The Perfect Drink Pairings For Girl Dinner Staples
- Food and Drink
- Steve King
Looking to give the girl dinner trend a go? In this article, Steve King, Managing Director at fine wine and bespoke gift hampers retailer Bottled & Boxed, explains how you can complement your plate with the perfect tipple.
If you’ve scrolled through TikTok anytime over the past few months, you’ll have likely come across the concept of girl dinner. This trend is taking the app by storm and has easily become one of the most popular TikTok trends of the year. In fact, the #girldinner tag has already amassed a staggering 2.1 billion views on TikTok alone.
But what exactly is girl dinner, and how can you choose the perfect tipple to complement your girl dinner plate? Read on to find out more about the trend, and the best drinks pairings for different dishes.
What is ‘girl dinner’?
While there’s no formal definition of the trend, most people consider girl dinner to be a low-effort, easily thrown-together plate of food. Not quite a snack but lighter than the average full meal, it is the perfect choice for those looking for a light and easy food option. Girl dinner usually consists of multiple different types of foods, such as two or more side dishes combined, which is why many equate the trend to the classic British “picky tea”.
When it comes to what exactly is included in a girl dinner, this can vary from person to person. Some may prefer to do a little food preparation to make a more formal and fresh version of the trend, such as whipping up a bruschetta, while others opt for the simplest and easiest option, like a selection of leftovers or bread and veggies with dips.
The great thing about girl dinner is just how versatile it is. Not only is it the perfect option for an easy solo dining lunch or tea, but it can even be zhuzhed up and complemented with a tipple or two to make it perfect for small get-togethers.
Girl dinner pairings
A fantastic way to elevate your girl dinner experience is by pairing your dish with the perfect tipples. And with so many different variations of this trend around, there are a wide range of pairings to choose from. To make choosing the best match for your plate easier, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular forms of girl dinner and found the beverages which complement them best.
Charcuterie boards
Charcuterie boards are a staple of the girl dinner trend and the perfect way to enjoy a wide selection of food on one plate. These boards include a large range of delicious dishes, from cured meats and olives to cheeses, grapes, and peach slices. There are a variety of tipples to choose from depending on the type of board you craft. Below are a few common types of charcuterie boards and the perfect drinks to match.
Classic charcuterie boards
On a traditional charcuterie board, you’ll find a wide selection of cheeses and cured meats, as well as crackers and/or slices of bread, dips and flavoured butters, and grapes, peach slices, apple slices, and other forms of fruit. Red wines, such as Chianti, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon, often work well with traditional charcuterie boards, as they can enhance the flavours of cured meats and salty cheeses. Certain white wines, like a dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc, can provide a refreshing contrast to the saltiness of a charcuterie board.
Mediterranean-inspired platter
A fantastic way to incorporate the tastes of the Mediterranean is with a simple and tasty Mediterranean-inspired girl dinner platter. On this board, you’ll find pita bread and flavourful spreads and dips, like hummus, tzatziki, and baba ghanoush; fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes and peppers; and of course, classic Mediterranean cheeses, such as feta, ricotta, and goat cheese. A crisp and refreshing white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, works well with Mediterranean mezze, as these wines complement the lighter and fresher elements of the mezze, including the dips and fresh vegetables. A dry rosé wine can be a versatile choice here too, as it strikes a balance between the acidity of white wine and the richness of red wine. It pairs beautifully with a variety of Mediterranean dishes, including olives, feta cheese, and fresh vegetables.
Best of British board
While charcuterie boards are traditionally associated with other European countries, like France, Italy, and Spain, British food is actually a fantastic choice for a charcuterie platter and the perfect option for girl dinner, too. There are a number of simple yet delicious foods to incorporate in a British girl dinner charcuterie, including a selection of strong British cheeses and crackers, chutneys and pâtés, apple and pear slices, and British cured meats, like ham.
Port wine is a classic pairing with British cheese, making it a fantastic option for a British charcuterie board. The sweetness and complexity of port perfectly contrast with the saltiness and richness of the cheese, making it an ideal choice for aged cheddars and stilton. Traditional British ciders are another fantastic choice, perfect for adding a refreshing sweetness to the board.
Veggies and dips
A nutritious, tasty, and very simple dish often chosen for girl dinner is veggies and dips, often paired with a bread or other forms of carb. Putting this dish together can take just minutes, and it’s a great way to use leftover vegetables knocking around the fridge.
A crisp and light white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Viognier, can pair well with fresh vegetable platters and creamy dips like hummus or feta dips. The acidity and citrus notes in white wine can cut through the richness of the dips and pair perfectly with the refreshing crudites. Dry rosé wine is a versatile choice that complements a variety of vegetables and dips with its fruity and floral notes. It works especially well with Mediterranean-style dips like baba ghanoush and tabbouleh.
If you’re in the mood for a savoury option to match your vegetable selection, a Bloody Mary made with vodka, tomato juice, and various spices can be an interesting choice. It pairs particularly well with vegetable platters and spicy dips.
You may also want to pair your veggies and dips with a light, alcohol-free option. A non-alcoholic gin and tonic is a great choice for those looking for a more refreshing drink. And for those looking to enjoy a light glass of fizz, an alcohol-free sparkling wine or prosecco is sure to be a welcome addition to your veggies and dips plate.
Sweet selection board
Who says that girl dinner is all about the savoury dishes? There are plenty of sweet treats which make the perfect addition to a girl dinner dessert plate. On sweet girl dinner plates, you may find foods like fruit salads, yoghurts, biscuits, chocolate dipping sauces, or popcorn. As well as being a tasty treat for a solo evening in, this is the perfect way to round off a dinner party with your nearest and dearest.
When it comes to pairings for a girl dessert plate, you may want to avoid overpowering your palate with other sweet drinks like fruity cocktails. However, less sugary cocktails can work a treat here. Margaritas, for example, have a fantastic balance of sweet, salty, and sour, meaning you won’t be overpowered by sweetness. Rum-based cocktails, such as mojitos and Cuba libres, are another great option for sweet boards, as the spirit pairs well with both chocolate and various fruits, including pineapple, mango, and watermelon.
The girl dinner trend is the perfect way to embrace easy meals and enjoy a variety of different foods at the same time. Hopefully, with the tips above, you can find the perfect pairing for your own girl dinner to enhance the flavours on your plate.
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Steve King
Steve King is Managing Director of Bottled & Boxed, an online retailer of wines and spirits that specialises in bespoke gift sets and hampers that has been trading since 1999. The company prides itself on offering prompt UK and overseas delivery, along with excellent customer service and the opportunity to personalise or engrave their products.
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