There's a been a superstorm of activities the past couple of weeks, in the aftermath of the aftermath of Yolanda.
Of course in the aftermath were all these benefit dinners. I attended a great one at the home of the Swiss Ambassador organized by Amy Besa in collab with Pinoy Eats World and the Kawali Kings. I finally got to taste the lamb adobo of JJ Yulo, which is to die for. (Good job, JJ! More please!) Also loved the Kawali Kings' very unique take on chicken curry: you roll it with a guyabano jam - another to die for concoction.
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| With Elle Decor's Devi de Veyra (upper left). JJ Yulo's lamb adobo (upper right). Kawali King's curry roll (lower left). UNHCR Rep Bernard Kerblat (lower right). |
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| Cuisine for a Cause |
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The following day, I made it to Nana Nadal and Lesley Tan's event: a Chinese lauriat of sorts paired with California wines.Waaay back in 2007 I had a fabulous Chinese dinner at the Majestic Hotel in Singapore that had a sommelier pairing courses with French wine. Very fancy. I did not understand a word he said, haha! Just nodded my head. But I came home wishing this could be done here as well. Because, as you know, we pair our Chinese food with ... regular Coke!
Well, my wish came true last week at this event at the Shang. It was an over the top dinner, truth be told. Very luxurious, very Shangri-la. But we're not complaining!
The night started with chilled lobster and fruit salad paired with a 2011 Chardonnay Private Reserve. Ed Sbragia, winemaker, explained that they had 2 cold years in a row in Napa so they had a lot of extract of white burgundies, hence this private reserve. Beringer is also the only winery to have gotten a 1 in wine spectator with both white and red wines.
This was followed by a cod with mushrooms. This was my favorite dish of the night. This was paired with a red, not the usual white. But Shang sommelier Daniel Blais explained that you can pair red wine and fish as long as you go low on tannins. So the fish was paired with a 2009 Pinot Noir Chateau Saint-Jean from Sonoma County. Loved this wine. Need to buy a bottle.
Then we had duck. Of course. What's a Chinese meal without duck? And pork. But it was Jap pork: Kurobuta pork rolls with five-spice barbecue sauce. This was paired with the 2010 Zinfandel 'La Promessa'.
There's a touching story behind this wine. Ed shared that his dad was going to sell their vineyards and he refused to let go and promised he would take care of it. And he has! ... If you want a bottle that does not have high alcohol content, this is the one to go with because it was a cold year. (Nilamig yung alcohol, natuyo?)
But the star of the night, the 2009 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was saved for the most meaty parts: for the braised beef and lamb. Honestly by this time we were so stuffed. BUT one sip of the Private Reserve and you know it's good wine - almost French! Hahaha! "Firm yet well-integrated tannins frame a core of dark red berries, flowers, mint, spices and licorice" is how the Tasting Notes describe the 2009.
They pitched that 15% of the proceeds for the wine would be for the benefit of Yolanda victims so - proud moment - I bought me a bottle and got it signed. Now I have to start a collection!
Ed - siyempre close kami so first name basis! - in his speech said, "The French make the best French wine and the Californians make the best Californian wine." I think his message was simply, "Magpaka-totoo ka!" And this motto works for Beringer. It's not pretentious. Just really good Californian wine.
Suffice it to say we had a great time in wine and spirit!
Beringer is carried by Happy Living Fine Wines. It is served in major hotels and restaurants.
For retail, visit CAV Wine Bar, Gourdo's, or the following supermarkets:
Rustans, SM, Landmark, S&R, Metro Gaisano.
In Cebu: Tinder Box.
In Cagayan de Oro, La Vetta Restaurant.
In Bohol. Altura's.
Call 895 6507 or email info@happylivingwines.com.
