Hoisin Chicken with Cucumber Salad

If you are like us at wineanswers.com, you are always looking for new and different ways to make chicken, a staple in so many households. That’s why this recipe from the Food Network Magazine caught our attention. The hoisin sauce base, along with the fresh garlic, ginger, lime and jalapeño, make a full-flavored marinade that works extremely well with the rich dark meat of the chicken. In this case, the thighs and drumsticks on the bone are perfect for the grill, and add yet more gutsy flavor than the “same old, same old” chicken breast salad.

Prosecco is the first wine that comes screaming out for this dish. This light bubbly from Italy is extremely food friendly and plays nicely with the sweet element of the hoisin sauce, puts out the fire of the jalapeño, and is simply refreshing. For those who do not particularly enjoy bubbles, try a Torrontés from Argentina. Torrontés is a white grape variety indigenous to Argentina and can best be described as a cross between a Riesling and Gewürztraminer. It has a beautiful balance of sweet (not cloying, we promise) and spicy -- like the yin and yang of the dish. For the full recipe, please visit www.foodnetwork.com.

--Felicia M. Sherbert