Last year at the local Helen Hayes Awards Auction (which is next month
again), we purchased a dinner for 6 on board the S/V CHARDONNAY here
in Washington Harbor catered by its truly wonderful owners. The event
was marred only by the fact that there was no wind and we had to stay
tethered to the pier at the Capital Yacht Club. We all had a superb
time with our old/new friends as well a superb meal with wines that
would wow anybody!
Martinis started off the evening and they were prepared to perfection
with "Truffles" of CHEVRE which were simply soft goat cheese dipped in
paprika, sesame or poppy seeds on a bed of marinated peppers and
arucola.
The TEXAS COAST JUMBO SHRIMP "on the Barbee" were as jumbo and tasty
as they come.
We moved from the "living room" about the beautiful Chardonnay up to
the outer deck where an elegant table was set with probably more
glassware than any ship this size has ever seen.
TRUFFLED Diver SCALLOP was served with a Marinated Salad of HEIRLOOM
TOMATOES, MOZZARELLA & ARUGULA. The wines were an elegant SANCERRE Les
Chailloux "Cuvee Vielle Vignes" 2009 and a simply divine Burgundy
chardonnay, DOMAINE de ROALLY Vire-Clesse 2005 that we all adored
beyond belief.
Planked Line-Caught COHO SALMON in a Soy Ginger Glaze was tasty and
its accompanying LOBSTER RISOTTO with Maryland CRAB could have been
presented on its own with just as many raves. There was a white
JASNIERES Cuvee du Silex 2009, but also if you wanted some heft with
the salmon a COTE-ROTIE Domaine JAMET 2002 that was plummy, yet
lighter due to its slight infusion of Viognier. Age has only made this
Cote Rotie become better.
DUCK Two Ways was the largest plate of the night and I had to ask for
a doggie bag for the superb Grilled Virginia MAREGET Duck BREAST with
Blackberry Coulis and the CONFIT of Long Island DUCK LEG. It was
superbly paired again with a HIDDEN BENCH "Terroir Cache" MERITAGE
2006 from ONTARIO that really was a revelation and a CHATEAU GRUARD
LAROSE 1994 St. Julien, a magnificent Bordeaux that is drinking
superbly at this point in time. A Chopped Salad of Frisee, Belgian
Endive and Puslain (which I don't recall ever having before and loved)
was the perfect foil.
Racks of LAMB with Date Puree, Russian Heirloom Fingerling Potatoes
and Buttered Asparagus completed the meal at the table and again we
were treated to two truly magnificent wines: PENFOLDS GRANGE 1997 and
AZELIA BAROLO BRICCO FIASCO 1996, neither of which can be purchased
anywhere today save at auction, and then only for a small fortune!
We returned inside for cheeses: SOPHIA, CAMEMBERT d'ISIGNY and a 5
year old GOUDA with some Chateau Reynella Vintage "Port" 1980 from
Australia, which is a port style wine that was a bit sweet for me, but
still tasty.
Some had coffee, some had chocolates, I just relaxed with our new and
old friends hoping that someone does not outbid me next month on this
dinner if it comes up for auction!
Many thanks to Scott and Phred (sp?) and their wonderful staff for
this amazing evening!
