Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/518118
102 / the tasting panel / june 2015 EVENT RECAP "The Sauvignon Blanc was beautifully balanced and aromatic, not in a grassy, New Zealand way but classical, mellow and tropical—in tune more with Sauvignon Blanc from Burgundy's St. Bris appella- tion," observed Jeff Salidor, Director of Sales for Arctic Beverages, importer of House of Mandela wines. For the "Supper Plates" portion of the menu, Chef Jeffers offered a choice of blackened grouper or honey-lime skirt steak, paired with the Atlantico Rum cocktail and House of Mandela 2012 Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, respectively. Atlantico Private Cask Rum is produced in the Dominican Republic from a blend of cane juice and molasses rums aged up to 25 years. Evoking the flavors of the Caribbean, the smoky, bittersweet notes of the cocktail, together with the warm spiciness of the grouper, trans- ported me on the pulse of a merengue song to the golden shores of an island paradise (the sight of palm trees swaying in the amber glow of the setting sunlight just outside the restaurant helped to illuminate my fantasy). "All the cocktails were terrific, but the one that stood out was the Atlantico," echoed Carmon. "The richness of rum and the creaminess of the house Velvet Falernum really meshed with the blackening spices on the grouper. Yet it was bold enough to cut through the seasoning, while the citrus notes nicely prepared the palate for the next bite." Opaque and opulent, the House of Mandela Cabernet Sauvignon displayed a depth and structure that complemented the many dimen- sions (marinated beef, grilled corn and tomato salad, potato purée and mango cilantro vinaigrette) of the entrée. "I am so satisfied," said Salidor. "Chef Jeffers methodically and perfectly paired the spirits and wines with these dishes. The sweet char flavors of the steak elevated the richness and beauty of the HOM Cabernet, highlighting its cassis, vanilla and tobacco notes." Our palates abuzz with multi-sensory glee, dessert arrived in all its decadent glory: Warm chocolate cake served with stewed cherries, buttery pecan crumble and Georgia peach sorbet. For the pairing, Kelt VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac was artfully blended with spiced pear liqueur, cacao, raspberries and lemon to create a cocktail that wrapped the gustatory experience in cozy comfort. "It tastes like Christmas!" someone exclaimed. To wit, the Cognac's warm vanilla notes fused with spicy fruit, nut and chocolate flavors to reveal nuances of clove, cardamom and something akin to English plum pudding. The evening's final victory was scored by Napoléon. That is, a rocks glass containing Mandarine Napoléon, a brilliantly amber, viscous liqueur crafted with 10-year-old Cognac and Sicilian manda- rins (the story goes, it was Bonaparte's favorite drink, reminding him of his birthplace, Corsica). Bitter on the attack, it rallied lush flavors of orange blossom, vanilla and exotic spice to a sweet, tangy, linger- ing finish. Scott Ota, sommelier at Arro in Austin and 2013 winner of Best Sommelier in Texas, noted: "The pairings tonight really brought forward the strengths of the base products, from the Sauvignon Blanc to the Cognac." "It was an all-around great evening," concluded Dr. Kohlmann. "The food and beverage pairings proved compelling. This was an excellent opportunity for our clients to showcase their products to leading connoisseurs, tastemakers and buyers. While our focus is primarily on back-office support, this event demonstrated the front-of-the-house appeal of our client portfolio: high quality, innovative brands that deliver results and propel the dining experience to new heights." John Drugan, CS (left), Director of Food and Beverage at Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts, and Scott Ota (right), sommelier at Arro in Austin and 2013 win- ner of Best Sommelier in Texas, listen to a presenta- tion about Park Street's wine and spirits brands that will be paired with Chef Jeffers' tasting menu. Jeff Salidor of Arctic Wines presents House of Mandela wines from South Africa, whose labels feature the shirt designs famously worn by Nelson Mandela. Brandon Lieb, Atlantico Rum founder; Dr. Harry Kohlmann, CEO of Park Street; and Ted Carmon, Spirits Buyer for BevMo!.