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| Festive Feature |
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CHAMPAGNE – Is not just for Christmas!
“I drink Champagne when I am happy and when I am sad. Sometimes I drink it when I am alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it, unless I am thirsty"
Our favourite quote from Madame Lily Bollinger (Bolli champagne)
HISTORY OF CHAMPAGNE - Martin Flageul
The Region
The region of Champagne in the North West of France is split into three main vineyard areas Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Cote des Blancs and only three grape varieties are legally permitted; Pinot Meunier contributing fruit aromas and flavours, Pinot Noir giving backbone and structure and Chardonnay offering elegance and finesse and delicacy.
The predominantly chalky soil and the cold winters combined with the warm but not hot summers are conditions that produce the typical initial still wine which is light and crisp with high acidity and low in alcohol.
Production
All grapes in the Champagne region are picked manually and pressed as soon as possible to avoid coloration or oxidation. The still wine is made and set aside, usually in stainless steel vats, for later blending by skilled “artists” who sometimes taste and blend over 100 different wines to achieve their required house style. Once this blend has been decided upon, the wine is bottled in heavyweight glass bottles with the addition of pure cane sugar and yeast to induce a secondary fermentation in the bottle; a temporary closure seals the bottle and the wine is left to gently age and ferment in the cool underground cellars.
Sediment of dead yeast cells deposits itself within the bottles and this has to be carefully removed to leave a clear sparkling wine; this process is very time consuming as well as being an expertly practised technique. Just prior to the final cork being inserted and wired down, a mixture of pure cane sugar and wine is added to the cuvée to achieve the market taste: Brut, Sec, Extra Dry, Demi-Sec or Doux and labelled accordingly ready for shipment.
The Styles
All major Champagne Houses, generally referred to as Grandes Marques, produce non-vintage Champagne which represents their house style and only in exceptional years produce Vintage Champagne. Vintage Champagne is aged longer than non-vintage with two to three years being the norm for non-vintage and a minimum of three years for vintage but often a lot longer.
HOW TO OPEN CHAMPAGNE – Well, it would be a shame to spill any!
If you have never opened a bottle of bubbly before and you're afraid you may have to squeegee the walls afterward, never fear. Here's how to do it safely:
1. While holding the bottle with one hand, untwist the wire with the other hand and separate the strands that hold the cork in place. Remove the wire along with the foil wrapping.
2. Tipping the bottle slightly, hold the cork with your left hand and gently turn the bottle with your right hand. Gradually ease the cork out. Never shake the bottle.
HOW DO MICE DEVELOP A MEMORY LIKE AN ELEPHANT?
Studies have shown that moderate consumptions of Champagne may help the brain cope with the trauma of stroke, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's disease. Research shows that a high amount of the antioxidant polyphenols in sparkling wine can help prevent deterioration of brain cells due to oxidative stress. During the study scientist exposed two groups of mice with blanc de blancs (100% Chardonnay composition) and blanc de noir (Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier based) and a control group with no exposure to Champagne. All groups were then subjected to high levels of neurotoxicity similar to what the human brain experiences during inflammatory conditions. The study found that the groups pretreated with exposure to Champagne had a higher level of cell restoration compared to the group that wasn't!
LADIES STAY THIN ON BUBBLY
Mireille Guiliano, former CEO of Clicquot, Inc. (the U.S. subsidiary of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin) and author of the #1 bestseller French Women Don't Get Fat, believes that many of Champagne's health benefits are due to its trace minerals such as magnesium, potassium, zinc, and lithium (a natural mood regulator).
Source: Wikipedia / Champagne
GREAT FESTIVE CHAMPAGNE OFFER - It is Christmas after all!
If it's Bubbles you're after, the fantastic "buy 5 bottles and get one free" is again available at Victor Hugo Jersey on leading brands such as Taittinger Brut Reserve, Laurent-Perrier Brut LP, Bollinger Special Cuvee and Veuve Clicquot Brut; ideal for Christmas and New Year celebrations! Plus there are also lots of other special offers on Champagnes, all at vastly reduced prices!
At Bucktrouts Guernsey, Veuve Clicquot is £19.95 per bottle. Buy 6 and get either 6 Champagne flutes or an Ice Bucket free. There is limited stock and this can be used on till sales only.
Victor Hugo Wines Tel: (01534) 764044
Bucktrouts: (01481) 727208
You can follow Victor Hugo Wines on twitter: VictorHugoWines Feel free to 'tweet' them questions about anything to do with wine and they will use their expertise to answer you as quickly as possible!
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| Winter Warming Recipe |
It is that time of year again and Paul, the fabulous chef from Five Oaks Jersey is here to help you get through it in one piece.
If cooking is not on your agenda, then why not book to have your dinner at one of our great pubs? Then all you have to do is sit back, relax and soak in the festive atmosphere. |
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Roast Ballottine of Norfolk Turkey - Ingredients for 8 people
4 kg Norfolk turkey
500g sausage meat
8 slices of streaky bacon
200g shallots
3 cloves of garlic
3 cloves of garlic puree
6 slices of white bread crumbled into bread crumbs
12 sage leaves
4 sprigs of thyme
2 caps of dry sherry
2 tbls of Dijon mustard
Desiree or Romano Potatoes
1 sprig of thyme
200g goose fat
Recipe
Potatoes
1. Peel and cut to size the potatoes, better on the large side, and place in cold water with
the garlic and thyme, then season the water.
2. Bring to the boil, then drain (ensure potatoes are dry) and allow to stand for 5 mins.
3. Heat the goose fat in a shallow baking tray and carefully turn the potatoes in the hot fat.
4. Season well and place in the top of the oven, 220 c basting occasionally for 40 mins.
Pigs in a Blanket
1. Roll the sausage meat into cocktail sausages
2. Cut the rashers of bacon length ways into 16, then simply roll the cocktail sausages
in the strips and pop in the same oven for 10 mins.
Turkey
1. For the stuffing, sweat off shallots and garlic puree, sage and thyme and add a little dry
sherry without colour, then add a spoon of Dijon mustard and allow to cool
2. Take the sausage meat, add some dried fresh breadcrumbs and the cooled shallot mixture
and season well
3. Remove legs and breasts of Turkey
4. Slice the Breast into 1 ½ inch escalope's and "Bat out" to ¾ inch, then remove the bone from
legs also trimming off any cartilage and sinew
5. Lay out the turkey on baking parchment and tinfoil, in the form of a rectangle, season then
place the stuffing along the centre
6. Roll, with the aid of the baking parchment into a long 'sausage' shape, securing at the ends
by twisting the foil
7. Cook at 190°c for 1hr 30mins, depending on size and quantity
8. Allow to rest in juices without opening for at least 15 mins, before serving!
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| Christmas Ale - A pudding in a pint |
The Channel Islands Brewery has entered into the Christmas spirit by producing festive real ale. National Trust Black Butter has been added to the casks to add seasonal spice to the brew.
Christmas Ale, 4.8% features all the ingredients you would expect to find in a Christmas pudding recipe.
The recipe includes orange zest, mixed spice, raisins, currents and sultanas. The brew will be stored in casks which have been rubbed with Black Butter to allow the flavours to develop. The 4.8% ABV easy-drinking beer has a rich, ruby red colour and is especially good enjoyed with winter warming meals and mince pies.
If you like Christmas Ale then get great savings by buying a polypin for at home (a box of ale!) or your Christmas party from
Victor Hugo Jersey. Tel: (01534) 764044 |
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| Soft Drinks Driving - get your free soft drink if you're the designated driver this Christmas |
Designated drivers receive FREE selected soft drinks at all Liberation Group pubs. To qualify, simply drive two or more friends to the pub then show your car keys to the person who is serving you. You will receive a free J20 or Pepsi/ Diet Pepsi with every round of alcoholic drinks purchased for 3 or more people. Designated drivers must be 18 or over. The offer runs throughout December 09 at the following pubs:
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Jersey |
Guernsey |
AURORA
BELLINI'S
BRITISH UNION
CHIMES
COCK AND BOTTLE
DIX NEUF
DON INN
EXETER
FARMERS INN
FIVE OAKS
FORESTERS
FRIDAYS
GLOSTER VAULTS
GREAT UNION
HORSE & HOUND
JAMBO'S
KAIYUM'S
LEGENDS
LE HOCQ INN
OLD ENGLAND
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PEIRSON
POST HORN
ROBIN HOOD
'S' BAR
SOLEIL LEVANT
SQUIRES
STAR
ST JOHNS INN
ST. MARYS
TAMS BAR
TANGUYS
THE OFFICE
TOWNHOUSE
TRAFALGAR
TRINITY ARMS
UNION INN
VIC IN THE VALLEY
VIC MINDEN PLACE
WELLINGTON
WHITE HORSE |
ALBION TAVERN
BALOOS BAR
BARBADOS
BLIND O' REILLY'S
BRITANNIA
DEERHOUND INN
DIX NEUF
DORSET ARMS
FORESTERS ARMS
HAPPY LANDINGS
HARBOUR LIGHTS
HOUMET TAVERN
LONGFRIE
OLIVERS at the PONY
PLOUGH INN
RED ONION
THOMAS DE LA RUE
VICTORIA ARMS
WAYSIDE TAVERN
WHITE D'OR
WHITE HART |
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| Twelve Days of Christmas Competition! |
Just bought all your Christmas presents and now your strapped for cash to spend on yourself?
Taste2day are offering one winner a meal for two at Dix Neuf!
All you have to do is fill in the blank to be in for a chance for this great prize.
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me [blank]
If you think you know the answer please email your answer to: competitions@taste2day.com
by Monday the 21st December 2009. Please include your preferred contact details.
Competition Rules:
• The closing date is Monday 21st December 2009.
• All entries must reach us by 23:59 (11:59pm) on the closing date.
• One winner will be chosen at random from the correct entries.
• The winner will receive a meal for two at Dix Neuf valid until 31st March 2010.
• The competition applicant may only enter once.
• The competition is open to Channel Island residents only.
• All entrants email addresses will be added to the taste2day mailing list.
• If you do not wish for it to be added, please tell us in your email.
• The judge's decision is final.
• Prizes may not be exchanged for cash or other goods
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