Be prepared to salivate! Last night I went to EPCOT's premier part at the Food and Wine Festival called "Party for the Senses" and it was INCREDIBLE!!! I had a lot to eat and a lot to drink. There was tons of food from premier chefs from around the world and wine (and beer and liquor) from everywhere! YUM!! It was all great. Then there were musicians and performers from Cirque du Soleil's "La Nouba" which was also wonderful! Below is a list of everything I ate/drank and my opions on each!
ENJOY!!
Wines/Drinks
Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' "Eroica Riesling" - I tried it for the name (good symphony should = good wine) and I was pleasantly surprised! For not being a big fan of whites, it was tasty! (But not overly sweet/fruity) Delicious!
The Grateful Palate's "Marquis Philips Shiraz" - I've had bad experiences with Shiraz-es and was a little weary...however this one was not too bad. It wasn't too heavy or full. Not a stand alone wine but went VERY well with the seared port tenderloin! ;)
"Grgich Hills Carbernet Sauvignon" 1994 - WOW!! GREAT! Can't say that I'm usually a fan of Cabernet but this was DELICIOUS...and at $100 a bottle plus I guess it should be. **Something I enjoyed greatly but could NOT afford to buy to enjoy frequently
Kalin Cellars "Sonoma Chardonnay Cuvee DD" and "Sonomas Pinot Noir Cuvee LD" - Much to my astonishment I liked the Chardonnay better! (Yes ME a devoted Pinot girl!) The Chardonnay was not as alcoholly (s/p) and had better flavor than the pinot. I was very dissappointed by this fact. Although it wasn't a bad pinot...I've had better...many times :-p
I think Josh tried the Bodega Vina Bajoz "Ovacion Rueda" and said it was pretty good...but he forgot which one they poured him...so I'm just guessing it was that of the three options
The WillaKenzie Estate took the winner Pinot of the night with the "Emery Pinot Noir" - OOOH YUM!! It was a very very nice pinot and it's not TOO expensive (around $50 a bottle). Granted...I doubt I'd go and pick up a bottle at random, but for a special occassion...definitely worth it!
The same people (WillaKenzie Estate) also brought a Pinot Gris and it didn't go either way with me. For a white wine (of which I'm not partial) it wasn't bad...but I liked the Chardonnay I mentioned first a lot better.
The blush of the night (for me) was the Kluge Estates Winery "Albemarle Rose" - it was an O.K. wine. That's all I wrote. For a wine that had so many medals around its neck I expected more. ::shrug::
Finally is the Meade Wine the "Bunratty Meade Wine from Ireland" - UGH! I should know better. It was not good...I take that back. The first sip was great! After that it becomes sickening sweet. The majority of the glass was dumped. :(
What's next?? OH...the NON-WINES! :)
I had a VERY yummy Irish cream...the Bunratty People really redemed themselves with this one "O'Mara's Irish Cream" BETTER THAN BAILEYS!!! By a LOT. I had it by itself and then poured 1/2 of it into a cup of black coffee...WOW no sweetener, no milk it was PERFECT!
I also had a "Lavender Milk and Port Wine Cordial" from the Hollywood Brown Derby Bonbonniere -- the lavender milk (I think it was a liquor) on top was DELICIOUS!! The port was weird...it was jellied (jello-ed) and you were supposed to eat it with/after the lavender milk...it was just too weird for me.
ONTO THE FOOD!
There was so much...
Seared Pork Tenderloin with a Carmelized Pear, Fig, and Onion salad --> AMAZING!!
Wild Florida Shrimp and Mango Curry --> doesn't sound great but it was! The shrimp was sauteed in garlic and herbs and served over a bed of rice with the curry sauce on top...all very yum! And the shrimp were HUGE!
Brown Sugar Apples Wrapped in Tennesse Mountain Prosciutto --> who thought such a hick place could produce prosciutto that good! It also had a very sharp (but thinly sliced and excellant) cheese...one of my favorites of the night!
Barbecue Shrimp with Creamy Missoui Goat Cheese Grits --> I don't like grits, but this wasn't too bad. It tasted like bbq shrimp (nothing major)
Crispy Beijing Duck with Steamed Butterfly Buns --> one of the night's suprising delights! The duck was delicious, but what made the meal were the butterfly buns! They look like fluffy pitas but it's like eatting a cloud! They're so soft and fluffy with no hint of yeast or flour or anything, UTTERLY delightful!
Oysters Mombasa with Kenya-style Beef and Irio with Smoked Corn Relish --> yum, yum, yum! I didn't really dig the Irio (it looked like green mashed potatoes) but everything else was delicious! Especially the oysters which are served in shell, but they're cooked! It was neat!
Sea Salt Alaskan Spot Prawns with Garlic-infused Olive Oil and Fresh Lemon --> all I wrote was OK...truthfully after the Wild FL shrimp with curry the other shrimp/prawns really paled in comparison
Fresh Pork roasted in Banana Leaves with Red Bean Escabeche --> truly dissapointing. I had such high hopes for this dish and it was just bland. :(
Seared Sea Bass with Lobster Fricassee and Spinach Crisp --> GOOD! It really was, it just got the bum luck of being tried at the same time I was eatting the....
Seared Jumbo Scallops with Dragon Fruit Coulis --> WOW! (that's what I wrote) and it truly was! I have never really liked scallops...but maybe it's because I've never had them cooked this well! They were incredible. I wish I had had them earlier in the night so I could have enjoyed more (but I was too full) all I have to say is the next time I'm at the Venetian I'm going to AquaKnox for some Scallops! :)
Tamarind-basted Shrimp with Apple-Jicama Slaw and Young Green Soy beans --> the slaw made this dish! Now that the shrimp weren't excellant (they were) but the Apple slaw was SO GOOD! Made with green apples it was sweet but not overpowering...just right!
Pibil-style Tenderloin of Boar with Warm Cornmeal Cake and Yucatan Pickled Red Onions --> Who'd a thought...Boar = yummy! It was spicey but I really enjoyed it!
Sesame-Peppercorn Crusted Ahi with Soy-Ginger Glaze and Wasabi Cream --> if you know me, you know I LOVED THIS DISH!! I love Ahi, I love Wasabe. Enough Said!
Duck COnfit with Hot Cherry Foam, Thyme Jus, and Goat Cheese Polenta --> Hot Cherry Foam is not all it's cracked up to be...I didn't even attempt to finish this one. Meh.
The Kerrygold Dubliner Irish Cheese --> it was all good! Especially the Irish butter! mmmmmmm
There was also an international dairy board there, also good!
DESSSSSSSSSSSSSSERT! mmmmmm yeah
Bananas Foster with Vanilla Pound Cake --> Always a favorite!
Wild Sweets Tasting Flight -->
http://www.dcduby.com/ GO HERE!! (I had about one of everything in their 2005 collection) Their chocolates were AMAZING!! They also had this multi-layered thing that was hot and cold and you ate both layers at once...mousse but so much more!! WOW!! (Both chefs were there too and talking up a storm to the guest...REALLY NICE PEOPLE!)
Orange Panna Cotta Dome with a Chocolate Truffle and Fresh Berries --> The berries and the orange sauce were delicious...the truffle and stuff was eh.
By this point I was beyond stuffed. Josh had a few more desserts, but I couldn't even taste them I was so stuffed.
This was an INCREDIBLE event and I highly recommend that any Foodie or Wino save up to do this next year. It's not cheap but it's SOOOOOOOO worth it!
Hope every one else had a great weekend!
<3 Tynan =)