The ability to pair wine with a meal is an important skill, much like pairing a left shoe with a right or a birth certificate with its baby. Avoid mismatching misfortunes with today's Groupon: for $35, you get a wine and food pairing class for two people from Bottled Grapes (a $70 value). Classes run on Mondays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Beijo de Chocolat, and on Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Splice Kitchen.
Bottled Grapes owner Krunch Kretschmar, one of 24 people worldwide to be recognized as an International Grand Confrerie Sommelier, instructs students in a two-hour seminar that teaches neophyte gourmands how to properly pair food with wine. A globetrotting grape enthusiast, Krunch brings more than a decade of pairing experience to his fun and educational sessions, which include wine samples and a meal. Grab a date or ask them nicely and learn to savor the bitter tannins of an aged merlot, the crisp fruitiness of a chilled riesling, and the compact portability of a fine boxed zinfandel. With a newfound wine connoisseur's vocabulary and palate, students will master the art of using flavor profiles to make informed pairing decisions. Upon completion, tipplers won’t once again make the mistake of pairing a rare 1984 oak-aged cabernet sauvignon with a pizza Lunchable when the occasion calls for turkey and cheddar.
Groupon Says
The Groupon Guide to: European Travel
We can thank Europe for many things–the Enlightenment, both Sistine Chapels, and most of all, discovering America. Now, you can thank Europe in person with these handy travel tips:
Travel In Style: Get to Europe the way famous stars do–by hang-gliding from the tallest peak in Massachusetts over all 10 miles of Atlantic Ocean onto the smallest peak in Portugal, the capital of Spain.
Identify Yourself: To make sure local Europeans recognize you as American, keep your dollar bills stapled to the outside of your clothing.
Don't Learn the Language: If you don't speak European, don't worry. All Europeans understand English, but only when it is shouted.
Get Some Culture: Opened in 2006, Europe's Louvre Museum contains all sorts of wacky sculptures from famous old-timey Europe types, plus lots of cool American art to make your trip worthwhile.
Visit Your Local Embassy: If you get homesick, stop at the nearest embassy to plant your feet on familiar ground. If you find an Embassy Suites, this is the same thing.
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