"fast food wine pairing" news and stories

Acknowledging that even the most fastidious foodies can't say no to Popeye's spicy fried chicken, Dirty South Wine's Hardy Wallace has made the dish the centerpiece of what he claims is the world's first-ever online food-and-wine pairing competition.

"There are a lot of online wine tastings, but no one ever does pairings," Wallace explains. "As much as I love wine, it's useless without food."

Wallace has recruited five respected wine experts to submit their picks for the best vino to sip with Popeye's celebrated chicken, Cajun-battered fries and red beans and rice. He and 50 friends will sample the selections at a party next Wednesday; While the festivities will be live-streamed from Wallace's house, he's also urging wine-and-chicken lovers to play along at home and report their findings via Twitter.

At stake is the title of Dirty Bird King (or Queen) -- and a lifetime of potentially enhanced Popeye's enjoyment.