January 2005 : Staying home with a bottle or two?

The binge drinking phenomenon is causing major debates, especially with the Government’s proposed revision in pub opening hours. Research is already beginning to show that consumers aged 25 and over are now more likely to drink at home – add to that the likely ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants – and you’ve got even more people who will prefer to stay in, rather than go out.

Home drinking usually suggests increased wine consumption and decreased beer guzzling as consumers prefer drinking wine with meals or at parties. Will this mean life-style changes for the man/woman in the street? In the past, for instance, it would be normal to pop down to the pub for a drink and chat – but who wants to go to a pub surrounded by 17-year old binge drinkers?

Wine sales have risen annually, for wines other than French! In fact the general thinking is that the French wine sector is in major crisis. 90% of growers are pessimistic about their future. Exports are down by 5%, blamed on the consumer’s preference for wines from elsewhere. There’s a really steep decline in French wine sales in the US (though that may be due to foreign policy), and competition is really very fierce for the French wine producers.

How to find a solution for the ailing French? There are numerous ideas doing the rounds, but radical changes are required to reverse the trend. I’ve already written about the complicated French labelling system, which hasn’t altered for donkey’s years! People can’t be bothered to decipher the complicated ‘code’ on a French label anymore. They are now used to the clear and concise descriptions they get on Aussie/Kiwi bottles which tell you the grape used, where it comes from and how it’s made – sometimes even listing the foods which best accompany!

Still, it’s not all gloom and doom for the French – Champagne imports to the UK continue to increase at a dramatic rate!


Happy & Healthy Drinking!
Kenneth Harry Putt

This month's recipe : Roasted Vegetable Salad with Ginger and Garlic

I ate this at a friend’s house and really liked it so I tried it out myself the next time I had friends over for dinner. I had marinated organic chickens (in lemon zest and juice, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper and olive oil) and served them with the salad. It went very well - the salad is full of flavour and warming too, but also light on the digestion!

This can be served as a starter with some lovely breads or, as I have described, with a main course of meat or fish such as cod or salmon.

Ingredients (serves 4 people as a main course accompaniment):

1 bag of winter salad leaves (the ones which have the sliced cabbage leaves - or make it yourself!)
1 green, 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, thickly sliced
1 onion, sliced
4 bulbs of garlic with their skin on
3 sticks of celery
1 packet of cherry tomatoes
2 fresh corns, with the kernels shaved off, leaving aside the husk
1 bulb of fennel
1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
1 bunch of parsley, chopped
olive oil
salt and pepper
balsamic vinegar

Method:
Place all the ingredients aside from the tomatoes onto a baking tray and sprinkle with seasoning and olive oil. Place in the oven (temp 180c) and roast until soft and slightly golden. Be careful not to overcook - you want a slight crunch. This should take about 15–20 mins.

Add the tomatoes on top and put back in to the oven for another 5-7 mins until the tomatoes are slightly bursting.

Now put the lettuce into a bowl, season lightly, and make a little dressing in another bowl with the oil and vinegar - taste to check you like it and that it is not too strong (I recommend 1 part vinegar to 3 parts olive oil). Let the vegetables cool for about 7-10 mins so that they are warm but not too hot, as this will wilt the lettuce.

Add to the leaves with enough dressing to coat, but not making it too soggy. Add the chopped parsley to give some colour and serve immediately.