new years eve dinner party

December 31, 2018 11:08 AM

I'm planning a small dinner party for friends this evening. I have a rough menu, and will have a little help serving. Can you help me fine-tune my menu? And make some wine pairing suggestions?

Mulligatawny Soup , with a dry Sherry
North Sea Haddock, with a white wine
Chicken, with Champagne
Fruit, with Port

posted by the man of twists and turns to Food & Drink (4 answers total)

Champagne is wonderful, but a burgundy of some sort or a leaner Pinot noir is the match with the coq au Vin. If you want a dish to pair with champagne make a coq au riesling or something similar.

For the fish course a simply racy white - a muscadet or sancerre, maybe a Chablis (I'd do a good muscadet and put the budget into the burg personally)
posted by JPD at 11:55 AM on December 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I’d change out the sherry in the first course for a Gewurztraminer a not overly sweet white wine that pairs well with the spices in Indian food.
For the second course, I’ll suggest a Sauvignon Blanc (my favorite wine!) a dry white wine with notes of passion fruit. So so good with seafood.
Third course- JPD has it. A Burgundy red like Pinot Noir is the traditional pairing for Coq Au Vin.
Save the Champagne for midnight!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 12:44 PM on December 31, 2018 [3 favorites]

For the fish course, you might consider an Albariño.
posted by mmascolino at 2:12 PM on December 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

Can you hand out a glass of champagne when they arrive and pair it with a small single bite appetizer of some sort? Either that or save it for midnight as suggested earlier.
posted by JenMarie at 9:19 PM on December 31, 2018