Since this is the Wedding Special Edition for the Nichi Bei Times, I seriously thought of what the Gochiso Gourmet could contribute to this commemorative issue. It was over 13 years ago that yours truly got hitched and especially from the perspective of a guy - who is simply looking for another reason to throw a party – what could possibly be of use for those ready to “tie the knot”. Then again, I do have many words of wisdom (or just random ramblings) about the subject. So here goes
Champagne is ALWAYS good.
Okay, Champagne might be my interpretation of a festive wedding but did you know that Champagne originally was reserved for French aristocracy after that Benedictine monk, Dom Perignon first uttered that immortal phrase: “Come quickly, I have been drinking stars”. Good
enough for French royalty, good enough for the Bride and Groom.
I know that Dom Perignon always conjures images that you’ve procured the very best bubbly. I won’t disagree that Dom Perignon is excellent Champagne, especially in great vintages. However, it’s not the only option for the matrimonial couple. There are many more Methode Champenois libations that are felicitous for the festive occasion.
If you feel affiliated with the Bride, perhaps a bottle of Veuve Cliquot On the Go Collection. Along with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label (the same non-vintage Champagne Ina Garten of the Barefoot Contessa fame always has in her refrigerator) this special package comes in a handy orange colored neoprene “purse” that keeps the bottle chilled for at least 2 hours (also available as a bottle carrier that holds two Champagne flute glasses). While it won’t make the Champagne taste any better (Veuve Cliquot is already a very good “middle of the road” Champagne), the new Mrs. may look a little more
stylish carrying her next bottle of bubbly to future bridal showers.
If Champagne carrying bags don’t strike your fancy, how about an attractive Champagne gift bottle? Perrier Jouet bottles a Belle Epoque Champagne with a decorative painted label of flowers that’s available in single bottle or as a gift set with two matching hand painted Champagne flute glasses. And the Champagne in the bottle isn’t bad either, nice floral nose with a medium body and nice finish.
Finally, for the avant garde couple Piper Heidsieck bottles a special Jean-Paul Gautier designed red lace up bottle. Maybe a little provocative for the traditional wedding couple but definitely a honeymoon starter for the adventurous. Though the price may be a little more than your traditional Piper Heidsieck Champagne, the Piper house does produce one of the top non-vintage Champagnes year in and out… though the nuptial couple may simply be focused on the lace up or lace down accoutrement as it were.
Forget the Fondue Pot
If the lovely couple loves to spend quality “kitchen time” or at least one of the pair loves the culinary creations of the other half, how a great kitchen gadget. Forget the fondue pot. I know
the fondue pot is making a renaissance reappearance in modern homes but I’m thinking of something a little more upscale. The slow cooker. Whadya mean upscale? Crock pots are as old school as they get. Never mind crock pot, look no further than the All-Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker which has a 7 quart capacity, non-stick aluminum insert that can be used directly on the range top or oven and has one of the longest cooking settings. The 7 quart capacity is perfect for the expanding family or great if the new couple simply want to cook on Sunday to last through the rest of the work week. Also makes a great gift for Nichi Bei Times food writers J.
If slow cooking isn’t your favorite bride’s or groom’s cup of tea, how about a multitasking indoor grill cooker. Sure you can get the latest infomercial George Forman model but that probably
won’t get you invited to subsequent weddings and showers. The multi tasking DeLonghi, Breville and Cuisinart models run you about the same dinero as the top of the line Forman model and can also make superb panini, indoor grilled chicken breast and pancakes. Perfect for the young couple with no outdoor grilling space and a device that makes perfect breakfast pancakes, pressed panini sandwiches for lunch and grilled chicken, steak or fish for dinner.
And for the sake of humanity, please don’t consider monogrammed stemware. They just cost a lot more, are a lot cheesier and simply occlude the appearance of whatever beverage you’re consuming. I personally trust anyone invited to the sanctum of my home enough that I don’t feel the compulsion to label my stemware to retrieve at a later date in case they inadvertently transport said beverage vehicle home with them.
Mom personally “monogramming” your underwear label is another column in itself. However, just say no to monogrammed stemware.
What if they’re Kitchen Uninclined?
Have no fear, readily prepared food is here. HomeBistro.com offers prepared frozen complete meals whether you’re a new spouse challenged with boiling water all the way up to full Vice Presidents of major institutions. The meals are packaged in individual portions and usually include protein, starch and vegetable sides. They also cater to those with carbohydrate, sodium or fat restrictions and diabetes friendly meals are also available.
Though a gift of frozen prepared meals may seem a bit cold (pun intended), after the new couple have returned all of their wedding gifts and realized that they still can’t purchase that new Lexus LS 460 AND they’re still hungry, easily micro waved foods are a blessing. And a lot tastier and important than a Lexus.
And Just in Case
In the rare case that you’re asked to give one of the two banzai toasts at your next wedding reception, have no fear, I’m here.
The banzai toast basically means 10,000 years or wishes a long life to both the Bride and Groom and vice versa. The first banzai toast is to the newly married couple and for brevity’s sake, is simply “Shinro Shimpo, Banzai… Banzai… Banzai…”. The succeeding toast from the Bride and Groom to the guests is simply “Raihin Shoku (or Raihin no Minasama), Banzai… Banzai… Banzai…”. The actual preceding soliloquy actually is pages longer but for brevity’s sake (and mainly because no one could recite – in Japanese – the full text), the Banzai toast is simply stated as is.
Final Words of Wisdom
For all you couples out there ready to take the plunge, my advice is… I have none! Some old sage once said “A woman marries a man expecting him to change whereas a man marries a woman expecting her to remain the same” and you know that “he doesn’t, she doesn’t”. Kinda explains that Mars and Venus philosophy. Bruce Lee once said “put water in a cup, it becomes the cup, put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle”, put two people into a marriage, they become the marriage. No rules, no manuals, no laws. Be water, my friends.
Champagne is ALWAYS good.
Okay, Champagne might be my interpretation of a festive wedding but did you know that Champagne originally was reserved for French aristocracy after that Benedictine monk, Dom Perignon first uttered that immortal phrase: “Come quickly, I have been drinking stars”. Good
enough for French royalty, good enough for the Bride and Groom.I know that Dom Perignon always conjures images that you’ve procured the very best bubbly. I won’t disagree that Dom Perignon is excellent Champagne, especially in great vintages. However, it’s not the only option for the matrimonial couple. There are many more Methode Champenois libations that are felicitous for the festive occasion.
If you feel affiliated with the Bride, perhaps a bottle of Veuve Cliquot On the Go Collection. Along with a bottle of Veuve Cliquot Yellow Label (the same non-vintage Champagne Ina Garten of the Barefoot Contessa fame always has in her refrigerator) this special package comes in a handy orange colored neoprene “purse” that keeps the bottle chilled for at least 2 hours (also available as a bottle carrier that holds two Champagne flute glasses). While it won’t make the Champagne taste any better (Veuve Cliquot is already a very good “middle of the road” Champagne), the new Mrs. may look a little more
stylish carrying her next bottle of bubbly to future bridal showers.If Champagne carrying bags don’t strike your fancy, how about an attractive Champagne gift bottle? Perrier Jouet bottles a Belle Epoque Champagne with a decorative painted label of flowers that’s available in single bottle or as a gift set with two matching hand painted Champagne flute glasses. And the Champagne in the bottle isn’t bad either, nice floral nose with a medium body and nice finish.
Finally, for the avant garde couple Piper Heidsieck bottles a special Jean-Paul Gautier designed red lace up bottle. Maybe a little provocative for the traditional wedding couple but definitely a honeymoon starter for the adventurous. Though the price may be a little more than your traditional Piper Heidsieck Champagne, the Piper house does produce one of the top non-vintage Champagnes year in and out… though the nuptial couple may simply be focused on the lace up or lace down accoutrement as it were.
Forget the Fondue Pot
If the lovely couple loves to spend quality “kitchen time” or at least one of the pair loves the culinary creations of the other half, how a great kitchen gadget. Forget the fondue pot. I know
the fondue pot is making a renaissance reappearance in modern homes but I’m thinking of something a little more upscale. The slow cooker. Whadya mean upscale? Crock pots are as old school as they get. Never mind crock pot, look no further than the All-Clad Deluxe Slow Cooker which has a 7 quart capacity, non-stick aluminum insert that can be used directly on the range top or oven and has one of the longest cooking settings. The 7 quart capacity is perfect for the expanding family or great if the new couple simply want to cook on Sunday to last through the rest of the work week. Also makes a great gift for Nichi Bei Times food writers J.If slow cooking isn’t your favorite bride’s or groom’s cup of tea, how about a multitasking indoor grill cooker. Sure you can get the latest infomercial George Forman model but that probably
won’t get you invited to subsequent weddings and showers. The multi tasking DeLonghi, Breville and Cuisinart models run you about the same dinero as the top of the line Forman model and can also make superb panini, indoor grilled chicken breast and pancakes. Perfect for the young couple with no outdoor grilling space and a device that makes perfect breakfast pancakes, pressed panini sandwiches for lunch and grilled chicken, steak or fish for dinner.And for the sake of humanity, please don’t consider monogrammed stemware. They just cost a lot more, are a lot cheesier and simply occlude the appearance of whatever beverage you’re consuming. I personally trust anyone invited to the sanctum of my home enough that I don’t feel the compulsion to label my stemware to retrieve at a later date in case they inadvertently transport said beverage vehicle home with them.
Mom personally “monogramming” your underwear label is another column in itself. However, just say no to monogrammed stemware.
What if they’re Kitchen Uninclined?
Have no fear, readily prepared food is here. HomeBistro.com offers prepared frozen complete meals whether you’re a new spouse challenged with boiling water all the way up to full Vice Presidents of major institutions. The meals are packaged in individual portions and usually include protein, starch and vegetable sides. They also cater to those with carbohydrate, sodium or fat restrictions and diabetes friendly meals are also available.
Though a gift of frozen prepared meals may seem a bit cold (pun intended), after the new couple have returned all of their wedding gifts and realized that they still can’t purchase that new Lexus LS 460 AND they’re still hungry, easily micro waved foods are a blessing. And a lot tastier and important than a Lexus.
And Just in Case
In the rare case that you’re asked to give one of the two banzai toasts at your next wedding reception, have no fear, I’m here.
The banzai toast basically means 10,000 years or wishes a long life to both the Bride and Groom and vice versa. The first banzai toast is to the newly married couple and for brevity’s sake, is simply “Shinro Shimpo, Banzai… Banzai… Banzai…”. The succeeding toast from the Bride and Groom to the guests is simply “Raihin Shoku (or Raihin no Minasama), Banzai… Banzai… Banzai…”. The actual preceding soliloquy actually is pages longer but for brevity’s sake (and mainly because no one could recite – in Japanese – the full text), the Banzai toast is simply stated as is.
Final Words of Wisdom
For all you couples out there ready to take the plunge, my advice is… I have none! Some old sage once said “A woman marries a man expecting him to change whereas a man marries a woman expecting her to remain the same” and you know that “he doesn’t, she doesn’t”. Kinda explains that Mars and Venus philosophy. Bruce Lee once said “put water in a cup, it becomes the cup, put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle”, put two people into a marriage, they become the marriage. No rules, no manuals, no laws. Be water, my friends.
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