Wine pairing advice is easy to come by for gourmet food, but what if you want the perfect bottle for chasing down Spicy Burrito #7? We asked Lettuce Entertain You wine guru and “Check, Please!” host Alpana Singh to pair takeout staples with easily procured vinos, all priced at $20 or less:

Chicago-style Hot Dog: Alpana advises chasing your dog with something “equally patriotic”, the USA's own grape varietal, zinfandel; she also cautions to skip “the pink stuff” in favor of something “robust, jammy, with spicy notes” that'll balance out the many flavors of your condiment-copia. Ask for: Jessie's Grove Zinfandel "Earth, Zin & Fire" 2006 (California)

Deep Dish Cheese Pizza: Go for a Barbera, a “bright and juicy style of wine with plenty of acidity” to cut through the thick layer of heart-clogging dairy, like a Lipitor with the side effect of making you feel handsomer. Pick up: Rivetti Barbera d’Alba 2006 (Italy)

Fried Chicken: Oddly enough, sparkling wine's “frothy bubbles and steely acidity” match up beautifully with crispy crunchy greasiness; then again, even if it's not New Year's, isn't having a KFC bucket in your lap reason enough to celebrate? Lovingly request: NV Le Frappe Brut (France)

Italian Beef Sandwich: Alpana recs a Sangiovese/Malvasia Nera/Aglianico blend that'll stand up to the sandwich's hot peppers with a “nose of lush red fruits and spicy undertones”, which you can savor in advance with your lush's red, fruit-sized nose. Choose: Feudi Di San Marzano Rosso IGT 2006 (Italy)

Maki Rolls: With its "laser crisp acidity", a slightly sweet Riesling will provide both contrast against the soy sauce & wasabi and compliment the rice ("I wanna be on you like white"). Grab: Kung Fu Girl Riesling Columbia Valley 2007 (Washington)

Chicken Pad Thai: Given CPT's sweet-n-sourness, go with something light and tart, with “very pronounced lime flavors”. For other Thai takeout dishes, try a tall glass of "Damn, I should have just ordered the Pad Thai". Inquire about: Vina Nora Albarino, Rias Baixas 2007 (Spain)

Steak Tacos: Opt for a super ripe, blackberry Malbec that's “rich and thick enough to stand up to the well textured meat” -- i.e., the career aspiration of every Vivid starlet. Aggressively demand: Susana Balbo Crios Malbec 2007 (Argentina)

Falafel Sandwich: Stay Mediterranean with a blend of Greek varietals “known for their lemon burst flavor profiles”, as opposed to other Greek wines, which are known for being called ouzo, and making you throw up. Grab yourself some: Sigalas Asirtiko-Athiri Santorini 2007 (Greece)

Deep Fried Twinkie: A light and peachy dessert wine with a “hint of sparkle is just the ticket to create a nice marriage and not a mess” -- though if you're eating fried Twinkie, the mess is your life. Ask the clerk for: Vietti "Cascinetta" Moscato d'Asti 2007 (Italy)