As Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the proprietor of the Kwik-E-Mart on “The Simpsons,” once observed: “You cannot hurt the Twinkie.”
Indeed, in pop culture, no fast-food dessert is more endearing or enduring than the Twinkie – that “golden sponge cake with a creamy filling.”
On the TV series “All in the Family,” Archie Bunker didn’t ask for much in life, but he did expect his wife Edith to include a Twinkie in his sack lunch each day.
Then there was the hit movie, “Ghostbusters.” Who will ever forget this exchange?…
Doctor Egon Spengler: I’m worried, Ray. All my readings point to something big on the horizon.
Winston Zeddemore: What do you mean, big?
Doctor Egon Spengler: Well, let’s say this Twinkie represents the normal amount of psychokinetic energy in the New York area. Based on this morning’s reading, it would be a Twinkie 35 feet long, weighing approximately 600 pounds.
Winston Zeddemore: That’s a big Twinkie.
By now, you may be wondering what all this Twinkie talk has to do with wine. Well, we refer you to the 1978 movie, “Grease,” in which this conversation takes place as Rizzo breaks out a bottle of wine…
Rizzo: How about a little Sneaky Pete to get the party going?
(The girls all cheer.)
Jan: Anyone want a Twinkie?
Marty: Twinkies and wine? Oh, that’s real class, Jan.
Jan: It says right here it’s a dessert wine.
(Jan offers the bottle to Sandy, who is hesitant.)
Jan: What’s the matter? We don’t got cooties!
Rizzo: I’ll bet you’ve never had a drink before, have you?
Sandy: Oh, yes, I did. I had some Champagne at my cousin’s wedding once.
Rizzo: Well, ring-a-ding-ding.
Which brings up the question: Would a Twinkie go well with a dessert wine?
The answer: Yes! In fact, almost any dessert wine would do – other than Sneaky Pete.
The main (and just about only) flavor one detects in a Twinkie is vanilla (from that creamy frosting). With a basically “neutral” flavor such as that, almost any type of fruit flavor would match beautifully. (Think of strawberries atop a slice of pound cake.)
And most dessert wines are packed with fruit flavor.
So, as the Twinkie celebrates its 80th birthday this week, we suggest raising a toast with your favorite dessert wine.
P.S.: If sweet wines aren’t your thing, there’s always the go-to wine for many pairing-challenged foods: Champagne.
Ring-a-ding-ding!
