Italy and the promise of spring and true love all together should suffice to make the gloomiest person happy.
~ with apologies to Bertrand Russell
Maybe it was all the talk about Italy at my Dad's birthday party. Maybe it was as simple as wanting a well-paired meal on a chilly night.
And while neither of us was particularly gloomy (if you don't count the cold weather), Acacia's mini- Italian wine dinner seemed like just the thing on a Wednesday evening.
But only after Mr. Wright had again dazzled me with another heretofore unknown skill set, this time, yo-yo tricks.
Handing him the WVCW yo-yo I'd gotten at yesterday's rooftop Beatles serenade, he proceeded to do things with it that I'd never seen before. My only complaint was that this was a 21st century yo-yo chosen by a college radio staff, so it lit up red and flashing with each movement. Because apparently, a time-tested toy like the yo-yo needed to have more bells and whistles in order to hold a millennial's attention.
Don't get me started.
And while he couldn't demonstrate an Around the World - my small living room couldn't accommodate the arc - it was no problem to show me a Forward Toss, Rock the Baby or Walk the Dog. Multiple times, I might add, because I laughed so hard the first time.
Of all the ways you expect a man to court you, this one was new to me.
Wine dinners, on the other hand, I could do with my eyes closed, although why would I want to when I had such fabulous company and such artfully appetizing food?
We joined a lively dining room full of other wine dinner devotees, a lot of them couples like us, although history has proven that we generally outlast the masses. And we did.
As I'd hoped, it took only the first bite of a stellar first course salad of arugula, thinly sliced pear and prosciutto in a honey-pecan vinaigrette and paired with a light, lemony Alcesti Zibibbo from Sicily to feel transported to warmer climes and outdoor afternoon sipping.
Or perhaps that's just first course wishful thinking.
Our plates and glasses had barely been cleared when an older couple sitting behind me finished dinner and got up to leave. Neither looked especially happy or even a tad loopy, but what amazed me was that they could possibly be finished already. All I could think of was that they'd arrived the moment Acacia opened and bolted their food, but Mr. Wright clarified the situation because they'd been in his full view.
Apparently they'd endured the entire meal in silence, stoically eating but without talking. Is it unkind of me to say kill me now if I ever get to the point that I can sit through a four course meal with wine without some lively conversation?
Don't answer that.
Next up was deep purple beet ravioli stuffed with scallop mousse, which needed a more assertive wine, and Casale del Griglio Bellone Bianco had just the right kind of roundness, plus a long finish, to stand up to the depth of flavor in the ravioli. That it was from Rome, according to our soft-spoken wine rep, only added to its charms.
Can't say I recall the last time I drank wine from the eternal city.
We used the leisurely pacing of the meal - something I adore about Acacia's wine dinners - to discuss next year's winter vacation and where it should be. Me, I'm always going to vote for a beach, but at the very least, Mr. Wright and I concur on temperature. Minimal clothing and constantly open windows, that's our mantra.
As a long-time fan of the Nebbiolo grape, I couldn't have been happier to be poured Eredi Lodali Bric Sant'Ambrogio Nebbiolo d'Alba, with its delicately floral nose and full mouthfeel. An ideal wine for a ridiculously cold night.
The chef had outdone himself pairing it with a rich Parmesan-crusted flounder in a lemon caper sauce - Mr. Wright claimed that the look on my face after my first bite was akin to rapturous - and made even more indulgent by being served over saffron risotto with a flurry of crispy leeks sprinkled everywhere.
We decided (okay, this chocolate-lover made a case for) on ending our meal with date cake drizzled with balsamic caramel and - wait for it - brown butter Guinness ice cream riding shotgun. Partly it was a nod to the Italian meal - the only chocolate I had during two weeks in Italy was the bits of it in stracciatella gelato - and partly it was how wildly appealing that combination sounded.
Nailed it, and Nebbiolo didn't hurt any, either.
Much as I swooned over the understated richness of the cake under the downright obscene caramel, it was the softening gelato mixed with the rest that spoke loudest to me. Like a childhood memory, it called to mind ice cream cake rolls where the ice cream almost becomes part of the cake, infusing it with additional flavor.
Or maybe that's just the multiple Italian wines talking.
Like the Spanish, we're devoted practitioners of sobremesa, so we lingered at the table talking until it became clear that closing time was nigh.
When we left, our bellies were full of Italian food and wine, spring was a few hours closer and we were the least gloomy couple you could meet. As that sage Sheryl Crow sings, "If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad."
If it makes you happy, it can also be incredibly good. Haven't you heard? Dates are the new chocolate.
Showing posts with label wine dinner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wine dinner. Show all posts
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Just Don't Call Me Erin
My reservation for one was awaiting me when I arrived for Acacia's Wines of the Northwest dinner tonight. The bar, like the restaurant, was crowded, but my single place setting sat waiting for me amongst the crowd, welcoming this single diner.
I greeted Arthur the bartender, who revealed his inner smart ass by saying, "Hey, long time no see." In fact, we'd been at the same party Sunday night so we weren't even 72 hours since our last conversation. He was a blur making cocktails and apologized for the lack of wine dinner menus, saying they were scarce at the moment. I told him to take his time because I was in no hurry.
By the time he brought me the menu, I was already admiring the first course of the couple next to me. And really, all I had to decide from the menu was fish or veal and I told him that I already knew where that was going. He laughed and agreed.
The starter course was Caramont goat cheese panna cotta with olive oil poached skate wing and a fine diced veggie and herb salad. The wine pairing was Terra Blanca 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, tasting somewhere between a New Zealand and a Loire Valley style SB. Good acidity and minerality and practically perfect with the dish.
I've had Caramont goat cheese before (thanks to River City Cellars/Secco), so I knew how good it was, but this panna cotta version was like silk in my mouth. Then too, I've always had skate pan-fried, so this oil-poached version was a welcome change-up. It was every bit as smooth in my mouth as the panna cotta; we were definitely off to a decadent start.
It was about this time that I made the acquaintance of the couple sitting next to me. We got off to an inauspicious start when I received my second course before they did. Their reservation was a half hour earlier than mine and they were already into their first course when I'd arrived, so clearly something was amiss. I felt terribly guilty when my Lamb Two Ways showed up and they were still looking at empty placemats.
I offered up my plate, but the server assured us that their food was moments away, so they declined my offer. It was then that we introduced ourselves to each other. I did have the decency to wait for their food to show up before digging in, no easy feat considering what was on my plate.
Lamb tartare with grilled eggplant slices shared the plate with fried sweetbreads with eggplant puree. As much as I love a goof tartare, and I do, I tore into those sweetbreads like I hadn't just eaten a plate of skate.
Paired with the 2007 Claar Cellars Cabernet/Merlot, I had a few eye-closing moments over these two. The Cab/Merlot had delicate tannins and perfect balance (not a big in-your-face Cab). Two grapes, two kinds of lamb, too heavenly.
It was the third course that gave us the choice: smoked paprika-dusted tautog with Chardonnay or roasted veal with Pinot Noir. Come on, I like fish as much as the next person, but this was a foregone conclusion.
With it came sauteed gnocchi, house made duck sausage, fig and pine nut puree, Swiss chard and a red wine sauce. All this was complemented by a 2007 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir, because how could there be a Northwest Wine dinner that didn't include a Pinot Noir? Impossible.
I knew one of the wine reps, having recently heard that she'd moved from a bartending position to selling small production Northwest wines, so I introduced her to my new couple friends. They too are restaurant goers, so we all got into a discussion of favorite Charlottesville restaurants and the ease of making that drive for the sake of a good meal.
They in turn introduced me to the couple next to them, Acacia regulars from Ashland. They misheard my name as Erin, which I quickly corrected (definitely not a name I want to be called) and then made the connection that I had a blog. It was a bit surprising being identified by a stranger, but also flattering to meet a reader so randomly.
Generally speaking, barsitters tend to be restaurant regulars, so there's often talk of who likes to eat where and why. And certainly one of the benefits of solo dining is making the acquaintance of interesting couples.
I never know when I might meet a twosome looking for a third wheel...conversationally speaking, of course.
I greeted Arthur the bartender, who revealed his inner smart ass by saying, "Hey, long time no see." In fact, we'd been at the same party Sunday night so we weren't even 72 hours since our last conversation. He was a blur making cocktails and apologized for the lack of wine dinner menus, saying they were scarce at the moment. I told him to take his time because I was in no hurry.
By the time he brought me the menu, I was already admiring the first course of the couple next to me. And really, all I had to decide from the menu was fish or veal and I told him that I already knew where that was going. He laughed and agreed.
The starter course was Caramont goat cheese panna cotta with olive oil poached skate wing and a fine diced veggie and herb salad. The wine pairing was Terra Blanca 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, tasting somewhere between a New Zealand and a Loire Valley style SB. Good acidity and minerality and practically perfect with the dish.
I've had Caramont goat cheese before (thanks to River City Cellars/Secco), so I knew how good it was, but this panna cotta version was like silk in my mouth. Then too, I've always had skate pan-fried, so this oil-poached version was a welcome change-up. It was every bit as smooth in my mouth as the panna cotta; we were definitely off to a decadent start.
It was about this time that I made the acquaintance of the couple sitting next to me. We got off to an inauspicious start when I received my second course before they did. Their reservation was a half hour earlier than mine and they were already into their first course when I'd arrived, so clearly something was amiss. I felt terribly guilty when my Lamb Two Ways showed up and they were still looking at empty placemats.
I offered up my plate, but the server assured us that their food was moments away, so they declined my offer. It was then that we introduced ourselves to each other. I did have the decency to wait for their food to show up before digging in, no easy feat considering what was on my plate.
Lamb tartare with grilled eggplant slices shared the plate with fried sweetbreads with eggplant puree. As much as I love a goof tartare, and I do, I tore into those sweetbreads like I hadn't just eaten a plate of skate.
Paired with the 2007 Claar Cellars Cabernet/Merlot, I had a few eye-closing moments over these two. The Cab/Merlot had delicate tannins and perfect balance (not a big in-your-face Cab). Two grapes, two kinds of lamb, too heavenly.
It was the third course that gave us the choice: smoked paprika-dusted tautog with Chardonnay or roasted veal with Pinot Noir. Come on, I like fish as much as the next person, but this was a foregone conclusion.
With it came sauteed gnocchi, house made duck sausage, fig and pine nut puree, Swiss chard and a red wine sauce. All this was complemented by a 2007 Seven of Hearts Pinot Noir, because how could there be a Northwest Wine dinner that didn't include a Pinot Noir? Impossible.
I knew one of the wine reps, having recently heard that she'd moved from a bartending position to selling small production Northwest wines, so I introduced her to my new couple friends. They too are restaurant goers, so we all got into a discussion of favorite Charlottesville restaurants and the ease of making that drive for the sake of a good meal.
They in turn introduced me to the couple next to them, Acacia regulars from Ashland. They misheard my name as Erin, which I quickly corrected (definitely not a name I want to be called) and then made the connection that I had a blog. It was a bit surprising being identified by a stranger, but also flattering to meet a reader so randomly.
Generally speaking, barsitters tend to be restaurant regulars, so there's often talk of who likes to eat where and why. And certainly one of the benefits of solo dining is making the acquaintance of interesting couples.
I never know when I might meet a twosome looking for a third wheel...conversationally speaking, of course.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Acacia: Wine, Legs and Cheeks
Why is it that when I have no plans I hear from no one and when I do have plans, inevitably a friend suggests we get together? Is that Murphy's law of social inadequacy or something? I had plans to meet a friend for drinks at Ipanema and then meet someone else for the wine dinner at Acacia, so naturally two other friends called and asked for my company this evening.
The Ipanema stop was with a friend I haven't seen since September, so we had months to catch up on. Weddings, concerts, restaurants, we both had a lot of stories to share. Once again, I had to listen to the "why don't you have a cell phone?" rant, which is to be expected from this particular friend, addicted as he is to his Crackberry. We shared the Zucchini Fritters, which were perfectly fried and nicely seasoned while enjoying happy hour wine, possibly the best wine deal in all of rva. What I learned is that Twitter is already passe' and that my next platform of choice should be Foursquare. Duly noted, and given my extensive social calendar, I will probably do quite well on it.
The Wine/Beer dinner at Acacia offered attendees the choice of wine or beer pairings, although far fewer people chose the beer pairings apparently. We began with Frog Legs in Garlic Butter inside Crispy Potato and by "inside," it meant a Slinky-shaped crisp potato tunnel surrounding the sauce-covered legs. It was paired with 2008 Bastgen Riesling Blauschiefer, with the acidity of the wine cutting the richness of the dish beautifully.
Up next was a Seared Salmon Pave, Warm Haricot Vert Salad in Brown Butter Almond Parsley Sauce and the 2008 La Zerba Gaui Tassarola. I commented that the salad and sauce were even better than the salmon and my friend agreed.
Last up was the Beef Cheeks Braised with cocoa nibs on Lemon Risotto and the 2006 A. Jaume Lirac Rouge Clos de Sixte. Quite full from the first two courses, it didn't stop me from appreciating how this dish was a masterful pairing of the rich beef and the lemony risotto, each contrasting the other perfectly.
Our dinner reservation was for 9:00 and there was still quite a crowd when we arrived. No doubt it is because of the unusually low wine dinner price of $35 and that there is no set seating time, as was obvious with our later dinner. The wine representative, in this case Emily Papach of Kysela Pere et Fils, moved table to table to enlighten guests about the pairings. Without a set schedule for the wine dinner, guests were free to wine and dine at their own pace and not on the schedule of the kitchen. This concept clearly holds a great deal of appeal given the nearly full house.
Very full and sipping wine afterwards, my friend decided to play matchmaker for me. She stopped only when she saw my "heart jumping out of my dress," as she put it. Even as I calmed down, I had to admit that the rush of adrenaline was a powerful way to end our evening.
The Ipanema stop was with a friend I haven't seen since September, so we had months to catch up on. Weddings, concerts, restaurants, we both had a lot of stories to share. Once again, I had to listen to the "why don't you have a cell phone?" rant, which is to be expected from this particular friend, addicted as he is to his Crackberry. We shared the Zucchini Fritters, which were perfectly fried and nicely seasoned while enjoying happy hour wine, possibly the best wine deal in all of rva. What I learned is that Twitter is already passe' and that my next platform of choice should be Foursquare. Duly noted, and given my extensive social calendar, I will probably do quite well on it.
The Wine/Beer dinner at Acacia offered attendees the choice of wine or beer pairings, although far fewer people chose the beer pairings apparently. We began with Frog Legs in Garlic Butter inside Crispy Potato and by "inside," it meant a Slinky-shaped crisp potato tunnel surrounding the sauce-covered legs. It was paired with 2008 Bastgen Riesling Blauschiefer, with the acidity of the wine cutting the richness of the dish beautifully.
Up next was a Seared Salmon Pave, Warm Haricot Vert Salad in Brown Butter Almond Parsley Sauce and the 2008 La Zerba Gaui Tassarola. I commented that the salad and sauce were even better than the salmon and my friend agreed.
Last up was the Beef Cheeks Braised with cocoa nibs on Lemon Risotto and the 2006 A. Jaume Lirac Rouge Clos de Sixte. Quite full from the first two courses, it didn't stop me from appreciating how this dish was a masterful pairing of the rich beef and the lemony risotto, each contrasting the other perfectly.
Our dinner reservation was for 9:00 and there was still quite a crowd when we arrived. No doubt it is because of the unusually low wine dinner price of $35 and that there is no set seating time, as was obvious with our later dinner. The wine representative, in this case Emily Papach of Kysela Pere et Fils, moved table to table to enlighten guests about the pairings. Without a set schedule for the wine dinner, guests were free to wine and dine at their own pace and not on the schedule of the kitchen. This concept clearly holds a great deal of appeal given the nearly full house.
Very full and sipping wine afterwards, my friend decided to play matchmaker for me. She stopped only when she saw my "heart jumping out of my dress," as she put it. Even as I calmed down, I had to admit that the rush of adrenaline was a powerful way to end our evening.
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