Chinese Rice Wine (Michiu 750 ml.)

Item Purchased: Chinese Rice Wine (Michiu 750 ml.)
Location Purchased: Chicago Food Market / 2245 S. Wentworth Ave. / Chicago, IL
Price: $3.75 + tax

Review: The label on this bottle of rice wine says "Not For Beverage Use."

I don't especially like it when my groceries tell me what I should or shouldn't do. I mean, that's the best part about moving out of the parents' place and buying your own groceries. Those bags of Fritos and Mello-Yello don't tell you what to do! Besides, with a warning like that on a liquid with 19.5% alcohol content, all I could think of on the way home was what a glass of this stuff would taste like. Of course, I know better and realize that it would taste worse than rubbing alcohol shots from a bottle cap, so I didn't. It seems like my groceries think I'm an idiot.

This wine does taste good (or it adds flavor rather) when used in a black bean vinegar sauce in sparing amounts. Though, not the fanciest or most fragrant wine to use in stir fries or other dishes, this inexpensive bottle of michiu will last me a long time and serve to spice up many dishes.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

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Gallo Dry Vermouth (750 ml.)

Item Purchased: Gallo Dry Vermouth (750 ml.)
Location Purchased: Dominick's / 3145 S. Ashland / Chicago, IL
Price: $4.49 + tax

Review: With all of the other wines on my counter, I hope someone doesn't drunkenly drink this bottle of Vermouth. I need it for cooking. (note: every other bottle of wine was emptied, but my guests steered clear of the vermouth... good thing I didn't have any vodka or gin!)

Whenever a recipe calls for white cooking wine, I tend to reach for vermouth. Because vermouth has such a strong aroma, you can sometimes get away with using less than a recipe calls for and still come up with a unique taste (thrifty, huh?). Vermouth used to be infused with wormwood (the herb used in making absinthe) but I am not so sure this is the case anymore. If it is, they use a very small amount, because the licorice flavor of wormwood is not present in this drink. Instead, the scent and flavor of dry vermouth tends to be that of cheap cough syrup. This is probably why dry vermouth is rarely drunk by itself and, instead, used in flavoring drinks and entrees. I find it works especially well with seafood.

Gallo is not one of the most popular brands of vermouth, but it is inexpensive and available at my local chain grocery store. Vinted in California, I have no complaints about this inexpensive bottle of booze. Martini & Rossi may be the choice of martini makers everywhere, but I don't need my liquor cabinet to look like a bar. I need it to look like a liquor shelf.

Rating: 3.75 / 5

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