944

944 BLOG #3
SEPT 10, 2009

STILETTO CHEF STYLE:
THE WAY TO HER HEART: WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE

So you say you have no idea how to make her feel like the queen that she is? You think that your good looks, charming personality, nice ride and cheesy pick up lines will win her over!? Ha, not a chance! If you want to stand out from the pack these days you’ve got to step your game up…

I must say, I have been quite disappointed recently with the lack of food and wine knowledge that men are able to roll with. Your best ammo should live in that big ol’ noggin you’re carrying around! That brain of yours! Learn to store seemingly useless tidbits about the dating holy trinity…wine, cheese, and chocolate! Because that my friends will win over any girl's heart. Not to mention if you know when to deftly make a suggestion…you just might get to that second date. C’mon guys, don’t be afraid to show us that your Mom raised a proper gentlemen that has a trick or two up his sleeve! Believe me, we’ll be asking for seconds if you do…





WINE, CHEESE & CHOCOLATE
Don’t worry if you can’t cook, couldn’t write a poem to save your life, or are just too lazy to hop the fence to pick her some flowers… a little knowledge about wine, cheese, & chocolate will save the date!

FIRST START OFF BY GRABBING THE WINE LIST WITH THE CONFIDENCE OF A MAN WHO KNOWS RED WINES

RED WINE: Listed below are 3 RED WINES recommended by my favorite Sommelier Miss Shannon Latting & a brief description of why women will love these RED VINOS!
… and no, 2 Buck Chuck is NOT impressive!

PINOT NOIR: A hard grape variety to cultivate and care for, shows your lady friend that you are in tune to seasonal rhythms and that you appreciate the subtleties that make her unique! With hints of cherries and soft grape like kisses, you cannot go wrong with this choice. It’s one of my personal favorites and it’s very versatile for food pairing as well. Hint: Look for labels from California (Napa or Central Coast) or Oregon for best value.

MALBEC: From Mendoza, Argentina, Malbec is the heartbeat of Argentina’s wine industry. This selection will show her you that you are an international man of mystery that knows a thing or two about bold quality when you see it. With hints of deep plum, dark currants, blackberries, figs and even chocolate, she’ll know this is a winner. There’s just something so succulent and seductive about a man who knows a good South American wine!

RIOJA: Spanish is just so sexy… why? Rioja is the only wine region in Spain that has the designation DOC (Denominación de Origen Calificada), which is the highest classification in Spain. The area is known for it’s rose-colored soil, and I have to admit, roses are just classicaly romantic. Choosing a Rioja will show her you know both quality and classification. Some of the grape varieties used to make Rioja are Tempranillo (my favorite) �“ a delicate, berry flavor; Garnacha Tinta �“ more on the peppery side; Graciano �“ hints of blackberry; and Mazuelo �“ a tannin.

Confused yet? Here’s a cheat sheet, print it out and give a quick review before you head out for the night. This wins you massive points Mister!

http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/50-wines-you-can-always-trust/sidebar/10




SECONDLY, A LITTLE CHEESE (BOARD) ON THE DATE IS A GOOD THING

CHEESE: A cheese board is the easiest, most simple and rustic way into a girl’s heart. First off pick up a few lovely cheeses from your local grocer. (3-5 is good, don’t overwhelm her, plus I guarantee you’ll forget which is which ). I always love a great sharp blue cheese on board, I suggest a Stilton or Roquefort. Second a cream Brie allows for a change in texture, try a triple cream, or throw in a wild card like a creamy Chevre. And you simply cannot forget a smoky Gouda! Gouda is Goooooodaahh! Not only that, but more than likely she will be familiar with the Gouda so she feels like you have something in common. I also think a hard cheese like a Parmigiano Reggiano or a Swiss Gruyere (fantastic with Fuji apples) finishes off a cheese board nicely. And guys don’t forget to choose a few sides…a cheese board without accents is like a woman without that fabulous new clutch! Spill a handful of dried figs next to the blue cheese, a bunch of grapes on the vine next to the cream Brie, a couple of dried apricots, smoked almonds, sliced apples and of course a beautiful sliced baguette or some whole wheat crackers. Trust me, she will DEFINITELY stick around for desert after a well laid out cheese board.

If you didn’t understand a blurb of what I just said.. do your research, learn about these different cheese varieties and use your noggin! Or the sites I provided for you, lazy!

http://winemonger.com/catalog/winemonger-talk/wine-and-cheese-pairing/2006/07/15/

http://www.ilovecheese.co.uk/ThePerfectCheeseBoard.html

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/patricias-perfect-cheeseboard



LAST BUT NOT LEAST, ALWAYS LEAVE HER WANTING MORE (CHOCOLATE)!

CHOCOLATE : Ok, this is a no brainer my friend. To close the deal and really make her smile, Dark Chocolate is your new wing man. Not only is it absolutely decadent, it's heart healthy too! Although I have never personally had anyone do this for me. I think dark chocolate covered strawberries are about the sexiest thing known to women! I recommend choosing a dark chocolate with a minimum of 50% cocoa. The higher the % of cocoa, the less sugar and the more flavonoids (natural antioxidant) that the chocolate contains . A handful of lovely single chocolates are impressive as well. If you really want to go above and beyond place the chocolates on a platter, grab a gorgeous bottle of Prosecco, Champagne or Cava and sit her down for a nice foot rub.. now that’s a perfect way to her heart! And guys, NO HEART SHAPED BOXES of mixed chocolates…leave that one on the shelf for the dust to collect!

http://www.chocolate.com/articles/chocolate-by-the-numbers.html
http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/chocolate-champions
http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040601/dark-chocolate-day-keeps-doctor-away

I’m not suggesting that you have to go out of your way to purchase all 3 of these items, nor am I saying this is the only way to make her night. I’m just a foodie in the know, and if there’s one thing I’m certain of its that girls love a guy who goes out of his way to plan, research, and accomplish a great night all on his own. So get that research done. Print a cheat sheet to take with you to the men’s room. If you want a classy lady I'd suggest becoming a bit of a gentleman.

Trust me, I’m a Chef… Your Stiletto Chef! xxxo

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