Local Event Premier Host
La Joie Du Vin: A Romantic French Bistro
Sat, February 2, 2019 (3:00 PM - 6:30 PM)
Cost: $48
WHAT: Winetasting and Small Plates
WHEN: Saturday, February 2nd; doors open at 3 p.m.
HOW MUCH: $48 suggested donation
In just a few weeks, Cupid will be up to his usual mischief and hearts and arrows will be hard to side-step. To help you avoid being unprepared, The Voluptuous Table has some romantic ideas for you and invites you to join us for a wine tasting paired with French bistro plates on Saturday, February 2nd at 3 p.m. Our wine tasting format is designed to present budget-conscious wines that are great values and are delicious as well. Wines are expertly paired with small plates, all in an intimate setting that encourages interaction and conversation. Wine notes and recipes are always provided and speaking in French is encouraged. Won't you join us, mon trésor? You'll learn that you don't have to break the bank in order to treat your sweetheart right...
We'll start our afternoon with Le Grand Courtage Brut Rosé, mon petit chouchou. This charming sparkler is full of bright aromas and flavors of fresh strawberry and raspberry, combined with notes of lilac and violets. On the palate, a delicate balance of dryness and acidity lingers with flavors of wild berries and pomegranate alongside soft floral notes. I'm not ashamed to admit that I love pink wine, especially if it has bubbles! So many people think that "pink" means "sweet," so if you've ever passed up pink for that reason, I invite you to try this wine. The food pairing I've chosen is a delicate salad of baby field greens, strawberries, and raspberries, topped with a baked hazelnut-crusted herbed goat cheese medallion. The salad is dressed with a vinaigrette made with a gorgeous cerise-colored house-made raspberry vinegar.
Our next pour is Pine Ridge Chenin + Viognier. I choose this wine frequently when I want bright, fresh fruit and some zip to balance out a dish. It pairs beautifully with richer foods due to its acidity and verve. Mon mimi, you can expect a nose of jasmine, honeyed pears, and chai spice, succulent flavors of tropical fruit, and a crisp, refreshing finish that releases notes of white peaches, pineapple, and zesty citrus. The food pairing I've chosen is a rich halibut bourride with lemon aioli. Saffron, fennel and a hint of bay laurel perfume this creamy, egg-yolk-enriched seafood soup bolstered with a garlicky lemon aioli.
One of my favorite varietals is Petite Sirah. This inky grape yields wine that is rich and full of dark berries. I find that Bogle Petite Sirah delivers consistently great wine, bottle after bottle; in fact, Bogle delivers great wine in every bottle on which they place their label. This PS brings blueberries, brown sugar, cocoa and earth and it's great for sipping on it's own by the fire, but it's also a wonderful wine for substantial foods. A simple, classic pairing of French bistro-style roast chicken with lemon, herbes de Provence and flaky Maldon sea salt deliver a tender and moist, burnished, crisp-skinned bird with outstanding flavor. And individual, buttery pommes Anna and a reduction of pan juices is the perfect complement to this plate.
Our last pour is Robert Mondavi Bourbon Barrel-Aged Cabernet Sauvignon. Mondavi has recently begun aging some of its reserve wines in bourbon barrels--and once again, this is a label that delivers quality wine at a great price-point. Expect a nose of blackberry cobbler, brown sugar, milk chocolate, coffee and smoke framing a palate of toasted oak, caramel, mocha and blueberry pie in this layered and complex wine. The food pairing I've chosen is equally layered and complex: Roast Beef Tenderloin with Port Wine Sauce and Seared Cremini Mushrooms. This is truly an elegant and memorable pairing, ma chaton.
We always end our tastings with dessert and I cannot resist presenting you with a Dark Chocolate Crêpe Cake. Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. Rich, decadent and impressive, this dessert is more French than French. Chocolate crêpes filled with dark chocolate, crushed toasted hazelnuts, finished with a dark chocolate glaze and topped with whimsical candied hazelnuts--you will be instantly transported to a pâtisserie Paris. Enjoy dessert with a bottomless cup of Community Coffee or your own personal pot of hot tea. Then we hope you'll relax with us around the table, continue your conversations and perhaps enjoy an after-dinner drink (ask about our many house-made liqueurs and infused brandies).
This tasting is yours for a suggested donation of $48. Please RSVP by responding to this email or by calling 512-55 EAT 44 by Thursday, January 31st. Our tastings are small and intimate so that you can relax and enjoy the afternoon with other wine lovers. Come join us, and take away a few ideas for your own Valentine's Day celebration. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé,
Vindaloo Tiramisu
