April 2022 - Fraser's Restaurant

Select the right wine for your dinner

Selecting a wine to go with the meal can be a little difficult because while no dinner has ever been ruined with the “wrong” wine, a glass of good wine can enhance your meal to perfection.

There is no written rule on matching food and wine because it’s eventually a matter of individual personal taste. Still, the best food and wine pairings create a balance between the components of a dish and the characteristics of a wine. At Fraser’s Restaurant, we know which wine complements your food, so we’re here today with some essential tips on how to pair great wine with great food.

Golden rules of food and wine pairing:

Your wine should enhance or complement the dish.

A reasonable starting point is comprehending the distinction between complementary or congruent pairings.

Complementary pairing simply means choosing a wine that parallels or balances some of the taste profiles in a pleasing proportion – consider a soft cheese with a good acidic Pinot G.

The second means selecting a wine that helps boost the flavours of both the food and the wine – in different words, emphasising the spice in a curry with the delicious spice notes in a cool climate McLaren vale wine.

The acidity of the food and the wine matters.

High acid wines blend well with the basic acidity in food, with a crispy white paired with a salad combined with a zingy vinaigrette is a good example.

Did you know? Acid also balances fat, so beer-battered fish and chips are best served with a savoury white wine like Pinot Grigio, Riesling or a Classic White Blend. Commonly speaking, you want the wine to be additionally acidic than your meal. However, be mindful with anything creamy; nevertheless – a rich, creamy sauce will tend to clash with wines that show higher acidity.

FYI, your wine should be as sweet as your food.

When we talk about the sweeter side of things, it’s generally suggested to serve wine that is at least as sweet – or maybe sweeter – than the food being served. If you’re looking for wines to enjoy with dessert – a dessert that’s sweeter than your wine will make the drink taste dull and dilute its character.

Wines with some fizzes such as Moscato or sweeter-style Prosecco can also be excellent with fruit-based desserts, or even the traditional combination of melon and prosciutto enjoyed with a bit of an antipasto spread.

What wines are great in general?

Oddly enough, if you have no clue what’s on the menu, one of the best wines to bring is a glass of fantastic champagne or sparkling wine. You’d be surprised how many dishes pair well with it. Our most recent sparkling wine and food pairing surprise was sushi – the two go great together!

Sparkling wines are a fantastic way to put on a show of elegance. They also combine tremendously with an aperitif to get your dinner party rolling since they are a great party and conversation starter and will help your guests’ appetites go. Champagne should top your shopping list if you’re buying wines for a party, but if you think champagne is cliché, you could always go for Presseco for a change.

If you are not in the mood to have champagne, try bringing a wine that everyone can drink before dinner starts. You don’t have to stress getting a wine that will not pair well with a particular dish. You have a couple of options here:

White Wine

Are there any Chardonnay lovers here? If you are, then you most likely know how this wine tastes perfectly with white meat. If you’re cooking pork, chicken, and fish, try combining these dishes with a chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc. Also, Pinot Grigio is a light, dry wine that will go seamlessly with green steamed, sauteed, or roasted vegetables.

Sweet white wine is excellent as an appetiser complement. Sweet options go well with savoury appetisers and sweet, fruity options alike. Don’t doublethink about trying Moscato with soft cheese and molluscs, too. If Moscato isn’t your thing — or wine for that matter — you could settle for Savinnieres, which works well with roasted asparagus, and is often the most common drink at Fraser’s Restaurant and treasury wine estates.

Red Wine

When you’re settling down for your main course, you can only choose a red. What’s more? Red wine pairs well with red meat. While it might seem that the whole colour-matching idea is outrageous, it’s actually true.

Wine aficionados quickly recommend Cabernet Sauvignon as the best red wine for dinner get-togethers since it’s light-to-medium. Merlot, which is a medium red, tastes well with both red and white meat, more specifically chicken. If you want your guests to take small bites of something to conclude your dinner party, you can have a Pinot Noir bottle near a charcuterie board with tender meats and cheeses.

It is essential to know the difference between these wines when pairing them with food and buying wine for someone who prefers one. Pairing food with the wrong wine can often worsen both the food and the wine taste, making us understand “what you like is what you like.” If you don’t know your choice, give them a try and see what you like!

There is a great thing about wine; even the best wine experts will tell you they still have much to learn about wines every day. So, get out there and get your “wine-on” (responsibly, of course)!

Table etiquettes – Basic to extreme

If you think table etiquettes are just about arranging the flower table and knowing which spoon to use for your soup? Well, think again. William Horman well says it, “Manners maketh man.”

Table etiquettes
Manners are all about how you act and behave in polite society. It’s about using your etiquette to guide the social situations you’re in. Remember when your grandmother yelled “elbows off the table!” or “chew with your food with your mouth closed!” at you? It wasn’t her simply nagging you about appropriate etiquette. She prepared you for life lessons that set you up for success and a great future.

Do you think people aren’t observing how you conduct yourself at the dinner table?

It would be best if you thought again.

Even if you’re dining with a recruiter, potential business partner, or your manager, you should constantly follow the rules of proper dinner etiquette.

There’s an explanation for why people discuss business over a meal: It’s a strategic way to get to know people. Your behaviour before, during, and after the meal tells the organiser about your character, professionalism, and social understanding.

When it comes to social dining, there are a lot of little nibbles to remember. Which plate to eat in? Which wines to order? How do you get rid of that crazy ketchup stain?

Don’t worry; We at Fraser’s are here to help you. Follow this guide for a few etiquette tips to create a great impression at your next lunch or dinner you’ll have in Fraser’s Restaurant.

Note: This is a roundup of common etiquette tips, but be thoughtful that there are some places in the world where some of these tips and tricks don’t work the same way. If you’re eating in a country that uses etiquette you don’t know, take the time to understand the etiquette for that particular country or ask a friend or coworker ahead of time.

We have compiled this list of 9 etiquette tips to help you leave a pleasing impression and avoid any faux pas.

Be on time.
First things first, we shouldn’t have to inform you of this. Showing up on time is Etiquette 101. Please don’t keep the person or people you’re meeting waiting, and definitely don’t show up as they’re halfway through their entree or appetizer. Show them you appreciate them by valuing their time. And never miscalculate the value of a firm hello and a handshake!

After you’ve taken your seat.
The first thing you should do is put your napkin on your lap. You should leave it there until the end of the meal or until you excuse yourself from the table. There’s some discussion about what to do with your napkin when you get up, but the most standard practice is to put it on your seat until you return. If you’re concerned that your napkin has food on it that could stain the chair or your clothes when you sit back down, then you can place it to the left of your plate instead.

Hold your utensils the right way.
The best way to hold your fork and knife is as you would a pen. With your fork in your left hand and your knife in your right, cut a piece of food. Then, place the knife down on the boundary of the plate, switch the fork to your right hand (if required) and take a bite, and repeat.

When do you start eating?
You should wait until the host or hostess begins to eat, even if others at the table start before them.

Hands to use to find your bread plate and wines.
When in confusion, just look at your hands. With your palms facing each other, join the tip of each pointer finger with the thumbs. You’ll notice that your left hand will form a lower case ‘b,’ and your right hand, a lowercase ‘d.’ These stand for “bread” and “drink,” which you will see to your left and your right, respectively. Well, this is your cue to have McLaren vale wine.

Do not take calls during your meal.
Your cell phone shouldn’t be visible when you have your meal in a meeting. Please keep it away from the table, leave it in your handbag or your pocket, and put it on silent. You don’t want the people you’re dining with to think you hope you were somewhere else, do you? Show your partner, customer, or coworker that it’s crucial for you to be there with them.

Always serve the other person/people before yourself.
If you’re getting yourself some red wine, always ask others first. Pour their wine glass before yourself, and then help yourself. The same is accurate for any other food or beverages. You should also always ask if the other person wants anything when you order for yourself.

Taking a break from eating.
If you are taking a pause from eating, picture your plate as a clock and place your knife and fork at the 3 o’clock position. You can show that you are finished eating by placing your utensils in the 10 and 4 o’clock positions.

When in doubt, don’t get awkward.
If you’re unsure about anything, watch the host or hostess for cues. See how they manage the situation and act consequently. This will almost always be the right course of action.
Whether you are 50 or 15 years old, the necessity of learning the proper table manners and etiquette must have dawned upon you at some point or the other in life. It could be your aunt’s 40th birthday or a formal dinner with someone influential from your country. Regardless of the occasion, embarrassing yourself in front of others is never good.

So, before organizing the next dinner with Fraser’s, run your eyes through the information in the blog to avoid any mishaps.

The Ketogenic Diet – A Complete Guide

If you’ve spent any time on the internet exploring health, fitness, or nutrition in the past year, you’ve definitely been slammed with the new ‘Ketogenic-Diet’ or low carb diets taking over the fitness industry by storm. But what precisely is Ketosis, and what does it have to do with the Keto-diet?

Now, what are Keto basics?
The ketogenic diet is a food habit that puts your body into a form of Ketosis. To know Ketosis, it’s essential to understand how your body utilizes the three major macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. In a regular diet pattern, carbohydrates are your body’s primary energy source (40 to 60 percent of your calories come from carbohydrates). Protein is predominantly used to build muscle (roughly 20 to 30 percent calories). Fat (20 to 30 percent of calories) is used to make essential blends utilized by your body and act as a backup source of energy.

In a ketogenic diet, carbohydrate intake is decreased to about 10 percent (roughly 20 grams of net carbohydrate per day). In comparison, fat is boosted to 60 to 70 percent of calories, whereas protein remains at 20 to 30 percent. The decrease in carbohydrate intake drives your body to use fat as its primary fuel source. As your body turns fat into fuel or energy, it leaves behind ketone bodies in the blood, creating Ketosis.

You’re literally burning fat for fuel!

What are the various types of Ketogenic diets?
There are a number of versions of the ketogenic diet, including:

The standard ketogenic diet (SKD): This is a very low-carb, moderate protein, and high-fat diet. It usually contains 70% fat, 20% protein, and only 10% carbs.
The cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD): This diet involves periods of higher-carb reseeds, such as five ketogenic days followed by two high-carb days.
The targeted ketogenic diet (TKD): This diet makes you have carbs around workouts.
High protein ketogenic diet: This is very similar to a standard ketogenic diet, but has more protein. The ratio is often 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.
Note: Cyclical or targeted ketogenic diets are more advanced methods used by bodybuilders or athletes.

Is the Ketogenic diet a new way of eating?
If you’ve spent any time over time on your computer or phone googling the best ketogenic diet plans or diets for health and weight loss, you’ve most probably come across the Ketogenic (Keto) diet or ketogenic diet plans. It has become extremely popular among the health and fitness community, and it is also promoted by health gurus and nutrition experts alike. Guess now we know why!

Let’s break it down (ahem, pun intended); your body usually uses glucose for energy-which you probably already know. But the thing that you may not know is that when this energy source is not sufficient, your body taps into its fat stores (body fat) and fatty acids to the liver, where it is processed and generates its own energy source known as Ketones. This metabolic state is known as Ketosis and is critical to the diet’s success.

Have a glance at what eating on the Keto Diet looks like!
The keto diet is about increasing calories from fat and going very low in carbs. That means following a restrictive, keto-friendly food list.

Keto-Friendly Foods
Here are some of the foods you may eat on keto:

Oils (like olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil).
Avocado.
Heavy cream.
Butter.
Cream cheese.
Cheese.
Coconut (unsweetened).
Nuts (almonds, macadamia) and seeds (chia seeds, flaxseed, sunflower seeds).
Leafy green vegetables (romaine, spinach, kale, collards).
Non-starchy vegetables, including zucchini, asparagus, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, and bell peppers.
Meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb).
Eggs.
Fish (mainly fatty fish like salmon and sardines).

Here’s a list of foods that need to be reduced or eliminated on a plant-based ketogenic diet:
Sugary foods: soda, fruit juice, smoothies, cake, ice cream, candy, etc.
Grains or starches: wheat-based products, rice, pasta, cereal, etc.
Fruits: all the fruits, except tiny portions of a few berries like strawberries.
Beans or legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, and more.
Root vegetables: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, parsnips, etc.
Low fat or diet products: low-fat mayonnaise, salad dressings, and condiments
some condiments or sauces: barbecue sauce, honey mustard, teriyaki sauce, ketchup, etc.
Unhealthy fats: processed vegetable oils, mayonnaise, etc.
Alcohol: beer, wine, liquor, mixed drinks
Sugar-free diet foods: sugar-free candies, syrups, puddings, sweeteners, desserts, etc.

What are the benefits of a Ketogenic diet?
Starting a ketogenic diet for diabetes management offers a range of valuable advantages.

Weight loss
The main benefit or advantage of the ketogenic diet is its power to achieve quick weight loss, stopping carbohydrates from being in a state of Ketosis, resulting in both a significant reduction in body fat and an enhancement of muscle mass.
A few studies show that low-carb, ketogenic diets are able to achieve substantial weight loss over an extended period, and obese people were able to lose, on average, 20 kg over a period of a year.

Lower insulin levels
When you intake foods with carbohydrates and, to a lesser extent, protein, you increase your blood sugar levels—insulin steps in to decrease those blood sugar levels to create glucose in your cells for energy. But high insulin levels, which can result when you eat too many carbohydrates — can prevent weight loss. On a ketogenic diet, you keep insulin levels decreased. Low insulin means that your body can easily access fat stores for energy or fuel.

Hormonal balance
A ketogenic diet also helps balance other hormones, besides insulin. With those hunger-regulating hormones is leptin, a hormone that asks your brain to quit eating. Ghrelin has the opposite effect: This hormone tells you to eat more and more. When these hormones stay balanced on a keto diet, you’re less likely to have hunger and cravings.

Lower inflammation levels.
Chronic inflammation plays a role in obesity and diseases, including diabetes. You keep your sugar and overall carbohydrate intake very low while you’re on a keto diet.

Treatment of Cancer
A few studies have revealed that ketogenic diets play an essential role in treating cancer. Such a diet reduces tumor growth and improves the survival rate. A ketogenic diet further potentiates the effect of radiation and chemotherapy.

Fights Obesity
A high protein and fat diet decreases appetite keeps hunger pangs at bay and reduces the overall intake of calories. Ketone bodies have appetite-suppressant action, and thus, it reduces energy intake. A low carbohydrate diet, particularly a low intake of simple sugars and refined foods, further helps weight loss and reduces abdominal fat.

Note: People on keto diets also report more energy, focus, and mental clarity.

Is the Ketogenic diet a safe one?
It’s difficult to imagine that a physician-recommended diet would be unsafe. Still, then again, doctors used to demonize fat and are now actually recommending fat; pretty interesting when you think about it. But yes, the Ketogenic diet is absolutely safe; although, there are a few things to keep in mind when you’re starting your Keto Diet.

Foremost, when you start the diet, you’ll most likely feel a bit dehydrated if you’re not staying on top of your water intake (64 oz minimum). This is simply because glycogen, converted from carbs, holds approximately 2-3 grams of water per gram of glucose in the muscles’ cells. But by almost eliminating carbohydrates from your diet, your muscle cells hold much less glucose and, therefore, less water, ultimately leading to dehydration. So sufficient water intake is vital throughout the diet.

Secondly, our bodies obtain several vital vitamins and minerals found in various fruits and carb sources, so it is critical to get these from low-carb fruits, leafy greens, and if you prefer, a vitamin or multivitamin. If you are stressed about which vitamins or minerals your body could be lacking, you can always consult your doctor and ask for a blood analysis of your vitamin and mineral levels, with guidance from a nutritionist, supplement with one or multiple vitamins (this is better than just taking a standard multivitamin).

Conclusion
For most people, adopting a keto diet means a sudden change in the macronutrients you consume. You eat more non-starchy vegetables, butter, oils, cheese, meat, and seafood. Following a food plan or pattern that limits your net carbs to 20 grams a day requires you to carefully choose your foods to get all the vitamins and minerals your body needs. Knowing the carbohydrate content of foods and the fiber-versus-starch breakdown of nutrition is vital to maintaining a ketogenic diet. Sometimes, you may need to have a multivitamin supplement. Moreover, this diet pattern is not recommended for diabetics or pregnant or nursing women. As with any significant change in your food consumption, choosing to start a ketogenic diet should be done under the knowledge of a physician and registered dietitian.

And there you have it, a complete breakdown of the Ketogenic diet. Now, what are you waiting for? Ditch the doughnut and enjoy a delicious steak; your body’s waiting!