Fast food and drinks

When I saw that they served beer at fast food restaurants in Paris many years ago, I realized that even though they had adopted some of our ills, they had undoubtedly improved upon them.

A slightly greasy and super-satisfying burger can only be improved upon by the addition of a great beer or sip, even from 175-ml. bottle, of wine. So in honor of  54th Jaboulet anniversary today, I implore the fast-food establishment to wise up and help us better enjoy our food experience with a little quaff or wine or beer. Sometimes fast can be ideal, if it's just slowed down a bit.

As a native New Yorker, I do want it all fast, and sometimes just so I have enough time to enjoy it. And yes, I did eat my fair share of burgers in Rome when I lived there, as I missed them, and appreciated them all the better for the little glass or wine or beer we enjoyed with them.

So here's my wish list, of both wines I wish McDonald's and their brethren would carry, and a couple of wines that might be dynamite with that burger you buy or cook from just about anywhere.

Burgers are fatty so they will need an intense wine with some tannins and structure. Big wines like California Syrahs will do the trick. They, like their Rhône Valley cousins, can also run a little stinky in a nice way. Jaboulet Parallele 45 for $10 retail is always a winner; wines like Peay from the Sonoma Coast are great with meat if you afford to splurge on the bottle. That fetid smell will pair well with most red meats. An Italian wine, such as a Barbera or Dolcetto might also do the trick, Uvaggio is a great Napa-based producer that makes some appealing California versions of both. 

A little wine on patio at Taylor's in Napa.

Burgers are a great thing of beauty and can only really be improved upon with the addition of a glass of good wine. So I generally either cook them at home on the Forman Grill or have them in great local restaurant, like Chouquet on Fillmore, where I can toast and savor my meat with a delightful glass that does it justice. Or even the classic burger joint Taylor's Refresher, in both Napa and the City, offers some nice wine and beer selections. As does Danny Meyer's Shake Shake in NY.

So if you know anyone at McDonald's, I would really love to talk to them. There's some headway to be made here that will, no doubt, improve on the tradition.

Cheers,

Liza the Wine Chick