Food and Wine Pairing Dinner

Quoted message said:

From: Donna Rose

Quoted message said:

Some time ago, I donated a food and wine pairing for six to
a local charity fund raiser I'm involved with. It included
all food and wine, set up and clean up, in the winning
bidder's home.

The dinner was held this past Saturday and this was what I
prepared:

MENU

Passed Appetizers: Chipotle-Rubbed Shrimp with Lime-
Cilantro Dipping Sauce Cremini Mushrooms Stuffed with Goat
Cheese & Prosciutto Grilled Scallops & Fresh Pineapple
Wrapped in Bacon on Rosemary Skewers Paired with:
Cosmopolitans and La Crema Chardonnay

Soup: Gazpacho, Topped with a Dollop of Creme Fraiche
Paired with: Cloudy Bay (Australia) Sauvignon Blanc

Salad: Frisee with Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pears with Raspberry-
Vinaigrette Dressing Paired with: Rimu Grove (New Zealand)
Pinot Noir

Entree: Red Snapper a` la Nicoise with Fennel, Capers and
Olives Roast Leg of Lamb, Marinated with Dijon Mustard,
Rosemary, Garlic and Wine Served With: Thyme-Marinated
Grilled Asparagus Caramelized Pearl Onions with Apple
Roasted Parsley New Potatoes Paired with: Swanson Merlot

Dessert: Key Lime Cheesecake, Topped With Berry Melange and
Whipped Cream Paired with: Valley of the Moon (Sonoma) Brut
Champagne

I brought a friend with me to help with the serving and
cleanup (she's actually involved in the fund raiser with me
so she volunteered to help if I'd do the cooking).

The dinner was a great success - both of the invited
couples actually asked for my card and the host couple
asked if I'd cater a cocktail party for them for 40 to 50
people. I don't think I'd love doing this as much if it was
a job, but it felt really great to have such positive
feedback for my efforts.

(((((major applause)))))

The menu and pairings were lovely. The only thing I may have
done differently is to serve a luxurious Sangria with the
Appetizers.

Ellen

"Donna Rose" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Some time ago, I donated a food and wine pairing for six
to a local charity fund raiser I'm involved with. It
included all food and wine, set up and clean up, in the
winning bidder's home.

The dinner was held this past Saturday and this was what I
prepared:

MENU

Passed Appetizers: Chipotle-Rubbed Shrimp with Lime-
Cilantro Dipping Sauce Cremini Mushrooms Stuffed with Goat
Cheese & Prosciutto Grilled Scallops & Fresh Pineapple
Wrapped in Bacon on Rosemary Skewers Paired with:
Cosmopolitans and La Crema Chardonnay

Soup: Gazpacho, Topped with a Dollop of Creme Fraiche
Paired with: Cloudy Bay (Australia) Sauvignon Blanc

Salad: Frisee with Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pears with Raspberry-
Vinaigrette Dressing Paired with: Rimu Grove (New Zealand)
Pinot Noir

Entree: Red Snapper a` la Nicoise with Fennel, Capers and
Olives Roast Leg of Lamb, Marinated with Dijon Mustard,
Rosemary, Garlic and Wine Served With: Thyme-Marinated
Grilled Asparagus Caramelized Pearl Onions with Apple
Roasted Parsley New Potatoes Paired with: Swanson Merlot

Dessert: Key Lime Cheesecake, Topped With Berry Melange
and Whipped Cream Paired with: Valley of the Moon (Sonoma)
Brut Champagne

I brought a friend with me to help with the serving and
cleanup (she's actually involved in the fund raiser with
me so she volunteered to help if I'd do the cooking).

The dinner was a great success - both of the invited
couples actually asked for my card and the host couple
asked if I'd cater a cocktail party for them for 40 to 50
people. I don't think I'd love doing this as much if it
was a job, but it felt really great to have such positive
feedback for my efforts.
--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.

You should feel great -- what a wonderful menu to prepare
with only you and a friend to do it. Bravo! It's clear how
much thought went into designing this menu. And it must have
been time-consuming, especially with the preparation at
someone else's house. Were there any particular snags with
any of the recipes or the prep flow during the meal? Thanks
for the menu ideas, too. Can you share some of your favorite
recipes from this menu?

Mia

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The dinner was a great success - both of the invited
couples actually asked for my card and the host couple
asked if I'd cater a cocktail party for them for 40 to
50 people. I don't think I'd love doing this as much if
it was a job, but it felt really great to have such
positive feedback for my efforts.

You should feel great -- what a wonderful menu to prepare
with only you and a friend to do it. Bravo! It's clear how
much thought went into designing this menu. And it must
have been time-consuming, especially with the preparation
at someone else's house. Were there any particular snags
with any of the recipes or the prep flow during the meal?
Thanks for the menu ideas, too. Can you share some of your
favorite recipes from this menu?

Thanks Mia. I really had fun, though it was a lot of work. I
spent half a day on Friday and most of Saturday doing prep
work, so that I'd have a minimum to do once I actually got
to the house where the dinner was being held. I must say, I
even impressed myself with how smoothly things went
- nary a snag in sight! Before the guests arrived, when I
was in the kitchen with my friend doing last-minute prep-
work, I mentioned to her (in a *very* low voice) that I
realized that every one of the recipes I was using was one
I had never tried before. She replied "Oh that's nothing
new for you - you're an adventurous cook". I realize
that's supposed to be a no-no when cooking for guests, but
I think I've gotten fairly astute at being able to tell if
a recipe will work just by looking at the ingredients.

I'd be happy to share any of the recipes you'd like - just
let me know which ones interest you - I was very pleased
with all of them and I'll definitely be making them again.
It would be hard to pick a favorite amongst them, but I have
to admit the key lime cheesecake with berry melange was
pretty spectacular.
--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.