Billed as a New Year's Murder Mystery Game with Supper thrown in - the meal was so overwhelming - we let "the one" who "did in" the Chocolate Baron "remain at large" for at least another year -
First up - George T. Stagg (on the rocks) - bourbon masterpiece - clean - touch of sweet - smooth - ethereal to the brown spirit lover - this particular bottle tipping the scales at 144.8 Proof (yes that is the correct number) - as Tonya "Lenell" Smothers would have quickly pointed out - "you're got to cut this" - either with a splash - or - add ice and wait for the melting to begin - I go for this latter technique -
Cocktails in hand - the group (8) settled before the video player for the facts of the case - just the facts - then attempted to read the first round of clues - we made it around the room (sort of) - before adjourning to the magnificently set Supper table -
Soup - Portage Parmentier - matched with Frederic Mallo - Alsace - Riesling Reserve Speciale - 2005 - dry - some fruit - acid a little low for my palette - but a definite crowd pleaser - perfect with the light milkiness of the potato and leeks which graced my cup -
This speciale reserve is a select collection of fine riesling winegrapes from the lieu-dit Muhlforst. Well-structured and balanced, with ripe mirabelle plum, pear, citrus and mineral notes and a pure and rounded intensity -
Second round of mystery readings - character development - clues - then - Appetizers - Quenelles De Poisson - two perfectly formed on each plate - served on a bed of sharp greens - drizzled with luxe homemade mayonnaise - more Alsatian Riesling -
The murderer was starting to think he might actually get away with it -
Entree served - Filet De Boeuf Braise Prince Albert - OMG - fillet mignon stuffed with Foie Gras and Truffles - braised in a marinade made from a matignon of carrots - onions - celery reduced and mixed with truffles and wine - after - the exterior of beef has been wrapped in bacon - OMG again - the presentation - the plate put before each person was awesome - the taste - richness - the truffles - the thickened wine marinade with truffles to create a gravy - or was it a sauce - whoa - no one finished - it was just too much - wonderfully - too much - we forgot to applaud - how do you convey clapping with text -
Wine in the Bordeaux glass was Chateau Bernadotte - Grand Vin - Haut Medoc - 2005 - rich - smooth edges - particularly for a "four year old" - nicely "cleaned" the senses after the overwhelming envelopment of the Boeuf Prince Albert - did not need more time in the bottle -
Good bright ruby-red. High-pitched aromas of raspberry, flowers and mint. Cool, juicy and leanish but with good lift to the pure red fruit flavors. Ultimately conveys a rather austere impression, with the finish showing a tart quality and firm tannic spine. The team did a shorter than normal maceration at cool temperature in search of a fruity wine. Perhaps a bit undernourished.
A second Bourdeaux was Chateau Cambon La Pelous 2005 - nice but was not impressed - needed 4 or 5 more years -
...big, sweet bouquet of melted chocolate, black currants, vanilla, and cedar is followed by a full-bodied, rich, impressively constituted Cambon La Pelouse with no hard edges. This sleeper of the vintage is ideal for drinking during its first 7-8 years of life
Even though everyone was dressed in character - my wife radiant as a glam artist - complete with dark glasses and cigarette holder - specializing in sexually scandalous paintings - Gerry looking like the a Westchester version of Indiana Jones - lacking only the whip and revolver - Jack sporting white dinner jacket - cummberbun - slicked back hair - French accent (or was that Belgium) on New Years Eve - - - - we conceded the keys to the jailhouse - retiring to the kitchen for flourless chocolate cake - pear tart (Balthazar) - and in a flashback to 1966 - chocolate fondue (Ghirardelli) accessed via stainless steel stakes used to thrust through fresh (pinapple - mango - apple) and dried (appricots - pears) fruit - all washed down with crisp sips of Veuve Clicquot - nothing "from the charts on this one" Veuve Clicquot is VC - a celebration -
New Year's tks -
- Steph - Portage
- Jack - Quenelles - the two spoon skill I do not have -
- Steph - Filet De Boeuf - truffle madness !!! - you have to love 'em -
- Gerry - Bordeaux X2
- Robert/Garnet - Perfect Riesling without tasting the menu -
- Johnathan - Suggesting Alsace
- Steph - The Event - so wonderfully over the top -
- Maki - my partner in everything -
Enjoy 2010 - its going to be a great year -
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