As a foodie, I’m always looking for new dining adventures. Friday, an opportunity presented itself: the Annual Italian Wine Dinner. It features five courses, each with a wine. It is hosted by the Florida State University Center Club but I’m not a member. Fortunately, one of my foodie friends is a member and invited me as guest.
The dinner went three and a half hours. First up was a wonderful assortment of appetizers:
Traditional Antipasti Display with Cured Meats, Cheeses, Fruit Mini Porchetta ala Spiedo
Buffalo Mozzarella, Grape Tomato, Sweet Basil & Skewers
Arancine Di Riso with Proscuitto & Fontina
House Cured Citrus Salmon on Potato Blini
Wine: Bolla Proseco (sparkling)
Antipasti
These mini porchettas were excellent!
The house cured citrus salmon on potato blini was also especially superb
The first course was Pappa al Pomodoro, a tomato “soup” thickened with sourdough bread and served with a Le Rime Pinot Grigio from Banfi. This was my favorite of all the non-appetizers.
Next was an unchilled salad of curly endive, grilled artichokes & goat cheese.
This was my least favorite because I’m not an endive fan. The wine was a Centine Rosso from Banfi,
The main course was pork Osso Buco with yellow polenta cake and glazed veggies.
The wine was a Brunello di Montalcino from Banfi. I like Osso Buco but mine was a bit dry, although others said theirs was moist.
Dessert was poached pear with Gorgonzola cheese and black walnuts. Again, mine was too dry. The wine was a delightful sparkling Rosa Regale Branchetto with raspberry notes. This was my favorite of the wines and I will buy a bottle. (I found a 750 ml bottle at a local wine chain for $18.)
Since I was fading from five glasses of wine, it was nice they had coffee with biscotti.
Four of the five wines. (Proseco not shown.)
Overall, I’ll give it 4.5 stars because the entree and dessert were dried out. But I can understand that it’s difficult to cook ahead for about 50 people and get it all right.
Until next year!
