisp and will add an acidic touch to the dish.

Steak

This is where my personal favorite comes into play: Malbec. An Argentine Malbec will have a nice bold flavor that pairs magically with red meat. Though, since this post is all about changing things up and I drink Malbec as often as I can, I will also suggest an Uruguayan Tannat which has a similar flavor profile but is a good way to switch things up.

Shrimp

I may have lied to you just before because when it comes to my favorite wine, it’s actually a toss up between Malbec and a really buttery Chardonnay. Chardonnay is a good match for seafood because it compliments without overpowering. We are kind of exiting sangria season but keep this next tip in your back pocket for next season: a chardonnay based sangria will also pair beautifully with a seafood dish.

There is nothing wrong with having a dinner routine week to week but just like any relationship, it’s important to keep things interesting. Changing up your wine selection, even if you don’t change up your menu, is an easy and enjoyable way to have fun with your routine and pull yourself out of a dinner rut.

• About
• Latest Posts

Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

• Why Food Makes the Best Gift for a New Mom - April 12, 2023
• 5 Ingredients to Cook With This Spring - March 15, 2023
• 10 Reasons to Dine Out on Valentine’s Day - February 2, 2023