Champagne Pannier

I love Champagne because there is something special about toasting with bubbles and how festive it looks when you pour it into a glass. I was lucky enough to be the precipitant of a very wonderful bottle of Champagne that I was finally able to pop open! As soon as we opened it, you could smell its deliciousness and I couldn't wait to try it. Made from the Chardonnay grapes, this has lots of fruit notes and tons of bubbles. It was perfect by itself, however the suggested pairings include light fish, shellfish, and cream sauces for an interesting contrast. All I can say is that this was everything a Champagne should be - bubbly, fresh, and the perfect way to make every celebration extra special! 

The West End - A Public House

The West End is a great new spot that I discovered while driving down Westheimer one day. So it ended up on the never ending list of places I need to try. They have a huge outdoor patio and open bar that would be great to hang out during one of the few perfect patio days Houston has. Their outside bar is quite large and there is tons of seating. When I went back to check it out, I started out with some "Fall Bubbles" because how can you not love a bubbly cocktail on a hot summer's day. This was prosseco, baked apple bitters, fruitlab jasmine, and a brown sugar cube. You could definitely smell the jasmine and the bubbly brown sugar cube made for a fun presentation. The baked apple bitters helped balance out the floral notes and gave the drink a touch of sweetness. It was a delicious and not something I have seen before.
 

Of course, I had to try the food so I opted for the calamari. This was served with marinara and roasted garlic aioli. (I have no idea why the picture can out red, but I promise it didn't look like that in real life.) To be honest, the calamari wasn't that great as the coating was a bit soggy and some of the pieces were a bit chewy. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice and the dipping sauces were much better than the calamari and saved it from being pretty bad. However, I probably won't be ordering it again. I do like calamari, but I guess I can be pretty picky about it. The coating needs to be crunchy and flavorful. I don't want to be eating all those unhealthy carbs if they don't even taste good.

Sometimes you just need a good dessert to round out a meal and the chocolate truffle cake didn't disappoint! It was drizzled with a raspberry sauce and was rich and decedent. the crust was almost like a brownie because there was a little bit of crunch to it, but the inside was soft and super dense and chocoately. There was a great chocolate flavor and who doesn't love chocolate and raspberry?! This cake was really yummy and helped end the meal on a high note. The West End has a huge beer selection and is a great option when you are looking for a relaxing place to catch up with friends.

Bubbly Champagne

A name can say it all whether it is for a food, nail polish, or a candle. For me, the perfect name for a nail polish makes me fall in love with the color even more, but that's not what today's post is about. This is about a candle that is perfect for celebrating the arrival of 2013...bubbly champagne. Not only is it a fun name, it also smells beyond delicious and like the real thing! It is light, fresh, and airy, but fills the room with pleasant aroma. (Plus the cream candle in a clear glass jar with gold "bubbles" on it is fun to watch burn) I hope that this scent is available year round because it just has this freshness to it that puts extra pep in your step.

Cheers!

I hope that every one had a very wonderful holiday and got to enjoy delicious foods and celebrate with friends and family. The holidays are special days that call for celebratory drinks and what better way to do that than with a champagne cocktail. Though this doesn't have a special name, this was a simple combination of pure pomegranate juice and champagne. Its bright red color was festive, but only had a hint of natural fruity sweetness so it was a bit tart. For a twist on this, add a splash of Grand Marnier to round out the flavors. This is a great option for New Year's Eve as well. Here's to the memories made and the special times you share with your loved ones! Cheers!