On march 7th of this year the Winslow Way Cafe and the Niebaum-Coppola winemakers teamed up to create one of the finest dinners I have had on the Island in recent years.

The Neibaum-Coppola Winery is in Napa Valley, California. It was purchased by Francis Ford Coppola (the movie director) and he revived the family winemaking traditions of the Inglenook Winery that was owned and founded by Gustave Niebaum. Go here to visit the winery's web site.

Now, let me take you on a tour of the dinner and wines.
bon appetit

The restaurant closed for the evening and the dinner was sold out.

 

 

 

We started with a friendly gathering and plates of Brie en croute with candied grapes and spiced nuts. Our first wine was Coppola Bianco White Table Wine

After a little socializing we settled into the meal starting with Brandied Crepe Cups with Wild Mushroom-Panchetta Custard, toasted hazel nuts, truffle oil. This dish was served with a Niebaum-Coppola Chardonnay, Diamond Series 00

The next coarse was curried shrimp and crab lumpia, mango salsa, sweet chile sauce and basil oil base. For this course a Niebaum-Coppola Diamond Syrah 99 was selected.

 

We were then presented with Seared Ahi cooked to perfection, Miso Eggplant, tomato ginger jam and merlot demi-glace'. The wine chosen for this dish was a Niebaum-Coppola Diamond Merlot, Blue Label 99

Our next course consisted of Seared Filet Mignon Steaks, wasabi mashed potatoes, daikon salad accompanied by Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon, "Cask" 98

 

I particularly enjoyed this wine.

For desert we had Bittersweet Chocolate Decadence, zinfandel blackberry reduction, white chocolate lattice with a fine Edizione Pennino Zinfandel, 99

 

Ah, just another dining experience here on The Rock. A little fine wine, a little sustenance. This was indeed a fine and memorable evening for both the wine lover and gourmand. There will be more of these but you'll have to turn off your computer and stop by the restaurant to get on the list. It was a full house and a hit.

A Burgundy foot note:
I grew up working in the vineyards and wineries of Alexander Valley and Dry Creek area, just over the hill from these folks. A wine from that area always brings back fond memories of hard work and good times.

Be seeing you - Dave