Coaching Cooking

Although spring/summer has not yet arrived, I think it’s important to start drinking something colorful and delicious. For me, sangria is the perfect spring/summer drink.

It’s been freakin’ cold here in Northern CA (and yes, I know it’s much colder elsewhere, but I’m a total weather wimp). Sangria always reminds me of great times with friends and the promise of a wonderful meal. Sometimes AB and I go to a great restaurant near our apartment called Fiesta Del Mar. AB also likes to call this place “Party of the Sea.” And he’s right. This restaurant has the most delicious Mexican, seafood dishes plus carafes of tangy sangria.

Sangria is a drink that originates from the Spanish word for blood. This beverage usually consists of fruit, fruit juices, red wine and sparkling water. Other versions such as the white sangria use white wine instead of red, sodas like 7-up or coca-cola. To me, the best sangrias have a mixture of sliced fruits, a tasty wine and a splash of club soda. These flavors all meld to produce a beverage balanced between sweet (the fruits), sour (lemons, limes or oranges) and wine with a little bubbly (soda water or sparkling water). All of this produces a refreshing drink that is sweet and thirst-quenching and, of course, celebratory.

Here are a few links to sangria recipes:

About.com has a bevy of sangra recipes from red sangria to white or even spicy sangria.

Charley’s Bar in Southern Spain has a few quick recipes including an interesting take on sangria called Tinto de Verano.

Spanish recipes for sangria (ones that may rival the authenticity of about.com’s selection) include another spicy sangria and peach and orange sangria.

For a drink that might add extra hair to your chest, try the Cuban Sangria recipe at recipezaar.com that includes plenty of tropical fruit and coconut rum.