That right there is The Elms. One of the Mansions in Newport, RI that has been preserved over all these years instead of putting a shopping mall there. I was very excited to get there and meet up with Rick. I knew that dinner was kicking off the Newport Mansions Food & Wine Weekend, but still didn't know how we had tickets or who would be there. Well...I pulled up to the mansion (a little late cuz of work) and valeted Ellie right away. THANK GOODNESS her brakes were fixed on Monday, because if she still had the loud, sore throat last night I would have been really embarassed! So I caught up with Rick and quickly learned by all the surrounding Italian people, that the Italian Trade Commission was sponsoring the whole weekend and put on this dinner to kick it all off. So who did they invite??? Importers of some of the finest Italian wines...and Rick and I of course! Ok well, Rick got the official invite and he was kind enough to bring me as his guest. Thanks again Rick!
I also quickly learned that I was really sad I had to drive home. Oh how I love red wine, but I don't think they had an extra room in the Mansion for me?? So we sat down at a table and introduced ourselves to Bob, Judy, Alec, Eric, and Cathy. Bob is the one that asked if I was pouring...which I guess means I would have brought wine for all to enjoy. "Oh, haha, no, I'm just here to drink it!" Right. Then I looked down and noticed 4 forks to the left, 3 knives to the right, another fork and a spoon at the top of my plate, and about 6 wine glasses. Yes, that was just my setting! I was in for a treat....and kind of felt out of my league. But I figured I'd use this as practice if I ever eat at the White House (when McCain's president), or like with the Queen overseas....
Onto the food...
The first course was Crudo of yellow fin tuna with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil and fleur de sel (sea salt). It was paired with a Gavi, which was a nice, crisp white wine.
Then we listened to the Ambassador of the Italian Trade Commission speak and although he was an older gentlemen, he was rather humorous!
The second course was fantastic! Goat cheese ravioli with rabbit ragu, freshly grated grana padano cheese. I could have licked this plate clean fo 'shizzle! That was supposed to be paired with another Gavi, but Eric (importer of wine) had us drink his Barberesco. It was a great red wine! I forgot how much I enjoy Italian Reds...
The third course was roast veal tenderloin with braised radicchio trevisano and demiglace. Low and behold, the wine we had with the second course was actually what we were getting with this course...sure we'll have more!
Then we had a cheese plate that was drizzled with acacia honey and quince preserves. I had never actually seen quince with an Italian dinner (it's usually Spanish) but it was good. The wine with this course was Bob's Sagrantino. Another delicious red. Apparently Sagrantino is the best red wine for your heart because it has the most polyphenols??? And the acacia honey is good for your immune system...I think? So we all thought that was a pretty healthy 4th course...agree??
Then we finished up with a fresh fig tart "crostata" topped with Chantilly. Try getting that song out of your head after seeing that word...the guy playing the gold piano looked nothing like the Big Bopper though. I didn't drink the dessert wine because those are really too sweet for me. Aaand I had to be responsible and drive home. So I had some coffee and we all called it a night.
Rick and I did walk around the first floor so I could snap a few pics. Here's where we were...
I hope everyone has a great weekend! Until next time, Chow!
KK
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