Summer is here, and apparently that means its time to get loaded on wine, scotch, and beer pairings. Check out these events taking place over the next week, and bring an extra liver, if you can.
• Himmarshee Bar & Grille is teaming up with B.R. Cohn Winery for a four course wine dinner on Thursday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. The shindig will start with passed plates of black mission figs, honey, peanut butter mousse over wasabi crisps, and ostrich meatballs with green pepper corn sauce and chardonnay...wait, ostrich meatballs? Cool. But it gets better. Course one: west coast sturgeon with royal trumpets, pate a choux, caviar, and creme fraiche served with Pinot Noir. Course two: red wine braised short ribs with foie gras and bone marrow sauce and a Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon. (Drool.) Course three: fillet of venison wellington with wild mushrooms and poached summer berries, served with Olive Hill Cabernet Sauvignon. Lastly, course four: pretzel crust with chocolate ganache and a mean Syr/Cab blend. Seats will run you $69 a head; reserve at 954-524-1818.
• Want to go to Scotland without the bother of the Scots? Check out Artisan Brands' Tour of Scotland at Hollywood Vine
on Saturday, August 22. The 2 p.m. tasting is free $25, and will include a
little lecture on single malt Scotch from Herbie Loebl of AB. You'll
get to try Inverleven 1991 15 year, Bunnahabhain Heavy Peat 1997 10
year (that's the peaty one), Edradour 10 year, Tullibardine 1993 Sherry
Wood, Mortlach 15 year, Hogshead 43%, and an extremely rare Strathisla
25 year Scotch. Phew! You should be thoroughly crocked after sips of
all that leathery, taut stuff -- meaning, by then, you'll be an
honorary Scot.
• Unless you're one of those boycotting liberal types who are staying away from Whole Foods after CEO John Mackey denounced the government's health care plan in the Wall Street Journal, you'll probably be psyched about Whole Foods Fort Lauderdale's
Eighth anniversary party on Saturday, the 22nd. From noon to 4:30,
customers can come down for free live music and a crapload of vendors
giving away free food and demo'ing cookery. Free food? Sounds an awful
lot like socialism, John. You can also check out the artesian cheese
and beer tasting at 3 p.m. in the Lifestyle Center next door for $15 a
head. Now that's the kind of capitalist venture I can get behind.
• Finally, Trina
in the Atlantic Hotel will be kicking off wine pairing dinners on
select Thursdays starting August 27 through October. Dubbed the
Signature Cellar Series, the meals will pair foods from Trina's Chef de
Cuisine Farid Oualidi with wines from Antinori, J. Lohr, and Chateau
Ste Michelle. Expect Moroccan inspired dishes like salad of Maine
lobster medallions, beet carpaccio with mint oil, duck prosciutto over
capellini in a creme and truffle sauce, and roasted lamb with rosemary
demi-glace. Call 954-567-8070 to reserve for the 27th, or for September
24 or October 29.
