Hey! If you live in Chicago, have I got a great event for you! I’ve put together a really fantastic Pig + Pinot dinner for The American Institute of Wine & Food this Tuesday (2/8) with 2 of my very favorite people – Chef Chris Pandel of The Bristol and Winemaker Wells Guthrie of Copain Vineyards in Healdsburg, CA.
To start the night, Chef Chris will be doing a butchering demo, breaking down a heritage pig while discussing the importance of supporting local farmers, the various breeds of pigs (so hot right now) and showing the multitude of cuts. Let me tell you, he’s really good at this and it’s fascinating to watch. I harp a lot about knowing your food, where it comes from and how it was treated and this is a lesson of the best kind. Plus you’ll learn about cuts you can’t find in mass grocery stores, why tenderloins are so damn expensive (there’s only 1 per animal) and lacking in flavor (no movement in that muscle.)
Then we’ll sit down to a four course swine-centric meal prepared by Chris and his fantastic team. If you haven’t had his food then dang, get yourself over there. He’s really very talented and I’m not saying that because he’s a good friend. I have lots of friends with restaurants but I don’t eat in their places several times a month. It’s good. And he just won The Jean Banchet award for Rising Chef last week so it’ll be fun to raz him. That is if we get a chance; he prefers to hide in the kitchen and do his thing (not an uncommon trait among talented humble chefs.) I don’t know yet what Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman is making (another Banchet winner last week!) but I’m sure it be deliciousness. And yes, porky too.
With dinner, Wells will be pouring several of his fabulous wines – a lovely Vignoier during the demo, then the ’09 Les Voisins Pinot Noir, ’09 Les Voisins Syrah, and the ’09 James Berry Roussanne with the meal. Really outstanding, stupid good wine. And Wells is just charming as all get out – a pretty fantastic wine pedigree (Michel Chapoutier, Helen Turley), great knowledge, fun to talk to and he makes damn good wine. The Copain Winery is in the Russian River Valley, just outside Healdsburg and is one of the prettiest places I’ve seen. But oh that wine. I opened a coveted bottle of the ’08 Pinot for my New Year’s Eve dinner and all conversation stopped, which is pretty unbeliveable with my friends. You can believe I most certainly plan on drinking my share.
I’m so appreciative that I asked and these two fine gentleman agreed to do this dinner to benefit AIWF. I have good – no great – friends. So come join us and meet ’em both! I, for one, can’t wait.
Tuesday, February 8th 6:30pm
$105 ($90 if you’re an AIWF member)
The Bristol 2152 N. Damen Chicago 60647
Call 773.862.555 for reservations (ask for Erin)
See you there!
psssstt … coming monday on stresscake … a month of chocolate! whoot whoot!
STRESSCAKE 
Can’t wait for this! I am super excited and my mouth is already watering!
we really want to go… but too expensive for us right now. waaaaah. definitely plan on ordering some of their wine tho. that ’08 Pinot was the bomb!
Oh, dig for change in the couch and come! Chris just told me the menu …. Yeow! One dish … Roasted pork marrow bones served with bubble tea straws to suck out the good stuff. Wow. And then he said “and chacuterie stuff. You know, no big deal.” except he makes some of the best “chacuterie stuff” I’ve ever had.
Nuts!! Wrong time to be living in Phoenix. This looks fantastic. I would so be there if I could.