Photo by Morgan Wujkowski
The holidays are right around the corner and this time of year is perfect for bubbles. We pop the cork on New Year’s Eve, raise a glass to anniversaries, and reserve our best brut for those celebrations that call for something extra special. Bubbles have had a longstanding, yet exhausted, love triangle with oysters, strawberries, and chocolate. I’ve recently fizzed out tradition and discovered some unexpected food pairings that mesh wonderfully with a bottle of Champagne, prosecco, Spanish cava, or any bottle of bubbles you can get your hands on.
From late-night snacks to comfort-food classics, today’s drinkers are discovering that bubbly plays surprisingly well with salty, spicy, crispy, and downright chaotic foods. Think hot chicken instead of caviar, truffle tots instead of pâté, and pairings that feel more “Florida Friday night” than French Riviera.
Spicy
Believe it or not, bubbles pair surprisingly well with spicy food. Nothing can beat fried chicken and a brut Champagne or demi-sec, as they cut through the fat like pros. It’s brunch Nirvana in a flute glass. If you’re a fan of Nashville hot chicken (like me) pair it with a lambrusco. The fizzy red bubbles help tame the spice without overpowering the pickle-laced chicken. A kimchi grilled cheese with scratch-made kimchi from St. Pete Ferments, one rich in dairy and lactic heat, makes for late-night excellence when paired with Blanc de Blancs — bubbles made from all chardonnay grapes.
If you’re raiding the pantry with midnight munchies, try pairing jalapeño kettle chips with prosecco. The extra crunch and the prosecco’s effervescence make for a playful, contrasting mouthfeel. Pour your favorite bubbles and snag a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, because this throwback pairing is a match made in ’90s heaven. If you’re not into chips, prosecco also goes astonishingly well with popcorn (the spicier, the better). My go-to popcorn is Salty Sisters Popcorn in St. Petersburg. They offer nearly 30 flavors of popcorn to help bring your bubbles to life.
Savory
Thinking outside the pantry, there are endless savory options to pair with your prosecco, Champagne, cava, and the like. Margherita pizza is highly recommended. One of my favorite white pies is from Gianni’s New York Pizza in St. Pete. Anything with truffle (especially the French fries at Tommy’s Hideaway) pairs best with a Spanish cava. The earthiness of truffle, plus nutty cheese and high acidity, gives truffle fries and mac and cheese a refined decadence.
If Gulfport BBQ brisket is more your style, hit up The Wine House in Gulfport and pair their smoky meat with a sparkling rosé. The fruit-forward bubbles and the smoky, fatty meat are a true chef’s kiss. (Get the truffle mac and cheese while you’re there!)
Where to Buy Bubbles
Vino Simpatico in South Pasadena offers excellent options for bubbles. You can also check out Gulfport’s The Wine House or Stella’s Divine Wine & Gourmet, or Try Wine in St. Petersburg. All have fantastic selections and you’ll be supporting small, family-owned businesses.
