From light bites to dessert, these bubbly matches are ideal for Valentine's Day or other celebrations
The earthy flavors in a canapé of rye toast topped with crispy mushrooms and a quail egg pair well with a creamy, Pinot Noir–driven Champagne.
(Rebecca McAlpin)
By
Jan 29, 2021
In a perfect world, we’d all have sparkling wine every day, right? Five o’clock comes and with it a POP. Failing that, we can at least mark special occasions—like Fridays, for example—with bubbles.
Many celebratory occasions have traditional foods tied to them, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. You’ve got to have chocolate. But what to eat before the chocolate? My feeling is that lighter foods are good so that you save room for dessert and stay limber. And not only is sparkling wine a great food accompaniment, it’s also so buoyant and happy-making and convivial that it suits the day. Below are five dishes—canapés, starters and small plates—paired with various bubbly styles to keep your Valentine’s evening light so you can concentrate on the main event. No, no, I mean the chocolate.