Valentines Evening at Vino

Vino offered a special menu over the Valentines weekend, for $50 (an extra $25 for four 3oz serving wine pairings for the savory dshes) the menu read like this:

First course
Ahi Chu Toro Crudo
Red jalapenos, Maui onion, roasted garlic aioli, Thai basil, Osetra caviar

Second course
Roasted Heirloom Beet Salad
Big Island hearts of palm, Nalo Farms red ruby mix, pancetta bacon, raspberry Champagne vinaigrette

Third course
Poached Kona Maine Lobster
Fresh shaved Oregon black truffles, Carnaroli risotto, hedgehog mushrooms and creamy tarragon butter

Fourth course
Chianti Braised Maui Cattle Co. Short Ribs
Ricotta cheese gnocchi, rapini, horseradish gremolata

Dessert
“Frozen Kula Strawberry cheesecake”
Graham cracker ice cream, chocolate almond biscotti, raspberry gastrique

Upon arrival, the Mrs and I immediately ordered a glass of Prosecco to celebrate the day. The Mrs had the tasting menu sans wine, I ordered mine with the wine pairing. However right after ordering, Chuck proceeded to fill our table with wine - not that I'm complaining - but I was (am) still nursing a mild head cold with accompanying dulled sinus capacities (hard to breathe, hard to smell). Apparently a group of customers brought their own bottles for a blind tasting the night before so Chuck saved the leftovers. Among these wines were many supermarket quality wines but also some top notch Grand Cru white Burgundies. I'll say this much, while straining to pick up any essence of fruit or perfume in the wine, a dulled nose does heighten the basic sense of taste - sweet, bitter and sour (sugar, tannin and acid) were still very much apparent. Chuck also poured some Chinon, Cormas and Shiraz from a previous night's red tasting. Therefore I ended up with nine tasting portions of wine (6 white, 3 red). It's a good thing our server Sefo realized this and cancelled my original wine pairing request.