Capitalizing on the wine expertise and cooking talents of five local Cincinnati bailliage members, a wine pairing demonstration dinner was held at the home of yet another local member on April 20, 2013. Wine experts Mary Horn, Kathy Merchant, and Amy Neyer each chose two wines to pair with one of the three courses prepared by our own celebrity chefs Chevalier Pat Gaito and Vice Conseiller Gastronomique Marilyn Harris. Pat is originator and former owner of Primavista restaurant and Marilyn is a longtime host of “Cooking with Marilyn Harris” radio show on 55KRC.
The dinner was held at the showcase home of Bailli Honoraire Irwin Weinberg and his wife Barbara. Thirty-five lucky members enjoyed the explanations behind the pairing choices: delicious Asian crab salad, eggplant Napoleon, grilled rack of lamb, and of course the spectacular wines. Wine offerings included 2009 Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, 2011 Vietti Roero Arneis produced in the Piedmont region of Italy, and 2010 Achaval Ferrer Finca Bella Vista from Lujan de Cuyo Argentina.
In addition to the food, wines, and the pairing education, proceeds from this dinner provided additional funds for the Irwin and Barbara Weinberg Culinary Scholarship Fund at the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State. MCI is a national center of educational excellence in the culinary and pastry arts, dietetics, and hospitality technologies. It is well-known for its outstanding programs, faculty, and facilities which integrate state-of-the-art technology with first-class tools of the culinary arts. The Cincinnati bailliage has provided scholarship funds for young culinary students throughout a five year partnership with MCI as well as frequently using the school’s restaurant as a dinner venue.
Graig Smith, Vice Chargé de Presse