Talking with My Mouth Full by Gail Simmons

Author:Gail Simmons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hyperion

TEN

A Walk Through the Food & Wine Classic Tasting Tents

WELCOME TO THE Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Enter the Grand Tasting Pavilion from the north at Wagner Park. To the south lies Aspen Mountain, looming behind the massive white tents. Green and ominous, with snowcapped peaks, against the cobalt sky. The air is thinner up here, and dry. Pace yourself. As you wander from table to table, there is a head-spinning abundance to sample: cheese from Denmark, Oregon, Greece, Tennessee, Ireland, Wisconsin, Alabama, France, Spain, Italy; beer the color of wheat, the color of sunshine, the color of earth; a whole roast pig that’s been carried through the pavilion courtyard on a tray; Alaskan crab claws; American spit-roasted lamb; brisket sandwiches, prosciutto, bresiola, Iberico ham; spicy barbecued ribs; paella with shrimp and mussels; ceviche; olive oil that’s grassy, spicy, fruity; bread with raisins, whole grains, olives; caviar both American and imported; tangy macaroni and cheese; paper-thin slices of smoked salmon; sushi of eel, crab, yellowtail tuna; potatoes, popcorn; white, milk, and dark chocolate; chocolate-covered cherries; chocolate with ginger, chocolate with orange; chocolate chip cookies; foie gras on toast points; strong coffee, delicate tea; grapes, strawberries; fish and seafood from Hawaii and Nova Scotia; meat from San Francisco ranches and Chicago stockyards; cheesecake; bibimbap; South African bunny chow (not real bunnies); jams, chutneys, spreads, relishes, sauces. Plastic tumblers filled with cocktails of vodka, absinthe, moonshine, brandy, bourbon, limoncello, cachaça, grappa, mescal, vermouth, gin, rum, scotch, tequila, agave; elderflower, grapefruit, and pear liqueurs. Flutes filled with Champagne from France, Cava from Spain, Prosecco from Italy, California sparkling wine. Glasses of port, sake, sherry. Dozens of bottles of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, Granache, Syrah, Sangiovese, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Albariño, Gamay, Nebbiolo, Malbec, Grüner Veltliner, Tempranillo, Gewürztraminer, Falanghina, Viognier, Verdicchio. If you outdo yourself on the first day, you never quite recover. But first-time visitors never listen and are overwhelmed by smells and small bites. If you’re not careful, the combination of too much food, too much wine, and high altitude wear you out before the sun goes down. And when the sun goes down, that’s when the real party begins, with more delicious food and always more wine.

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