PONCHO-PNB-PINOT Gastronomic Celebration

On Friday evening, September 25^th, Ken and I hosted an auction dinner at our home that our friends, John & Mitzi Morris, purchased at the PONCHO Wine Auction last fall.  This was a dinner party for 14 that featured 15 different wines, primarily Pinot Noir, that award-winning Sommelier, Jake Kosseff paired with incredible food courses prepared by 2009 James Beard Foundation Award Nominee, Chef Jason Wilson, owner of Crush Restaurant.  Since I am both a past PONCHO President (1998) and past Chairman of the Board for Pacific Northwest Ballet (2000-2005), I was pleased that this donation helped two arts organization which I continue to strongly value and support.

Fellow PONCHO Board member and Pacific Northwest Ballet Board member and also a past Chairman of the Board, Dan Heidt, put together all the details along with Jake and Jason, while my role was to provide the venue, set the table, etc.  (Please see the second photo above including from left to right: Dan Heidt, Mitzi Morris, Michele Heidt, Ken Hatch, John Morris, Cathi Hatch, Sommelier Jake Kosseff and Chef Jason Wilson.)

Since I have been called a “china-holic”, this gave me an excuse to drag out my Venetian linens and a lot of my china and silverware collection in order to provide plates and silverware for six seated courses following the passed hors d’oeuvres.  Including place plates, soup saucers, soup bowls, silverware, wine glasses etc., for 14 guests, we used 126 pieces of china, 168 pieces of flatware, and over 250 glasses.  Since all of the china and flatware had to be hand-washed, long-time friend and caterer, Judy Bone of Hey Jude Catering assisted with service and managed all of the dishes and silverware.  (Note in the top photo above antique Herend dinner plates atop gold porcelain place plates.)

The evening was delightful with a mix of both old and new friends, fine wine and exquisite food flavors.  Celebrating PONCHO and the funds that were raised for the arts in our region were fellow PONCHO board members, John Morris, Dan Heidt and Steve Kutz along with their partners, Mitzi, Michele and Courtney Womack.  Other dinner party guests included Elaine & Keith McCall, Cindy & Jared Wheeler, and Brad & Debra Music.   (See photos of Chef Jason Wilson and photo of guests Keith McCall, Steve Kutz and John Morris above.)  Please see the menu below which will certainly make your mouth water!

Passed Hors d’Oeuvres

Prosciutto, Roquefort & Compressed Apple “Sandwiches”

Gougeres & Truffled Chevre

Smoked Ikura, Crème Fraiche & Blis on Endive

Tattinger Brut la Francaise, Reims, Champagne, FR

 

Seated Courses

Truffled Celeriac Soup

Seared Scallops & Sage Brown Butter Reduction

2005 Joseph Drouhin, Chablis, FR

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Roulade of Sweetbreads

1 Hour Duck Egg, Sweet Corn Grits & Bourbon Sauce

2005 Vincent Giradin, Puligny-Montrachet, FR

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“Suini en una Coperta”

Fennel Sausage, Handrolled Penne, Chanterelles,

Kale & Roasted Garlic

2004 Main Divide, Marlborough, NZ

2004 Seifried, Nelson, NZ

2006 Escarpment, Martinborough, NZ

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Porcini Crusted Alaskan Halibut

Wagyu Beef Dashi, Leeks & Sea Beans

2005 Ancien Toyon Farm, Carneros, CA

2005 Kistler, Sonoma Coast, CA

2004 Talley Estate, Arroyo Grande Valley, CA

2004 Longoria, Santa Rita Hills, CA

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Braised & Glazed Painted Hills Short Ribs

Potato Puree, Garden Carrots, & Truffle Pistou

2006 Beaux Freres Beaux Freres, Ribbon Ridge, OR

2005 Ken Wright Savoya, Yamhill-Carlton, OR

2004 Sinnean Wyeast, Hood River Valley, OR

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Valrhona Chocolate Coulant Cake

Salted Caramel, Praline Ice Cream Colheita Candied Dates

2006 Lachini Pinot Port, Willamette Valley, OR