Day 116: Wine Dinner

Wine dinners are awesome.  You get to sit with others, enjoy food that you prepared by an amazing chef (even if he does look young and has braces), and drink wine that is paired to provide the ultimate experience.  Catch 35 in Naperville hosts these dinners and my dad and I try to go when we can.

The menu last night consisted of the following:

Reception

Korean Lumpia Pork

spicy kimchi, sweet chili aioli

Filet Mignon Tartare

capers, onions, dill pickle, celery salt potato chip

Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 2009

1st Course

Thai Yellowfin Tuna Ceviche 

watermelon, Thai basil, cilantro, lime, radish

Alexander Valley Chardonnay, 2010

2nd Course

Florida Shrimp and Sweet Pea Risotto 

lemon herb vinagrette, applewood smoked bacon

Alexander Valley Pinot Noir, 2009

3rd Course

Intermezzo (raspberry sorbet)

4th Course

Braised Lamb Shank 

tomato, fava bean, and pozole ragout

Alexander Valley, Cyrus, Bordeaux Blend, 2007

5th Course

Vanilla Grits and Strawberries

whipped creme fraiche, sweet and salty popcorn

Alexander Valley, Redemption Zinfandel, 2007

It was a wonderful compilation.  I enjoyed the Korean Lumpia Pork the most and either the Cabernet or Chardonnay for wine.  

We sat across from a couple and a mother-in-law.  They were wealthier than us and had much more experience with wine than I could imagine, but they were very friendly and we had good conversation.  It is moments like this that makes me feel like I'm living life a little fuller.  It is also moments like these that make me so happy to be where I am and love the people that I do.  It was funny because at one moment I was talking about my aunts, but I accidentally said my friends.  Although some may argue that it was the wine, I think it was a Freudian slip that shows how much admiration I have for my family.  As I sat next to my dad I couldn't help but appreciate how lucky I am to have someone that is on the same page that I am.  What a wonderful evening.