Champagne and Fast Food – the Perfect Combination
At the risk of being called a “champagne socialist,” I will advocate a combination you may not have considered, a combination that – at first glance – seems silly, almost wasteful, but makes the concept of “steam”. really click. If you’ve never had a pair that dazzles you, this is an easy and surprisingly affordable place to start.
I’ve already talked about Champagne’s ability to make fatty foods sing early, with a special emphasis on Thanksgiving , and the qualities that make champagne so delicious with turkey and mashed potatoes – the same qualities that make it absolutely amazing with fast food. Its vibrant, bubbly and sour nature makes it the perfect foil for fat and salt, two ingredients that make fast food attractive in the first place. Chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers, pizza, and any other fatty and savory takeout meal benefit from the laser-sharp and taste-cleansing astringency of dry wine. (This prevents your tongue from saturating, allowing you to eat more.)
I’m not saying that you need to interrupt Veuve Clicquot every time you order the Quarter Pounder, but you should try the combination at least once, perhaps on your birthday, New Years Eve, or when your baby is born. Capital-C champagne is financially impractical for everyday use, but any super-dry sparkling wine will do. I am partial to Blanc de Blancs Trader Joe’s , which is “from somewhere in France”, incredibly dry and much better than it deserves to be at this price (as much as six US dollars).
Drinking sparkling wine with fast food is just fun. The combination of high and low feels extremely decadent and tastes delicious. This is my favorite alcoholic drink to drink with fast food and I cannot recommend it enough. (Diet Coke is my favorite fast food soft drink, but I don’t recommend you switch to Diet Coke if you don’t already have one. I started drinking it as a kid in the early 90’s and now it gives me a headache.)