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In Reply to: Re: pairings.. posted by Lee on February 22, 2001 at 18:19:20:
Hi Lee!
When you say Tokay, are you referring to the Hungarian (Furmint etc.)type or a nice Alsacian Late Harvest Tokay-Pinot Gris? Either one makes an excellent Foie Gras pairing. If you haven't tried the ABC Pinot/Mondeuse, you should check it out. It is kind of an anomaly which was concieved in a thin harvest. I hope ABC does another bottling next vintage. It is less structured and refined than, say, the Sanford and Benedict, but boy is it rich and supple. It is almost gooey! I agree with you on the curry. Fortunately the chef uses it sparingly. The quince helped balance the whole thing out. Which of the ABC pinots is your favorite?
Follow Ups:
I was referring to the late harvest Hungarian varieties when I mentioned Tokaji, as I share your enthusiasm for it to compliment foie gras- fabulous diet food. I have not had the Mondeuse, when you say gooey- like the thick Wiliam Seleyam Pinot's or different from that. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of syrupy pinots, but that's me- I'll stick to the comte de vogues. As for ABC pinots, there are 2 that I've enjoyed, the cuvee isabelle and the santa maria(i think?) If I recall the cuvee is around $90 and the santa maria around $30, both delicious. This board is not good for the wallet, after reading your menu last evening and responding I had the biggest jones to go out to a real nice meal despite the mrs being in Vegas-only a storm that noah could have survived kept me stuck at home. As it is, tonight my wife and i will be heading out to this annual party that is thrown each year here in san fran where most of the top restaurants/chefs create a plate and many of california's finest wineries will be pouring. It got way too crowded last year, but my wife really enjoys it as many of her friends will be there. I tend to stay fixed near the oyster/champagne room rather than mix it up shoulder to shoulder. I'm still dying to get a taste of that lobster/truffel combo. Have a great weekend all...
Lee,
Less syrupy gooey and more lush rich velvety gooey. It isn't thick, it is just super full. That event sounds like it would be great. Regardless of the overcrowding, it sounds like you have a plan so you will probably have a bunch of fun. I find that these events are entirely bearable when approached with a guerilla-like strategy. Is the sparkling that they pour all domestic? Are the chef's just from the city or are the others invited? (i.e. Keller etc.) Have a great time!!
Sean
The chefs are all local- Monterey may be the farthest. But most of the great ones, Mina from Aqua, Gary Danko, and dishes from Zuni, Kokari, Masa's, Fringale, Boulevard etc. The wines are all domestic I believe,...unfortunately. Though I really enjoy Mumm's sparkling wines. They also hold a wine auction for Charity that can be fun. It's a good time, though I would never pay that entrance fee. I think this yer its grown to $150 or $200!! Most of the tix I believe are bought and distributed by local business. Fun, but I much prefer a quite evening at a nice restaurant just the 2 of us or a relaxing drive this time of year up to Tahoe for some skiing- last weeks concussion is preventing me from returning this weekend.
Lee,
What were some of the highlights from the event? Any of the wines tasted which particularly impressed you? Which chef had the received the most accolades? Sorry to hear about the skiing concussion. I will be traveling out to Jackson Hole in two weeks, probably to do the same thing to myself. My mantra is small amounts of wine + skiing = good. Large amounts of wine + skiing = bad, perhaps very bad.
Unfortuantely, the event was much as I feared way too crowded. It was a complete mixmash of foods and wines, none really complimenting one another. Highlights were the chocolates from Gary Danko (which me and the mrs. dined at the following evening- amazing scallop/truffel dish!) and a wine table from New Zealand pouring mostly sauv blancs and pinot's under $30. I'm an admitted fan from earlier posts of any sav blanc from Marlborough and this table did not disapoint. Also got a tast of the far niente '97 cab and the '97 dolce, neither of which impressed me too much- now the '95 dolce is a whole 'nother ballgame. Also enjoyed some of the louis jadot bottles that were being tasted, so I was obviously mistaken in stating that this was only a domestically focused event. As for wine and skiing, no way, I'm more of a hot chocolate guy- swiss miss in particular.
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