Font ResizeEveryone talks about wine pairings -- especially during September and crush. But did you know that a spicy plate of chicken wings goes best with beer? It's something I discovered when I tested out our neighborhood Red Boy Pizza's new pairings menu.
You have to understand -- my husband is a chicken wing lover. We call him El Wingador, after the five-time Wing Bowl champion who can eat 254 wings in 30 minutes. Drumsticks down -- he thinks the best wings in town are at Red Boy on Leimert and on Redwood Road. They are smoky and savory and go best with an Italian Peroni beer. Conversely, the buffalo chicken pizza pairs best with a German Hefenweizen.
Red Boy has 12 different beers, including three regional microbrews.
Their wine list is equally extensive and includes an Italian Chianti that pairs well with bruschetta and mozzarella de buffalo and a lush pinot noir that complements the sweet Italian sausage pizza.
I don't know about you, but I feel a lot better heading into fall with the right flavor profiles for pizza, pasta and chicken wings. Let the football season reign.
AROUND TOWN: It's time to say a final farewell to the owners of Montclair Pharmacy and Sarber's Cameras. There'll be a retirement party for the Sullivan and Sarber families from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 3 in Union Bank at 1998 Mountain Blvd. If you'd like to attend, contact the Montclair Village Association's Daniel Swafford at
Ann Dyer's Mountain Yoga is celebrating its 10th anniversary in the Village with free mini-classes and a curry cook-off Sept. 28 and Sept. 29. There'll also be a free Bollywood bhangra dance lesson, a la "Slumdog Millionaire." See www.m-yoga.org for a video clip of the dance and more information.
And, speaking of dancing, did you see the flash mob of Zorba the Greek dancers outside TOUCH salon & Gallery last weekend? It was more excitement than Montclair has seen in a whole host of Sundays.
BOOK IT: It's a new chapter for the "Book club without the book." East Bay United Gals has been meeting for 12 years as the book club that hikes, bikes and does just about everything but discuss books.
Yet, they broke from their monthly routine last week to host three local authors at Monaghan's. Jacqueline Luckett, Zoe Fitzgerald and Mary Roach each read from their latest books and the members seemed to enjoy it.
Perhaps they'll succumb to the pressure to actually be in a book club. The rest of us have.
ANIMAL TALES: Mention wildlife and college in the same breath and it conjures up visions of the 1970s movie "Animal House." But at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, the wildlife is often four-legged.
Earlier this month, a group of students reported seeing two mountain lions on the trail near the cross. The cats weren't aggressive -- and there's no truth to the rumor that they were Campolindo High School Cougars.
Got news? You can reach Ginny Prior by phone at 510-723-2525, by email at ginnyprior@hotmail.com or on the web at www.ginnyprior.com.
