Brava

September 2012

Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/80908

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 71 of 83

play with your food Simple Sips Go Big Red...wine, that is! By Karen Eigenberger With September comes football and… tailgating! While gathering for the big game might just be the best excuse for daytime grazing, the cooler weather of fall is a great reason to pop the cork on those luscious red wines I've missed so much over the (extremely) hot summer. If you abide by my philosophy that tailgating is the perfect place for a great wine (let's leave the fizz of a cheap beer can for others!), here are some of my favorite food-and-wine tailgate combinations: The New Lunch Ladies As the long, hot summer comes to a close, parents' minds fill with back-to-school glee. But for many, there is also a cloud of concern—and it's hovering over what's being served in school lunchrooms. As September marks National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, there is one group of Madison moms trying to lay the foundation for good nutrition both at home and at school. It began on the first day of kindergarten. Salud Garcia and her 5-year-old daughter wandered into the school cafeteria, where they caught sight of the breakfast of the day: chocolate-puffed cereal in chocolate milk. Appalled, Garcia thought, "We can do better." Garcia's first step was educating Three local moms raise awareness for healthy school lunch options By Michael and Jean Muckian is as important as math and science," says Connor. "Kids should be taught [about] good nutrition, not just how to read." The three women have had success— and earned some notoriety along the way. They were featured in the HBO documen- tary "The Weight of the Nation," in which they inspired a nation, not to mention the Madison Metropolitan School District, to take steps toward school lunch reform. While their steps may be big, they insist herself. She hosted a showing of "Two Angry Moms," a documentary about school lunches. There, she met Martha Pings, and later, through a mutual friend, Ellen Connor. Together the three founded Madison Families for Better Nutrition, a group dedicated to improving the health of school meals. The group's philosophy is simple. Schools should fill children's bodies and minds with things of equal worth. "Food 70 BRAVA Magazine September 2012 that change starts small. Garcia encour- ages parents to talk with members of the Board of Education. Connor tells parents to visit school cafeterias to see what is being served. Pings suggests asking schools about their wellness policies and talking to them about making changes wherever possible. That may be the first small step toward moving the weight of the nation in the right direction. Michael and Jean Muckian have covered the local food and arts scenes for over 25 and 15 years, respectively. Find them online on bravamagazine.com. 1. Pinot Project Pinot Noir: This soft, smooth, lighter-bodied red from Cali- fornia has flavors of black cherry and a kiss of oak and Asian spice ($14). Pair this with chicken satay skewers (easy and tasty for a tailgate), every- one's favorite taco dip, and smoked salmon and herb cream cheese on crackers! 2. Pesquie Terrases Rhone: A lush, fruit-forward, thickly textured red from France with soft, velvety tannins ($13) pairs well with thick burgers on the grill, ripe olive tapenade on toast, and a rich meaty chili. 3. Seven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon: From Washington state comes the flavors of ripe plum, raspberries and hints of dried herbs and pepper. This very sophisticated cabernet comes at a reasonable price ($20) and pairs well with grilled beef tenderloin, blue cheese stuffed burgers, or any other hearty food. My final tailgate must-have? Plastic stemless wine glasses. My favorite are by GO VINO, and are a great size and shape (they even have an indent in the side for your thumb) to make sipping your wine during a tailgate way more fun than a red SOLO cup. An earth- friendly bonus? They're reusable and recyclable! Enjoy the games this season, and may the best team win. Cheers! Karen Eigenberger is partner at STEVE'S Wine-Beer-Spirits on Mineral Point Road. Visit stevesknows.com. Photo by Bobbi Petersen

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Brava - September 2012