Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2: The Birthday Dinner

Rodney and I hosted our a birthday dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen. What a spectacular meal!!

FIRST COURSE

Local Sonoma County Greens
Shaved Baby Carrots, Pecorino Grand Cru, Zinfandel Cream

Baby Spinach Salad
Poached Puma Springs Egg, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Black Truffle Vinaigrette

Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Carpaccio
Horseradish Creme Fraiche, Mustard Blossoms, Black Hawaiian Sea Salt

SECOND COURSE

Wild Mushroom Veloute
Thyme and Coriander Flan, Black Garlic Paste, Warm Brioche

Dungeness Crab
Avocado Mousseline, Meyer Lemon Gelee, Pickled Fresno Peppers

House Made + Local Charcuterie Platter
Assorted Local Mustards, Marinated Olives, Petit Cornichons

MAIN COURSE

Brown Butter Roasted Alaskan Halibut
Jardinere of Local Baby Vegetables, Artichoke Barigoule, Nicoise Olive

Slow Cooked Guinea Hen
English Pea Mousseline, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Pinot Noir Migonette

Duo of American Duroc Pork: Pan Roasted Loin + Slow Cooked Belly
Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Pickled Cherries, Sauce Charactiere, Winter Truffle Bearnaise

Peppercorn Crusted 'Eye of the Ribeye'
Wild Mushroom and Oxtail Fondue, Sunchoke Mousseline, Pickled Ramps

DESSERT

Meyer Lemon Napoleon
Crispy Meringue, Lemon Sherbet

Coffee Creme Caramel
Buttermilk Beignets, Cinnamon Whipped Cream

Valrhona Chocolate Budino
Guiness Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Ganache, House Made Pretzels

WINES

Russian Hill Viognier (3 bottles)
Trois Sauvignon Blanc (1 bottle)
Walter Hansel Pinot Noir (3 bottles)
Truett-Hurst Zinfandel (3 bottles)

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 5: Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs

Okay, I have to admit that by this point I was pretty worn out. I can't even find the list of wines that we tasted. And I'm sure I didn't have any food because I was trying to save myself for dinner.

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 4: Mauritson Wines

This was our first visit to Mauritson. I have to admit by the time I got here, I couldn't face eating any food but found some very enjoyable wines. In addition, we enjoyed a little respite sitting in the adirondack chairs on the lawn.

Wine and Food Pairings:

• 2008 Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Creek Valley
  Panko and Sesame Crusted Wild Shrimp
• 2007 Rockpile Zinfandel, Rockpile Ridge Vineyard (Wine Enthusiast 90 Points)
  Zinfandel Braised Short Rib Sliders from Painted Hills Natural Beef
• 2007 Rockpile "Buck Pasture" Red Wine
  Bittersweet Chocolate Caramel Tartlets

And the 2007 Rockpile Syrah, Madrone Spring Vineyard was being poured in the tasting room.

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 2 - Winery 3: A. Rafanelli

Okay, so the third winery on the list is another of our favorites. A. Rafanelli Winery is a very small family owned winery specializing in Dry Creek Zinfandel. As we expected, the place was overrun with passport participants. And I can't even begin to describe how much food there was...it was insanely crazy. Food standout include the estate grown olives (you only got one) and the chocolates...which of course pair nicely with the Zinfandel, Cabernet, and Merlot we tasted.

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