One of my favorite things is sitting down to a time-intensive homemade meal with friends and family, tasting the results together and having fun with the critique.
Last night, we went to a wine pairing party where our hosts upped it a notch and specifically chose some local wines to go with each course. They had attended an event like this at a local culinary center and wanted to try it out themselves. Cooking and timing everything just right is a challenge for this type of get together, but the results are so very special and fun.
Course one – Grilled oysters paired with Chateau Frank Brut 2008 (Finger Lakes, Seneca)
Course two – Spicy shrimp and avocado salad , cold bean thread noodles with pickled vegetables paired with Leila Springs Gewurztraminer 2014 (Finger Lakes, Keuka)
Course three – Rosemary lamb lollipops paired with Miles Cabernet Franc (Finger Lakes, Seneca)
Course four – Banana ice cream paired with Standing Stone Riesling Ice 2014 (Finger Lakes, Seneca)
Everyone had a hand out to write notes on each course and pairing. Everyone had their own take on flavors brought out by the combinations. When someone mentioned the buttery flavor in the shrimp avocado dish brought out by the Gewurztraminer that grows so well in this terrain, I tasted it too! A fun celebration. Make sure the people you invite are worthy – it is a lot of work to put on a shindig of this caliber!
Hearth&Sprout 