Mastering the art of wine service: Neil Ridley discusses infusing enjoyment into culinary experiences and beverages
In a unique culinary endeavour, Neil Ridley, the author of "The Crisp Sommelier", has delved into the world of crisps and drinks pairing, creating a comprehensive guide that caters to every snack lover's palate.
Ridley, who is also the co-author of "60-Second Cocktails", embarked on this project after receiving a call from publishing giant Bloomsbury about a book on pairing crisps and drinks. His office was soon filled with a crisp library, housing over 185 different bags of crisps, ranging from well-known brands to more sophisticated flavours.
The criteria for the crisps included in the book were that they had to be available. This extensive collection includes Torres' earthy truffle crisps, prawn cocktail Skips, and white chocolate-coated pretzels, among others. Ridley's book explores a wide range of crisp flavours, providing pairing suggestions for each.
Believing that ridged crisps can have a more intense flavour, Ridley emphasizes the importance of considering this factor to avoid one overpowering the other. His book offers pairing suggestions for different crisp flavours with various wines, particularly different grape varieties, beers, ciders, and non-alcoholic drinks.
Ridley suggests a crisp pairing for every occasion during the day. For example, he recommends Torres Fried Egg crisps with black Arabica coffee for breakfast, pickled onion Monster Munch with lemonade for mid-morning, and chorizo crisps with Rioja for dinner.
However, Ridley found that more sophisticated crisp flavours, such as aged cheeses, can sometimes disappoint or taste artificial. Despite this, he includes pretzels in his book, despite controversy, as he believes they offer a unique flavour profile that deserves recognition.
"The Crisp Sommelier" was published by Jacqui Small LLP and is now available for purchase on Amazon and Waterstones. The book was inspired by the idea of home entertaining and bringing fun back into food and drink. Although a chapter on crisp sandwiches did not make it into the final publication due to lack of space, it's safe to say that Ridley's guide to pairing crisps with drinks is a must-read for any snack enthusiast.
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