Moon cakes are the best. My wife is Vietnamese so I get them every year. I am partial to the chicken filling though.

My Favorite Non-Wine Pairing would be Bookers Bourbon with a Porterhouse Steak.

LOL at the milk duds and cheese combo… my goodness! My mind is blown! Hahaha

My favourite non-wine drink is beer. I suppose what you'd call craft beer but it's a bit different in England because of the way we make it (that flat warm stuff) I suppose that's the cliche impression that's out there but they make stunning, stunning stuff. The best beer you can get in England is on tap, it gets pulled anywhere from 3-6 pints of it, through a thin line by hand from a cellar. It has a head on it that is totally natural, but if done properly will stay longer than any artificial head so it will still be there even if it takes you twenty minutes to drink your pint. If you've never been to England and never been to a proper pub and had a real hand pulled pint, you're missing out. When you tap and vent a barrel in the cellar you have 3 days to sell it, anywhere between 9 and 18 gallons, if you dont you have to chuck it (if you're any good at least). But, if it's just on the brink and you know you can't sell it, you can put it in your steak and ale pie mix. Then of course you drink a new barrel with a proper steak pie, thick crust, lots of vegetables and a few pints of 'real ale' hand pulled, barrel conditioned, English ale (can't get it anywhere but here).

Cheers Gary, great to get you back on the thundershow, thanks for still being an inspiration. I've never had Alsace Riesling but I have a 07 Trimbach Riesling in the cupboard but i'm saving it for a familt get together. I've had a few Gewurztraminers from Alsace and loved those, I'm only 20 though and I'm still working on my palate.

Been there. Love the decor. The wine selection was not terribly deep but was interesting (I prefer it that way any day). Had some appetizers which were decent and well priced. Then we went to the cheeses. A couple of them weren't ripe at all. I mentioned it in passing (not in a complaining way) to some older guy with slicked back gray hair. He seemed to be in charge. He wasn't very friendly about the matter and got defensive. Other than that, everyone was very professional and helpful. I will definitely give it another go. If you work happy hour at all, I will stop by the next time I have to go to Fry's.

Gary, you have been living in my computer for a while now yelling at me, so I guess it is time to finally say something back. I apologize for all the lurking, but hey I usually listen/watch you at the office and extra “commenting” time is hard to come by.

I live in cold ol' Canada and we do have auto shop class up here.

Food/non-Wine Beverage pairing: Balvenie Scotch (whatever year/ barrel I have around) and fine female partner. Maybe not food, but there is plenty of eating to be done. HA!

I forgot to mention that I feel your pain with the Jets. I had a crushing defeat with my team in 2006, when my Edmonton Oilers (who are currently on one of the biggest losing streaks in NHL history currently) lost the Stanley Cup in game 7 of the finals. It hurts, and you will never get over it.

I too like any kind of geuze lambic/sour wild ale with cheese. I wish there were more American brewers willing to experiment with this style.

Well now that is a bit nasty, but you redeem yourself with the Balvenie. Balvenie Double Wood is my favorite scotch of all time, hands down. Unbelievably full flavored and crazy smooth at the same time.

(Andy) I love Diet Pepsi and buttered popcorn together. At the same time. You swish them in your mouth together and it's quite yummy. I just had the Dirler 2005 Pinot Gris from the Alsace that blew my socks off. I never knew Pinot Gris could be so sweet and viscous. Delicious! I have 2 bottles of Leon Beyer 2005 Riesling that I bought from City Vineyard here in Billings, MT that were on clearance for $4.99 each. I love clearance wine! They still have 2 cases if anyone is in the area.

QOTD: Wow, it hard to narrow it down to just one, so here's a few:
Steaming mug of flavorful, breakfast-style tea and a chocolate crossiant
Juicy burger with the works and a Coke
Good, cold Red Tail Ale and corn chips

Great to see you excited at the end…”enough to hit the nose on the head”.
Be well and welcome back.

Gary,

You mention rock juice as a possible entrepreneurial venture. Have you considered non-alcoholic grape varietal juice (Vitis vinifera not labrusca)? A few years back I read in a wine magazine (~2006) that Disney World's Epcot was offering Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and I think Riesling grape juices to kids.

I live in Salt Lake City and throw wine tastings. I'd like to invite several of my friends who don't drink for religious reasons but are curious when I describe the flavors of various wines to them. I've tried the Ariel brands and they taste pretty crappy. Perhaps you can make a non-alcoholic wine that actually tastes like wine.

What do you think of this idea?

BTW I feel you're pain, my heart was ripped out by Brett Favre AGAIN. Vikings should've won but they beat themselves.

Crap forgot to answer your question. I like tea. Lapsang Souchong a big, robustly smoky tea (it IS dried over a pinewood fire). It goes well with irish cheddars or other strong foods.

Since you like Scotch I have a drink for you. I call it the “Bloody Scotsman.”

Mix 1-2 oz (depends on how strong you like it) of smoky/peaty scotch (i.e., Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Lagavulin 16yr) with 4 parts of bloody mary mix (homemade or store bought) and ice. Shake well, strain, and serve. It can also be stirred.

Lemme know what you think. It'll help you get over that cold.

Thanks for this show on my favorite white wine!

Mini-QOTD: A former boss of mine turned me onto Alsatian wine and like I said Alsatian Rieslings have been my favorite white wine for a couple years now. I've probably tried a couple dozen. I would definitely be on board for some rock juice.

QOTD: A Founders Centennial IPA and Tree Hugger sandwich (swap out the honey mustard for Dijon and make sure it's toasted) at Founders' taproom in Grand Rapids, MI. Put a visit on your bucket list (all their sandwiches & beers are outstanding).

Rooted hard for the Jets, at least they weren't as sloppy as the Vikings.

Mini- Many Alsation Reislings especially love Trimbach

Genesse Cream Ale and Pizza–It started in college Genny cream (A PA local brew) was cheap and we were thirsty! What do college students eat? Pizza

Lucky for me, I live close to Russian River Brewing which makes fantastic sour ales with varying flavor profiles. 🙂

Try the Abarbanel Reisling. I generally don't like the Abarbanel line, but the riesling is one of the few Kosher whites (in many, many tries) that I've ever liked.

Genny Cream Ale is made in Rochester NY. This is its fiftieth year — just like the Jets! A light, almost sweet beer, it is awesome on draft if you can find it.

Santa Fe Nut brown Ale with barbecue. Alsace has a prominent place in my cellar. Always 6-12 though I really like the Pinot Gris and Gewürtztraminer best.

GV you're breaking my heart with how sad you are….wish things worked out better for the Jets last weekend. They had a great run and got much further than I think even you expected them to.

It's funny how you wore the same shirt for back to back episodes….if we didn't all know better and with the playoff beard in the #803 vs not having one here one may have thought you taped them the same day.

QOTD1: I can't recall having any Alsace Rieslings

You talk about feeling old with the new Karate Kid….try this one on for size. If “Back to the Future” was made today….Marty McFly would have traveled back to 1980….let that one digest for a minute.

QODT2: Great question, I drink more water than anything else, but that doesn't really count. One of my favorite non-wine food pairing is Coke (not Pepsi) with pizza. There is just something awesome for me that works with that, I prefer Coke with pizza even more than wine….and I know there are A LOT of “pizza wines” out there.

QOTD1: I have had between 25 to 30 Alsatian Rieslings, but most Alsatian whites are very interesting.

QOTD2: A amber beer with spiced nuts is my favorite. Its best during football games.

QOTD Non-Wine: A good DARK porter beer (My favorite so far is Odell's Cutthroat Porter) with a medium-rare steak with a good amount of pepper and seasoning on the edges. It's my favorite paring yet!

QOTD 1: I just had my first Alsace riesling (i'm seeking them out thx to you, GV) a few wks ago: '07 Trimbach Riesling. It was $17 – good, dry and crisp. I want to try the Zind-Humbrect next.

QOTD 2: Fav non-alcohol beverage pairing: Diet Coke and Pizza.

Coffee and donuts