7 course dinner

I had the amazing opportunity to attend a 7 course paired dinner with some friends at Summerhill Winery this past New Year's Eve. None of us were quite sure what to expect - would there be live music, will there be a large crowd, what will they be serving? Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised to find out it was a relatively small group - only 26 of us, which gave the evening an incredibly intimate feel. The food and beverage director walked us through every course, along with the chef, who shared his vision and how he brought each course to life. The winery partnered with St. Hubertus and Tantalus, to showcase the quality and strengths of the wine production happening in the north Okanagan. The menu, and pairings below:

Course 1

Lobster Cocktail

Pumpkin, apple, curry, mandarin, coconut milk and yuzu shots, fentimans tonic, rose, cucumber granita

Pairing

Cipes Ariel 1998

Course 2

Alaskan King Crab

Strained yogurt, lemon marmalade, back garlic

Pairing

Chasselas St Hubertus 2015

Course 3

Langoustine a la nage

Cabbage, carrot, bisque, black radish

Pairing

Traditional Cuvee 1996

(this pairing is particularly memorable - the '96 Cuvee had a very savory, tomato, ketchup chip like element to it that paired exquisitely with the dish)

Course 4

Grade A Foie Gras

Truffle, granny smith apple chibouste, cabernet sauvignon vinegar jelly, cotton candy

Pairing

Cipes Blanc de Blanc 2010

(this dish was a favorite for me - it was almost like eating dessert, and the blanc de blanc cleansed the palate perfectly to avoid the dish from seeming too cloying or waxy)

Course 5

Thiessen Farms Pheasant

Truffle, beet, harissa, rose, polenta croquette

Pairing

Tantalus Pinot Noir 2013

Course 6

Brandt Lake Wagyu Striploin

Peanut sauce, crispy chicken skin, basil emulsion, green onion

Pairing

Knollvine Farm Cabernet Franc 2011

Course 7

Skull Cake

Valrhona guanaja chocolate, lime and galangal creme, bavarois cream

Pairing

Summerhill Zweigelt Icewine 2012

Overall, it was a fabulous way to ring in the new year, especially with close friends and family. We ended the beautiful meal with sabering some sparkling wine outside in front of the winery - not too shabby a way to celebrate a new year!