Emma Sharp, Contributor

Dining with emma

WHEN I was first given this assignment, I was thinking to myself, "You have got be kidding me? Why would anyone want to drink a cocktail with a meal? By definition, a cocktail is a mixed alcoholic beverage. How could this possibly complement any decent dinner?"

But the truth is, I cook with alcohol all the time - brandy, rum, whisky, vodka. I use them all in my culinary concoctions. Therefore, why couldn't it supplement my Sauvignon Blanc or Merlot at the table?

I started thinking about different dishes in which I pour these spirits. If it can be used in a recipe, then why not in the cocktail which will be sipped with the dish as well?

If you're not a wine drinker then, perhaps, you can start off with the suggestions I've listed (See below). When considering your choices of cocktails, try to imagine their flavours along with those of the dish you'd like to order. It might take some practice, but why not ask those dining with you, or the bartender, to help you out!

Meals Cocktails

Spicy seafood and tomato tagliatelle Sea breeze: vodka, cranberry, grapefruit

Griddled sirloin with whisky cream Manhattan Whisky, Angostura bitters, sweet Vermouth

Hamburger with blue cheese and mushrooms Old-fashioned cocktail: sugar, Angostura, whisky

Snapper with olive oil and lemon Tom Collins: lemon, sugar, gin, soda water

Roast pork with apple sauce Angel face: gin, apricot brandy, calvados

Lamb chops with berry sauce Bamboo: sherry, dry Vermouth, orange bitters

Rosemary roast chicken martini Gin, Vermouth

Crispy duck Orange fizz: orange, lime, gin, soda water

Coconut curry shrimp Piña colada: white rum, dark rum, coconut cream, pineapple, Angostura, bitters

Chicken curry Charbay moroccan: Charbay pomegranate vodka, cardamon-infused simple syrup, lemon, pomegranate puree

Sushi Saketini: gin, sake

Sausage and cheese risotto with brandy Between the sheets: lemon, brandy, Cointreau, dark rum

Spicy Mexican beef or chicken burrito Margarita: Tequila, Cointreau, lime

BBQ spare ribs in hot & sweet rum marinade Mai Tai: dark rum, lime, orange Curaçao, syrup

Crab backs Brandy Egg Sour: egg, sugar, lemon, orange Curaçao, brandy

Chocolate mousse Orange Whisky Fix: sugar, water, whisky and Angostura orange bitters

Hot chocolate self-saucing pudding Sombrero: coffee, brandy, cream

Créme brûlée Brandy Flip: egg, sugar, brandy, nutmeg

Pineapple and mango pavlova Zombie: dark rum, white rum, pineapple juice, sugar

Apple pie Corpse Reviver: sweet Vermouth, calvados, brandy

Almond cake/pastry Alabama slammer: southern comfort, amaretto, sloe gin, lemon

Strawberry cheesecake Vodka Gimlet: lime, vodka, sugar

Crepes suzette White Lady: gin, lemon, Cointreau

Flambéed bananas Little Devil: lemon, Cointreau, dark rum, gin

Trio of vanilla, chocolate and coffee ice cream Screaming orgasm: vodka, Bailey's Irish Cream, Kahlua

Try a cocktail with your meal