Martinis can match just about any hors d'oeuvre
Whether hosting a cocktail party, entertaining a few friends or just relaxing for a classy evening by yourself, finding cheese and cracker hors d'oeuvres to match a martini can be a creative adventure. There are literally hundreds of different kinds of martinis, so there is no perfect appetizer to go with a martini. Instead, the snacks and the martini are best chosen together. Below are a few tips to keep in mind for creating that perfect pairing.
Opposites Attract
Simple martinis are best paired with complex appetizers. This is why lime margaritas are often paired with chipotle pepper, Gouda or Asiago cheese on saltine crackers. Light, refreshing citrus martinis go naturally with spicy appetizers. The reverse is also true. An espresso martini with chili-infused vodka would pair nicely with Swiss or melted Brie over a shredded wheat cracker. The key is mixing it up with intricate martinis and simple martinis served with their corresponding appetizers.
Match and Contrast
Cocktails pair with appetizers by matching or contrasting the flavors in the appetizers. Adding flavors and herbs can help fine-tune a pairing without substituting a desired cocktail or appetizer. To spice up a gin martini to contrast a soft havarti appetizer, add some rosemary. Just don't overpower the martini. If the appetizer and cocktail are competing with each other the pairing will suffer. If you wouldn't have a strong red wine with sushi, don't have a Manhattan with it either. Instead, try pairing a citrus lemon drop martini with shrimp tempura sushi and nori (dried seaweed) on a Japanese Senbi rice cracker.
Balance the Palate
Ideally all four areas of the palate (sweetness, spiciness, bitterness and saltiness) will be stimulated with a good martini and appetizer pairing. A sour apple martini could be rounded out with goat or blue cheese. Texture is important too. Melted blue cheese goes great on stoned wheat crackers while a crumbled Asiago is better on a more flavorful butter cracker. Overpowering a specific taste such as sweetness or overusing a texture will lead to a less interesting pairing.
Get Creative
Pairing can be a lot of fun, and a martini connoisseur would do well experimenting with different flavors and combinations. Think of common food associations outside of cocktails. Turkey and cranberry go great together (as many rediscover during the holidays.) So why not combine them? Smoked turkey with cheddar cheese on saltine crackers could be a simple yet perfect fit for the classic cosmopolitan. Dessert pairings are also popular. A cappuccino martini matched with flavored cream cheese over a graham cracker is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth.
Tags: blue cheese, cheese saltine, cheese saltine crackers, martini appetizer, martini with, paired with, saltine crackers