Pairing wines

Choosing the right wine to pair with your meal is the key to enhancing your overall dining experience and at Stanford Grill we take pride in our wines! The goal is for your food to compliment and enhance your enjoyment of the wine, and vice versa. So, we are here to help you choose the right wine for the right taste!

Let’s start with the cheeses. White Zinfandel goes well with bleu and fresher cheeses, while a Riesling goes well with many types, especially buttery or hard cheeses. As far as main courses go, the rule of thumb is usually: white wines go with white meats and red wines pair well with red meats. More specifically, lightly prepared poultry goes well with Chardonnay or Chablis, while poultry with heavier sauces can pair with a light, fruity red. Seafood varies, but most whites will do.

Now for my favorite, dessert! The darker the dish, the darker you should go with your wine. A nice sweet port is always suggested, unless you are feeling for a bit of sweet dessert brandy!

Hopefully these tips were helpful and improve the flavors of your dish!

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Hail the glorious potato!

When in doubt, use potatoes! These starchy veggies seem to go perfectly with any dish, especially they come in so many varieties. So, from appetizers to side dishes, we are here to help you break down what method of cooking it best suited for which kind of potato.

First is the russet potato, which is probably the most commonly used potato on the market. This is because they bake, fry, mash, and roast like a dream. Baked russet potatoes are great as an appetizer, side dish, or even main dish if you add enough toppings! We like broccoli, ham or bacon, scallions, and sour cream of course.

Next are red potatoes, which are great for roasting with some olive oil and rosemary. Red potatoes also taste amazing as potato salad and soups.

Purple, or blue, potatoes are not seen as often in the culinary world as the aforementioned varieties. This may be because they look intimidating to some with their bright hue!! However, this underdog of the potato world is great for roasting, baking, and even grilling.

Last, but certainly not least, is the sweet potato. Gone are the days where sweet potato is synonymous with Thanksgiving. With many discovering their numerous health benefits, the sweet potato is being seen more and more often. They are usually considered as a healthy french fry alternative, being baked instead of fried. But sweet potatoes are also great baked and in soups.

Now that you’re a potato expert, get out there and experiment with some new varieties. Who knows? You may discover a new favorite!

Superfood: Avocado

Summer is our favorite time of year, not only because we get to relax on the beach but also because it is the peak of avocado season! There are so many reasons why we love avocado. There seems to be endless health benefits to this “superfood.” Avocado is considered to be the perfect balance of protein and carbohydrates, keeping you full without packing on the pounds. The fruit can help maintain a healthy heart and even protect against certain cancers. Avocado can even help with your hygiene! Chock-full of vitamin A and antioxidants, avocado improves the health of skin, hair and nails. Eating avocado can even cure bad breath because it aides intestinal food decomposition!

Because avocado is such a perfect food for overall health, we want to eat it as much as we can! We highlight it in our refreshing Southwest Salad and adds a creamy touch to our Blackened Chicken Breast & Avocado Club! If you’re struggling with how to creatively incorporate avocado in your diet,  these ideas may help. Avocado is a tasty and healthy alternative for mayonnaise. It is also a great additive to smoothies for added texture and thickness. Another delicious option is to spread avocado on toast in place of butter. Eating this superfood everyday will have you feeling super-great!

Happy Independence Day!

No better place to be on Independence Day than in Washington, D.C., right? We are so thankful to have the nation’s capital as our backyard; the historic monuments make the perfect backdrop for patriotic festivities. So, if you are planning on celebrating America’s birthday in D.C., the obvious choice is at The National Mall, but it can get pretty crowded! So, we’ve got a few tips for you to make the most of your holiday.

First is getting there. Parking is always stressful and costly so your best bet is taking the metro. If you live close enough, you can even bike to festivities and valet your bike! Once you get there, there are plenty of things to enjoy throughout the day. First up is the National Independence Day Parade which is great for the whole family. There will be plenty of floats toting around veterans, dignitaries and even a few celebrities. After the parade, catch the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, which will feature music, dance, crafts, storytelling and cultural discussions. Also, the annual concert “A Capitol Fourth” will begin at 8 p.m. including performers such as Darren Criss from “Glee” and Barry Manilow, amongst others. “A Capitol Fourth” will also be the musical backdrop to the fireworks show, set to begin at 9 p.m.

Don’t forget to keep comfy too! We suggest bringing a few blankets to sit on and use to warm up, as it may get breezy. We hope these tips will help your Fourth of July be a success. Have a safe and fun holiday from all of us here at Copper Canyon Grill and Stanford Grill!