Miscelaney

Beef Tartare on Brioche Rounds. 2006 DeLille Harrison Hill. If you think these two things a) sound ultimately sublime and b) seem like they would pair to perfection, then you’d be right on the (tasty) money.

The other evening I had the good fortune to participate in a food and wine pairing held at Bis on Main in Bellevue, with DeLille Cellars. The event was an auction item from the 2009 Leukemia and Lymphoma Celebrity Waiters event, which my fellow waiter came home with. Forty of her closest friends gathered together to share in her generosity and celebrate her birthday (thank you Cindy Lou!).

Winemaker Chris Upchurch walked us down the pairing menu educating the group not only on the wines themselves but also on his personal wine philosophy (which was peppered with fascinating facts from this global industry). In between pairing courses, the group had a chance to casually chat with Chris and his lovely wife Thea, which added to the intimacy of the experience.

The food paralleled the superb wines, and staff ensured a seamless evening. A fantastic event which made me miss my magazine and winery days, where this kind of (now) rare treat was nearly a weekly occurrence (and I wonder why my jeans got a little tight). 

A twist of irony from such a posh evening, our host pointed out that many in the room were “momentarily” unemployed (an interesting snapshot of the current unemployment rate here in Seattle). The relaxed group chuckled accordingly, clearly that little detail wasn’t going to stop us all from sucking the cask of life dry. What a delicious event, and great way to end Seafair (I wasn’t the only one to step off a boat and head over to the event).

If you are curious, here’s the complete pairing menu:

• Salmon Gravlax on Warm Potato Pancake, 2007 DeLille Chaleur Estate Blanc
• Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Phylo, 2007 Doyenne Aix
• Beef Tartare on Brioche Rounds, 2006 DeLille Harrison Hill (still my favorite!)
• Bleu Cheese Crostini with Plum & Cherry Chutney, 2006 Doyenne Signature Syrah
• Duck Confit Tartlets, 2005 Doyenne Grand Ciel Syrah