Sunday, December 9, 2012

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner


Lombardi’s Mill Creek  Winery - Wine Dinner


Lombardi’s Mill Creek Winery - Wine Dinner 
Prunotto wine dinner was Lombardi's Mill Creek's first wine dinner. I must say, they started off with a bang. General manager Kristofer Korshaven is no stranger to these events for he has hosted many wine dinners at Lombardi's Everett Marina location. Executive chef Matt Romeo, owners and staff together a excellent matchup of Italian food and wine.

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Mill Creek Lombardi’s General Manager Kristofer Korshaven

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant Executive Chef Matt Romeo

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner – Representing Prunotto Winery Craig Katz
The event was also co-hosted by Craig Katz who represented the winery. He give us the interesting story of Prunotto Winery, from the founder Alfredo buying the co-op in 1922 two the Antinori family involvement in the late 1980s. Craig and Lombardi’s Italian Restaurants founder Diane Symms gave us a comprehensive background of the region through facts and stories.

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner
Prunotto Winery - The Beginning

“In 1904, in the council chambers of the community of Serralunga, and in the presence of notary Giacomo Oddero and the young witness Alfred Prunotto, the co-operative winery known as "Ai Vini delle Langhe" ("Of the wines of Langhe") was founded. Amongst those who participated in the drawing up of the constitutional acts, there were individuals who left their mark on the story of Alba and the nearby communities of Langa and many small producers of the surrounding area.

The first harvest took place in 1905. This was followed by several difficult years which suffered from the instability in the economy, aggravated by the first world war. In 1922, when it was time to renew the co-operative winery, many members decided not to contribute their grapes anymore. Thus, although it was an exceptional year, the vintage was not very abundant.
The winery started having serious economic problems and was liquidated.

During this crisis, the young Alfredo Prunotto met and then married Luigina, with whom he decided to take over the co-operative winery "Ai Vini delle Langhe", bestowing on it his name. Thanks to the passionate persistence of the newlyweds, the winery became famous very quickly and began to export wines throughout the world: first to South America and then to the United States, whose markets opened up during those years. Prunotto is one of the few companies that believed in the economic prospects of the new world.” – The Web

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The evening started out with a fine prosecco while we enjoyed grassini with extra virgin olive oil. 

The next course gave us a wonderful puff pastry wrapped taleggio cheese accompanied by a crostini with a little wine jelly paired with a Dolcetto. 

Up next was simply delicious potato gnocchi with Parmesan and wild mushroom cream sauce. Executive chef Matt Romeo out did himself with his the gnocchi, it was over the top delicious. The gnocchi was served with a Barbera. 

Next came a pancetta wrapped beef tenderloin with demi-glace. Matt found a wonderful cut tenderloin and cook it to perfection. The tenderloin was paired with a Barbaresco. 

Last was a delicious lady fingers and chocolate desert served with a little arancello.

Our favorite pairing for the evening was the puff pastry with the Dolcetto and the gnocchi with the Barbera.

Janet and I would like to thank the owners and staff for a most wonderful evening.


The Pairings:


Aperitivo


Grassini, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2011 Col de’ Salici Prosecco Superiore

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner – Grassini and Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Primi


Puff pastry wrapped taleggio cheese andCrostini crostini wine jelly
2009 Dolcetto D’Alba DOC

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Puff pastry wrapped taleggio cheese
Secondi


Potato gnocchi, with wild mushroom cream sauce
2011 Barbera D’Asti DOCG

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Potato gnocchi, with wild mushroom cream sauce
Carne


Pancetta wrapped beef tenderloin
2008 Barbaresco DOCG

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Pancetta wrapped beef tenderloin
Dolce


Hazelnut liqueur, lady fingers, chocolate, orange zest
Arancello

Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner - Hazelnut liqueur, lady fingers, chocolate and orange zest


Lombardi’s Mill Creek Prunotto Winery - Wine Dinner 
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Cooking at Home


Lombardi’s Italian Restaurant Executive Chef Matt Romeo inspired potato gnocchi with cream mushroom sauce…


Cooking at Home – Making Gnocchi

Cooking at Home – Gnocchi with mushroom cream sauce
Gnocchi with Marinara



Cooking at Home - Gnocchi with Marinara






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Sunday, December 2, 2012

Visiting Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts


Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts – Jerry out side of the brewery

Cape Cod Beer
1336 Phinney’s Lane
Hyannis, MA 02601
508.790.4200

About Cape Cod Beer:

"there brewery is located at 1336 Phinney’s Lane in Hyannis and  currently consists of a 15 bbl direct fired brewhouse purchased in 2008 from Premier Stainless Systems and 9 x 30 bbl and 3 x 15 bbl fermenters.

They have a maximum annual capacity of approximately 8,000 barrels. Brew on average 10-12 times a week during the high season, and about half that during the off season.

They self distribute there products within approximately 50 miles of the brewery, encompassing an area from Plymouth to Provincetown.

Cape Cod Beer started out in April of 2004, brewing at the old Hyport Brewing Company at the west end of Main Street in Hyannis.  Brewing there for almost 2 years…schlepping kegs across town to wash them in their storage space, and sold homebrew supplies out of their house in those early days…

At Cape Cod Beer they are taking the concept of recycling very seriously.  They have made efforts in their manufacturing process to reduce, reuse or recycle in every possible way.  Taking steps in both our retail and wholesale components of their business.

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts
They only sell beer in refillable containers. Cape Cod Beer sells beer in ½ gallon refillable bottles called growlers.  Every day they are open people bring their growlers in for refills, each time keeping that bottle from entering the landfill.   Kegs are the ultimate refillable container.  Cape Cod Beer owns approx 1,200 kegs – many of which have been filled and refilled over 100 times since 2004."  – The Web

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts
 After Hurricane Sandy we and our stranded friends needed a beer.

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts – time for some beer tasting

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts – time for some beer tasting

Cape Cod Beer – Hyannis Massachusetts

These are some of the beers we tasted

Cape Cod Red - A well-balanced amber ale with caramel and notes and a subtle spicy hop – This was one of my favorites

Cape Cod IPA - IPA with a citrusy hop bite and subtle malt - Larry’s favorite

Cape Cod Beach Blonde Ale - A very drinkable golden ale with a hint of toasted malt character and a clean finish – The was a refreshing beer

Cape Cod Porter - A drinkable dark beer with a chocolatey malt character – Surprisingly to me, who does not normally like Porters, it was a very drinkable beer

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Around Town:

Alexandrea Nicole Cellars, Woodinville


Alexandrea Nicole Cellars, Woodinville

Alexandrea Nicole Cellars, Woodinville - Jerry

Alexandrea Nicole Cellars, Woodinville - Jet Black 2010 Syrah

Alexandrea Nicole Cellars, Woodinville - pommes frites
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Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville

Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville

Chateau Ste. Michelle, Woodinville
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