Moves. Are. Back.
Everywhere I look these days I see an ad for a new movie. Maybe I’m scrolling through instagram and see a trailer for a new action flick, or the cast of “the year's hottest film” is making a cameo on my fave podcast (Can we talk about these press tours? Unreal!). This was the first time in YEARS I made a point of watching all the nominees for Best Picture before the Oscar’s, and I got a sense that people were really paying attention! Growing up in Rochester, N.Y., the home of Kodak, movies always felt celebratory and close to home. Film is an integral part of American culture and history; a moving art form that has been transformed through time and technology- much like the craft of winemaking. From the quintessential date night of “dinner and a movie” to the modern “Netflix and chill”, there is space for awesome wines and snacks galore. Let’s be honest, we could all use a movie night at home, and Cork has got you covered.
Let’s get some snacks going! It’s almost a requirement to have something to munch on during movies. My picks? PIZZA. POPCORN. CANDY. What is more movie night than that? I am grabbing Bonte Bakery’s gluten free pizza crust from the market freezer to start. I know you might be hesitant about a gf option but I will let you in on a secret. These crusts actually taste really freaking good. They have an awesome tang from buckwheat sourdough starter, and when cooked in a super hot oven they crisp to perfection on the edges while maintaining an unctuous chewy texture in the center without getting soggy. At. All. Sog-free zone here! I like to top with Bianco di Napoli’s pizza sauce, and get really creative with toppings! There are so many meats, cheeses, sauces, and fun toppings at the shop you can really do it up! Better yet, go crazy and have a build your own pizza party.
The real snack requirement here is popcorn. If you have never attempted to pop your own kernels, I HIGHLY recommend giving it a go. It’s super quick, super easy, beyond delicious, and will frankly change your life forever- or at least your movie nights. We carry Edison Grainery organic whole white popcorn kernels at the shop. The small kernels pop quite evenly, have a distinct nutty sweet flavor and are tender as can be. I like to drizzle mine with plenty of spicy/bitter Montemelino extra virgin olive oil or melted Ploughgate Farms cultured butter, and arguably too much flaky salt! Hey, if your popcorn isn’t so salty you need a beverage, then what’s the point?! Something I’m obsessed with right now is using high-end curated spice mixes on my popcorn. It’s a really fun way to try out new blends, and keep everyone at movie night talking. Right now I’m loving Diaspora Co.’s Popcorn Masala spice blend. It’s cheesy from nutritional yeast, umami from pink garlic, and slightly sweet and smoky from a special blend of chiles. Truly popcorn's best friend.
Make sure to grab some candy for that inevitable mid-binge sweet tooth! Growing up I would always grab a box of those sickly, waxy cookie dough bites at the theater and as an adult I still prefer chocolate over gummies for a movie, but Cork has your back no matter your preference! The gummy candies from BonBon, Koisvart, and Wally & Whiz are a candy lover's dream. The candy doesn’t just look amazing, it tastes even better. I am a fan of the sour peach fish and classic sweet wild strawberry fish! To quell my chocolate cravings I will grab a jumbo Milka MMMAX Toffee Ganznuss bar, and a Milka Oreo bar. An American hershey’s will do in a pinch, but these Milka bars are straight from Austria and made from the creamiest most decadent alpine milk chocolate you could imagine. Milka would give Willy Wonka a run for his money, I’m sure of it.
During all that snacking you will need to quench your thirst. Movie theaters go large-format on drinks there, so why not do the same at home? At the shop we just received some awesome litre-format wines perfect for movie night. I recommend some Argentinian skin-contact goodness, in the form of Luna Duna. The label has a Naranjo and a Tinto (orange and red respectively) that are total thirst quenchers and wallet stretchers. Throw a chill on these and you will be sipping all the way through Dune Part 1 AND 2 while enjoying that pizza you made. Timmy Chalamet would be proud. If Italian is more your style, try the super crisp and clean E! Bianco from Poderi Cellario. That spiced popcorn would be a delicious pairing. At the shop, I will also grab some refreshing pilsners for the beer drinkers in the house. ‘Alexandr’ from Schilling Beer Co in Littleton N.H. is a textbook Czech-Pilsner, rich, crisp and refreshing.
When you swing by the shop to stock up for this weekend, don’t forget to ask us some of our favorite funky movie night pairings! These are just mine, but the team would love to help you win the Oscar for best wine and snack spread. Cheers! Or should I say, “Action!”