Summer Time Food

Do you ever wonder what beer to have with your favorite cookout food? You do not need to look any further. We have the best beer and summer food pairings for all of your summer activities. Keep reading to learn about what drink you should have with your next meal. You can learn more here.

food and beer pairing issues:

Complementary or contrasting flavors?

Some chefs and sommeliers attempt to find commonalities, pairing, say, a spicy Thai dish with a spicy pale ale (could also be a fruit-fruit or chocolate-chocolate synchronization, etc.). The idea is that there is a pleasant echo. Notes in one sip evoke flavors in past or future bites. The opposite approach suggests that contrasting flavors are pleasing in a ying-yang sort of way: A dry, bitter stout classically pairs with oysters, perhaps "cutting through" the sweetness of the shellfish. Sweet and salty always work wonders. Remember that dominant food flavors can come from the protein (like beef), the sauce (such as a cream sauce), or the method of preparation (grilling, for example).



Comparing beer to wine

Some people say lager is like white wine and ale is like red. A corollary of that concept: that beer hops (as in a nice bitter IPA) function like wine acids (found in, say, a Sauvignon Blanc or a Chianti) in food pairings. Both cut through fattiness and oiliness, and even saltiness. Imagine them both as providing the lemon in, or acid counterpoint to, a fish dish. These are oversimplifications, but there are a few fundamental differences between lager and ale (the two main types of beer) worth contemplating: Ales tend to be fruity and robust, while lagers are crisp and comparatively delicate. In terms of body, there are three types of beer (like wine): light, medium, and heavy. Generally you can pair light dishes with light beer and heavy dishes with heavy beer.

Examples:

Light Body
Wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Pinot Grigio
Beers: Lager, Pilsner, Wheat

Medium Body
Wines: Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah
Beers: Ale, IPA, Bock

Heavy Body
Wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Oaky Chardonnay
Beers: Stout, Porter, Barleywine



Texture, temperature, and timing

Bubbles cut through fried and fatty foods, so opt for more carbonization when eating richer foods. Pizza, for example, is a greasy match made in heaven and requires something that will stand up to the acids in the tomato and cut through the fatty cheese but not overwhelm the dish. Stouts and porters are too heavy. Wheat beers might be a little light or fruity. Ales, pilsners, and lagers are your best bet: Hops stand up to the cheese, while bubbles cleanse the palate. Note that beer can taste syrupy if it's too warm. It's best served between 40°F and 50°F. (Note: some fridges get even colder than 40°F, so you might consider leaving a beer out for 15 minutes before serving.). Finally, timing really is everything. If you're pairing a whole meal with different beers, course by course, dish by dish, make sure to start with a light beer and work your way toward darker beers. If you don't, you may overwhelm your palate early on and miss some of the subtler notes and aromas of delicate beers.



Beware of simply matching the region


Many people think if you're having Mexican food, it's a safe bet that a Mexican beer will pair well. The truth is: Most restaurants offer only a small selection of beers and mostly because that's what people are used to seeing on a menu. Mexican Tecate, Thai Singha, Indian Kingfisher, and Chinese Tsingtao are all great European pilsner-style beers, but they're not universal pairing solutions for all dishes from their respective countries. (Some of these brands are actually brewed in the U.S. or Canada anyway.) Beer experts advocate stronger and fruitier flavors when dining on spicy fare: ales, Hefeweizens, and wheat beers in particular. No matter what type of beer you choose, the coldness will feel good against hot food.



Drink what you like

If you love pale ale, you'll probably like it with anything you eat. And you know what? There's nothing wrong with that. Experiment: There are no wrong answers.

Bust It Out

(Image courtesy of bark)

We all have those little projects around the house that we can’t wait to get finished. Starting them is a breeze, but then...another project comes our way and all the progress that we’ve made seems to fall to the wayside.

If project ADD is striking down your efforts every turn there is a simple solution. Rather than getting bogged down in a project try one of these simple tricks, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com. You’ll be relaxing and enjoying the rewards of your hard work in no time!

1. Identify exactly what it is

This might sound a little too simple, but when you've got so many things swirling around in your head — from work stuff to family stuff to trying to remember to pick up almond milk on the way home — it can help to quite clearly identify what it is you actually want to get done. Don't have a sort of vague "make the closet look nicer" idea; tell yourself you want to organize your closet, completely making sure everything has its own place. It's the same with setting intentions; get specific.

2. Break it down into its absolute smallest parts

Don't just write "organize pantry" on your to-do-list and expect to get that done. You've got to narrow it down into all the tiny actions that are required to complete the task. And I mean tiny. From buying the necessary organization tools, to throwing away old or expired items to dividing the space to adding labels, give each task its own line on a to-do-list. Then, put it in the order that it has to be done, making a special note for things that have to happen before you can begin (like gathering tools or supplies). This will make sure that you don't keep putting off your project because you forget you've got to grab some supplies before you can actually start it.

3. Prioritize and do less

After you break a project or task down to its absolute smallest parts, now's a great time to really consider what actually needs to be done, and to choose the priorities. Decide what needs to be done and start on the vital tasks, first. But also consider not doing as much stuff. Do you really need to polish all your shoes before you organize them? It's admirable to want to try, but not at the risk of not doing any of it because you get burnt out.

4. Post it

I'm a big fan of large white boards scribbled with goals on it. It's hard to run from the truth when it's staring you in the face. This can be especially nice if the thing you want to do has a lot of tasks that need to be completed to finish it. It can just be on a sheet of paper, but the point is to get it out of your head and in front of your eyes so your brain can wrap itself around the project at hand.

5. Set a real day and time for it

Don't just set a goal and then not set a deadline — it may continue to stay undone for awhile. Find a day and time you can dedicate to tackling the project. And then keep the appointment as if it were a work appointment (or perhaps, like it were a spa appointment). And the best time to actually schedule getting started? Right now! (Starting ASAP prevents procrastination.)

6. Chip away at it regularly

If this isn't the sort of project that can be tackled in one afternoon or weekend, make sure it gets done (and doesn't end up in half-way finished land) by chipping away at it regularly. Set a weekly appointment to work on it, tiny task-by-tiny-task, until it's finally completed. Use an app or an alarm on your phone to keep you on track.

7. Talk yourself into — and through — it

Don't doubt the power of persuasion — especially when it comes from you! Talk yourself into the project by visualizing how great it will feel to finish. Talk yourself through it by countering all your excuses about giving up like you would if it were a friend saying these things aloud. Be your own annoyingly optimistic cheerleader.

Uncork And Relax

(Image courtesy of Joe Schlabotnik)

Now that summer is here, many people forego heavier drinks for light and fruity cocktails - but what get together would be complete without a fantastic glass of wine? If you’re like us, the idea of sipping a heavy red wine during the hot, sticky summer months just doesn’t sound appealing.

If you want to give your wine list an upgrade for the summer, this article from apartmenttherapy.com has just what you’re looking for. Peruse this list of light, fruity summer wines to find your next favorite!

Vinho Verde

In Portuguese this translates to green wine and it’s the perfect drink for hot nights in Lisbon. A young, tart white wine this one is a crowd pleaser as it’s easy on the palette and great for drinking in the sun or after a long day in it.

Caprice de Colombelle

This French wine is robust for a white and has great notes of pear that evolve on the tongue. It goes well with chicken dishes or Brie cheese. This wine is pretty widespread as far as its exportation in the States so ask your local wine merchant if they carry it (and if they don’t, to start to!)

Santo Wines

These Greek wines from the island of Santorini are all delicious! From the sparkling wine to the dry red Vedema (as seen in the image) these wines are Dionysius approved. If you ever get to Santorini, a visit to this winery is a must as it sits high on the hills giving a view of the entire island and the caldera.

Wollersheim Winery’s Prairie Fumé

This semi-dry white wine believe it or not comes from Wisconsin. Naturally yes, it pairs well with cheese being from the land of cheese, but the experts at Wollersheim Winery, who won Winery of the Year at the San Diego International Wine Competition in 2012, know what they’re doing. The Prairie Fumé has won more awards than we can list here, including, “Blockbuster Wine of the Year” for its delicious orange and grapefruit flavors. Pairs well with grilled foods, pasta and seafood.

Sineann Yates Conwill Vineyard’s Pinot Noir

You don’t have to say goodbye to reds in the summer but you will want to lighten your palette’s load. Do that with a great Oregon Pinot Noir, fruity and light but still with plenty of evolution as it travels down the tongue, this wine is one to savor on a special summer night – we recommend the 2012 vintage.

Do you have a favorite warm weather wine or recipe? If so, share it with us!

Need Design Inspiration?

(Image courtesy of Tamar Scheckner)

If you’re like us, you can never get enough of exotic design ideas. Often when you’re creating an idea for a space it can be easy to be drawn into the comfortable - and usually playing it safe comes at the price of a visually stunning room.

If you’re a bit timid when it comes to the idea of “letting it all hang out,” with your interior design, there are still options to create an elegant, yet eye catching room. These easy principles, courtesy of renters.apartments.com, are inspired by French decor and will leave you saying oui. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to find out more.

Snow White.

The most common theme you’ll find in French design starts with white. This means a fresh and clean palette where you can artfully add in soft pastels to bring color. Walls are often white with white wainscoted detailing and crown molding. Plush white sofas are also a must. Don’t overwhelm a room with color, keep white the clear theme – the ultimate goal is a clean palette. To keep things from going too white and mod, the toiles and florals come in….

It’s a Toile World After All.

Nothing says French faster than a toile print. For anyone who loves whimsy, these are your dream fabrics. Fairy-tale-esque scenes are printed in repeat and can be used as curtains, throw blankets, pillows and more. If the farm scene isn’t your thing, try the Chinoiserie toile.

Pillows and Flowers and Armchairs - oh my!

French design is nothing short of sophisticated yet it simultaneously should invite you to step in and have a seat, a comfy seat that is! Why? Because they understand the power of decorative pillows. Pillows invite but also make statements. If white is your overarching palette, you need pillows to provide your pops of color and break up the monotony. The French are known for choosing quality fabrics so don’t cheat yourself here, a cheap pillow will look cheap. Williams Sonoma has top notch options.

Perusing Paris you’ll remark upon how many flower shops there are, this is because the French love to bring life into their homes and what better way to do so with flowers? Try it out for a month and I’m sure you’ll soon get addicted to this little indulgence, this joie de vivre.

Finally, the French armchair is a staple in any French home. Often called the Louis XV chair, these delicate but sturdy chairs anchor a room and add the final touch. These chairs come at a price however so shop around. You can easily find a great option at Restoration Hardware but you may save yourself some money by scouring antique shops first. Consider having the chair reupholstered to suit your taste. The chair seen here was refinished and reupholstered by Time Treasures Antiques & Restoration.

Bon, you have a great starting point for French-ifying your home, bonne chance! And s’il vous plaÎt, share your favorite French design tips as well!

Reach Your Goals

(Image courtesy of Kristian Niemi)

Let's face it - distractions happen. But you don't have to let them deter you from the goals that you've set for yourself!

If you're finding yourself getting pulled off track by day-to-day occurrences, you don't need to give up! Just follow these tips, courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com, to reach your goals in record time!

1. Focus on what you really want — and why

What is it you're trying to accomplish? Get very, very clear about exactly what it is you want to do. But then consider why you want to do it. If it's maintain a cleaner house, think about how that's because a cleaner house is healthier to live in. If it's to finally tackle a renovation, remind yourself that it's because those are changes that will help your life run smoother.

2. Clear out distractions

Be truthful about what the unhealthy distractions are contributing to you not achieving your home goals. Is it vegging out in front of the TV after work? Getting pulled into Pinterest when you should be mopping? Get strict about putting reasonable limitations on the things in your home that are distracting you from the things you really want to be accomplishing.

3. Break it down and organize

After identifying the goals you want to accomplish, why you want to do them and what distractions might be getting in the way, make a specific, mapped out plan. Write down each element to your goal and what you need to do to accomplish it (get detailed).

4. Start small / don't do it all at once

Take your list and tackle it one thing at a time. Some folks after getting to this point feel so revved up they try to tackle it all at once. But that's a sure-fire way to burn out.

5. Ask for help if you need

For many, it's not a distraction that's getting in the way of not accomplishing things, it's fear or ignorance on where to start. So if you need help, ask for it! Look online for the answers to whatever home project dilemma is plaguing you. Ask a trusted friend if they will wade in with you.

6. Tell everyone about it

Be accountable for the goals you're setting. State a goal on Facebook. Write your reasons for wanting to accomplish it on the message board in your entryway.

7. Reward, not punish

Perhaps the most important element on this list. Be KIND to yourself. Be understanding when you fall back into old habits. Don't punish yourself if you get distracted or miss a milestone task, but reward yourself (any way that you'd like) when you do get back on track to accomplishing your home goals.