Alfresco
Dining & Summer Wine
Cool Recommendations for a Hot Summer
As
the summer sun warms the air, it’s time to dust off your
picnic basket, clean the grill, dig out your beach towels and
get ready for outdoor entertaining. Whether hosting or attending
an event, we have some recommendations to spice up the season.
All our
suggestions are complemented by Luna di Luna, a brand of wine
blends in colorful bottles that are full of flavor and sure
to attract attention at any event. The blends, with a selection
of three whites, three reds and a sparkling, suit a variety
of tastes and are ideal for everyday enjoyment or special occasions.
Plus at a value price, they’re an excellent choice for
outdoor socializing.
Shady
Parks and Beach Picnics
What
could be better on a beautiful sunny day than an intimate picnic?
Whether at the park, the beach or under a favorite shade tree,
picnics are a summer staple. Fill your basket with roasted or
fried chicken, potato salad, slices of juicy melon and strawberries.
Or stray from the every-day and try a spinach salad with dried
cranberries, toasted pine nuts, crumbled goat cheese and crushed
black pepper, drizzled with olive oil or a raspberry vinaigrette.
Add the finishing touch with a bottle of Luna di Luna’s
original Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend in its ocean-blue bottle.
The combination of grapes produces a clean, crisp blend that
satisfies everyone’s white wine tastes.
Remember
to pack a corkscrew, wine glasses, utensils, a blanket or tablecloth,
sunscreen and of course avoid all ant hills!
Backyard
Barbecues
Fire up the barbecue
and delight your family and friends with the tantalizing aromas
of American standards like hamburgers and hot dogs, or try something
a little more adventurous like Pacific Barbecued Ribs. Pre-cook
the ribs in boiling water with cloves, onions and herbs, then
simmer for 45 minutes or until the meat is tender. After draining
the ribs, smother them in a barbecue marinade made with teriyaki
sauce, soy sauce, pineapple juice, ginger, honey and minced
garlic before grilling. Be sure to frequently brush on additional
sauce while the ribs are cooking.
Additionally,
wrap some veggies in foil and place them on the perimeter of
the grill. Vidalia onions with a dollop of butter seasoned with
salt and pepper make a delicious change from your typical grilled
vegetables. Toast the chef with Luna di Luna’s sizzling-orange
bottled Shiraz/Merlot blend. Overflowing with flavors of red
cherry and plums it beautifully complements the smoky tastes
of the ribs, steak or burgers.
Seafood
Fests
Ideal
for the summer, fresh seafood is now abundant from all over
the globe. Whether it’s steamed shrimp and crabs smothered
in Old Bay seasoning or swordfish and tuna steaks, impress your
friends with something special. Try a Key West-style marinade
for mahi-mahi, shrimp or grouper by combining margarita mix
with sea salt, ground pepper, chopped cilantro, a diced clove
of garlic and a few drops of olive oil. Cook the seafood on
a clean grill over a medium flame. To avoid overpowering the
taste of your seafood, serve a light and fruity wine such as
Luna di Luna’s Chardonnay/Sauvignon. Presented in an emerald-green
bottle, the wine’s hints of melon, green apple and tropical
fruit complement any seafood.
Finally,
bear in mind these are just a few ideas to make the most of
the season. Whether it’s tiki torches on the patio or a
glass of wine with friends, make any event truly memorable by
making it your own -- even if that means buying appetizer samplers
or serving your mom’s famous meatloaf!
Source: ARA
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