Still - still water is perfect with any food, but it is important to resist the temptation to pour Still water over ice - if you prefer your bottled water with ice, make sure the ice is made with the same water.
Sparkling - many high mineral content waters fall into this category. Sparkling waters with a higher TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) match many dishes perfectly and is an excellent accompaniment to most meals. Sparkling waters are also excellent for mixed drinks, especially those with a low TDS.
Bold sparkling waters sometimes create an explosive or fizzy feeling in your mouth and if served too cold, the bubbles can be overwhelming. Serving a bold sparkling closer to room temperature calms the bubbles down. The strong sensation created by the large bubbles can distract from subtle foods. Sparkling waters are great at the beginning of a meal and preferably served with crispy appetizers.
Matching Water With Food
The mouthfeel sensation of a dish should be matched with the carbonation level of the water. For example loud, big bold bubbles overpower subtle dishes, while Still water might be too great a contrast with crispy food. A soft mouth-feel dish like pan-fried fish may be perfect with Still water but enhanced by a light Sparkling water. However, Still water may be too greater a contrast with crispy foods. Many dishes can benefit from a water contrast so experiment and find your own new sensations. That's half the fun!
Water with Food and Wine
If water is consumed alongside wine, different considerations apply. The water now plays a secondary role - you don't want water and wine competing with each other. If you drink carefully matched wine with your food, then only Still water is appropriate. The water should have a slightly higher temperature than the wine.
