Drink Pairings for Your Next Takeout Meal
How many times have you ordered a delicious takeout meal, only to realize that you forgot to order drinks and end up scrounging for whatever bottle you might have at the back of the fridge? Well, here at Tasty Find we like to do things a little differently, and treat every delivery meal as an occasion deserving of a classy drink to match. So, whether you’re a wine lover, a beer guzzler, or a cocktail connoisseur, here are a few of our most popular takeout orders, along with the perfect drink pairing for each. Bottoms up!
Chicken Tikka Masala
The range of heat in a Chicken Tikka Masala can vary wildly from one takeout restaurant to the next, so you should adjust your drink pairing according to how spicy the dish is. If the Tikka Masala at your local takeout restaurant is rich in flavor but mild in spice, go for a nice, hoppy IPA – the bitterness of the hops will bring out the heat in the dish a little more. If you’re ordering from an indian restaurant where they’re more generous with the spice, try a dry Riesling with a sugary finish to cool your palette.
Cheeseburger and French fries
An all-American classic takeout order of a cheeseburger and fries should be paired with an equally American drink. We love to complement the saltiness of the fries with a little something sweet, so an ice-cold rum and coke hits the spot every time. Add a splash of lime and you’ll be in takeout heaven.
Pad Thai
One of our all-time favorite Thai takeout dishes, Pad Thai has a unique blend of sweet and salty flavors, making it a challenge when it comes to finding the perfect drink pairing. If your local Thai restaurant has Thai iced tea on their delivery menu, problem solved! If not, we’d recommend a cold, yeasty wheat beer with a touch of sweetness such as a Hefeweizen.
Burrito
Whether it’s carne asada, carnitas, or braised chicken, there’s one drink that will pair perfectly with your next burrito: the classic blended margarita. The only trouble is, it’s not the easiest cocktail to make! So, if you’re feeling too lazy to break out the blender, a light beer such as a Corona will work too… just don’t forget the lime.
Spicy Tuna Roll
When dining out in a sushi restaurant, the classic drink pairing is a carafe of sake to share with the table. Since most of us don’t have sake lying around at home, a nice alternative when ordering takeout sushi is a bottle of champagne or prosecco. It won’t overwhelm the delicate flavors of sashimi, and will also provide a cooling finish for the kick of a spicy tuna roll or the mountain of wasabi you’ve mixed in with your soy sauce.
Pizza
Oh, the possibilities! There are as many drink pairings for pizza as there are toppings on your menu, but wine is always a safe place to start. For a milder option such as a four cheese pizza or margherita, a lighter red or dry rosé will be sublime. For a pizza loaded with meaty toppings, you’ll need a drink with a little more oomph, so go for a bigger red like a Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon.
