A free one, of course. Especially if it's as fine as the birthday lunch I attended today at David Burke & Donatella.
A word about the occasion.
The party was to celebrate the 60th birthday of a cousin of Ken's, Bob. He's a terrifically nice guy and a Boston University undergrad alumnus (like me) who happens to have memorized every 50s rock and R&B song. Not bad for an accountant. (We try to outdo each other in those strolls down memory lane. We bore everyone around, including his good-humored wife Diane, who is really Ken's blood relative.)
Diane and one of their sons, who is business manager of the restaurant, planned this as a surprise party. Judging by the look on Bob's face when he appeared at the doorway of the main dining room, which was filled with about 70 friends and family and scores of staff, it was indeed a surprise.
After the amuse-bouche of chicken, I selected the lobster bisque with a corn stick (not their word -- think upscale corn dog but good), salad with goat cheese, sashimi tuna in a crunchy mustard sauce coating and desserts (including the best panna cotta I have ever had: butterscotch with curried cocoa glacee) -- it was all very very good. Or as the matron declared in The Lady Eve, "Dinner was a poem."
But what about the wines?
This would have posed something of a problem for Bob's son, Steve, and the sommelier. What could they serve that wouldn't cost a fortune and wouldn't drag down the excellent grub? What continent could fill that bill?
Hey, is that a Chihuly up there?
South America, naturally.
I drank mostly the white, a lovely Torrontes (Sagta) from Argentina. Subtle in its peachy fruit, it combined a refreshing minerality with a bit of sweetness on the finish. It paired exceedingly well with the Thai-inflected tuna. Its retail price: about $10, although I have found it for $7.99 on line.
The red was from across the Andes, a quite good Cabernet Sauvignon at a higher price point (about $18). The fruits and tannins got along pretty well, and it possessed a refreshing vegetal quality that made it a terrific food wine. The only real flaw, I thought, was somewhat too much wood on the finish. This was from Odfjell Vineyards, one of the oft-referenced names in Chilean wine.
So, well done, everybody. The food, the wine and the company -- great pairings all around.
Great pairings. Get it? (Rim shot.)
Terry,
The beauty of wine is the indivuality of the taster and his/her taste buds. I thought the Torrontes had a little too much of the mineral taste. The red was better.
Richard
Posted by: Richard | March 13, 2007 at 08:30 AM
I'm glad you mentioned that. It's a good point and one we tend to forget.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | March 13, 2007 at 09:16 AM
I've put it in my list, next time I get to NY!
Posted by: Fede | March 13, 2007 at 11:17 AM
It is very good. Ritzy digs in a ritzy neighborhood. It is wildly popular with Japanese tourists -- it must have gotten a rave review in some Japanese magazine or web site.
I think their wines are overpriced, though.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | March 13, 2007 at 11:28 AM
So better ask you some eat-drink advice before when I come to NYC!
In exchange I can do the same for you (if you need this) in Rome, Parma/Emilia Romagna and Alto Adige areas (the regions I mostly live/trave in).
An also to all blog-friends, of course...
Ciao a tutti!
Fede
Posted by: Fede | March 16, 2007 at 06:34 AM
Fede, it's a deal.
Posted by: Terry Hughes | March 16, 2007 at 07:32 AM