Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/39104
SIPPED & SCENE From Lush to Luxe BLAINE ASHLEY FORAYS AWAY FROM HER SPIRITED LIFESTYLE TO ENJOY THE GRAPE F or years I was solely a grape or grain (er, beer) gal, so after a spirited overdose during the infamous Manhattan Cocktail Classic, my month-long escape from all things cocktail-related was a welcome break. And, it just so happened that as my palate was experiencing libation overload, the grape-centric side of my event calendar just happened to be filling up. Lucky for the foodie in me, the emphasis happened to be on wine and dine. To initiate my wine-coupled-with-culinary-works tour, I paid a visit to del Posto, Mario Batali’s four-star Meat Packing District italiano eatery for a fête that was hosted by American Express and Aston Martin. Talk about being thrust from the lush life into the luxe life! With my GQ spirits scribe friend Stan Parish in tow, I began a decadent evening with a test drive in a lipstick-hued Aston before being greeted with endless flutes of bubbles, glasses of wine and passed hors d’oeuvres that were good enough for dinner. As if this weren’t enough, we also got to indulge in a live, six-set musical performance by Peter Frampton and his band, listening to “Do You Feel Like We Do?” while enjoying a five-course meal à la Batali. How could the next event on my to-cover list ever compete with this? Well, it just so happened, the next night wasn’t too far behind on the call-me- impressed spectrum. I hit the international Culinary Academy for an evening with Sonoma- Cutrer, which was celebrating its 30 years of quality, sustainability and success. A bevy of enophiles and food fiends turned up to chat up close and personal with Sonoma-Cutrer winemaker Mick Schroeter, cook- book author dede Wilson, chefs Charlie Palmer and Michael lomonaco and esteemed journalist Raymond Sokolov. To appropriately bid adieu to my grape-to-good-eats voyage, I hit the Global Feast event at the gansevoort Park Hotel. This particular party placed a slight emphasis on cocktails and spirits (which admittedly, at this point, I was craving). Bar entrepreneur Julie Reiner, Michael neff of Rum House and Ward iii, Xavier Herit of daniel and Audrey Saunders all took their turn behind the stick at the kick-off cocktail party before guests were ushered off to dinners across the city in groups of no more than ten. My pal in arm for this party was Mark Stone, Vice President of From Top: The International Culinary Academy hosted an evening with Sonoma- Cutrer. Peter Frampton plays at Del Posto in New York City. The fête at Del Posto was sponsored by Aston Martin. Chef Michael Lomonaco, Sonoma-Cutrer winemaker Mick Schroeter and Chef Charlie Palmer. Morimoto group. And, not surprisingly, both of us have a thing for Hawaii (myself a native, while Mark launched a Morimoto there last October). So in staying committed to our dedicated roots, we decided to skip the nine cum ten p.m. dinners in favor of camping out at Hawaii- born Reiner’s station for a slew of Mai Tais accompanied by fresh island ahi poke flown in from Hawaii and prepared by celebrated chef vikram garg of the luxurious Halekulani Hotel. It all comes full circle, and it’s safe to say this former all-wine girl who has gone full-time spirits-obsessed will always be an island girl no matter where she is or what she’s sippin’. august 201 1 / the tasting panel / 83