Pig and Tiger

We're at Pig and Tiger today, the Taiwanese-inspired restaurant on California Street in Denver. (You may remember Pig and Tiger from the Philly Roast Pork Hoagie episode of *Another Sandwich Show* — same kitchen, completely different sandwich, completely different idea.) Today's dish is the cold sesame noodles. The contestants are Sam and Justin from Somebody People. The host-somm is Travis Masar himself, the Pig and Tiger chef who's been making variations on this noodle dish since 2013.

The wines

Wine one was a yellow-gold white with white-flower nose, lemon-lime, green apple. Sam compared it to an Australian Splice ice cream — lime icy on the outside, vanilla on the inside. "Really refreshing squeeze of lemon juice on the wine that could go so nicely with a lot of those Asian spices." Sam guessed Riesling, Mosel, Germany, 2021-22. Justin went Sauvignon Blanc, new world. Reveal: German Riesling. Sam wins.

Wine two was a translucent red, lighter than its color suggested. Cherry cola on the nose, peppery on the first sip, holding tannins on the top of the palate. Both tasters took time on this one. The wine was the kind of light red that pairs with cold dishes and rich sauces — built for cold sesame noodles, basically.

Wine three was an off-dry Riesling Sam described as cherry cola with a different chassis. "Honestly, this is the best cold noodle dish that I've had hands down anywhere," he said, which is a thing Sam says often but in this case appears to mean. The watermelon radish in the bowl gave a little pepperiness, like a sweeter cucumber.

The pairing

Both contestants landed on wine three — the Riesling. "It just cuts through all of it," Sam said. "It's like an INXS song on a mixtape." Justin agreed: "I think it's just a better balanced wine with the meal." The Riesling's residual sugar handled the chili-and-sesame heat in a way the Sauvignon Blanc and the light red couldn't.

Travis: "Sam's wrong. I win this one." The food disagreed. Riesling won with cold sesame noodles. Show wins again.

Go to Pig and Tiger. Order the cold sesame noodles. Bring a Riesling.