This weeks events at Old World Winery

This has been a fun week with two events at Old World Winery. We started off with Wine Meet Up & Industry Open House, arranged by William Allen followed by another Flavor Art Winemaker Dinner "A Chocolatey Dinner" and the release of Darek's 2005 Two Rock Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Coast.


Despite ongoing Restaurant Week and an unpredictable weather, pending between sun, rain and snow, both events had a great turn out.


Click here to see more pictures from the "Wine Meet Up" at Facebook

I have for quite awhile had a "mind craving" to infuse cocoa into savory food and this Thursday's dinner gave me the perfect opportunity to play with flavor, texture, plating and wine pairing. In a time when there is a lack of seasonal veggies and February's ♥ Valentine's Day ♥ chocolate seemed like a great adventure.

I feel so fortunate to get in contact with and be surrounded by people that have the same passion and love for food and beverage as I do. It is now time to start to get my head spinning for next months dinner - the question is: Can we excel from this last one???

We started out with hors d'oeuvres:
Deviled Coconut Eggs with Cocoa Nibs
Paired with 2008 Tweek Block Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast
and
Brandy Glazed Chicken Skewers Drizzled with Dark Chocolate
2005 Two Rock Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Coast - Premiere release!


First Course:
Roasted Poblanos with Grilled Banana and Cocoa Cream Cheese Spread on Hazelnut Toast
Paired with 2008 Bon Temps LeBlanc, Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast

Second Course:
Spinach Salad with Shellfish, Crispy Bacon, Shaved Bitter Sweet Chocolate and Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
Paired with 2007 White Knight Rose, Russian River Valley


Third Course:
Espresso and Chili Marinated Duck Leg with Wild West Rice and Mole
2005 Laughlin Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

Fourth Course:
Three Layered Chocolate Mousse with Spicy Mexican Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Dark Chocolate with a Pecan Caramel
2004 Laughlin Vineyard Zinfandel , Russian River Valley

Click here to see more pictures from Flavor Art Winemaker Dinner on Facebook