We were invited to a clambake at MW Restaurant hosted by members of the Palaka Wine Co. It was held in the Private Dining Room (first time we were seated there) of MW Restaurant. The menu had to be edited as it was supposed to only be a clambake but several diners have shellfish allergies so "add-ons" were added to the basic clambake including the Ahi Nachos:
The Chinese Roast Duck and Pork Hash Quesadillas
The "Fried Chicken" with pressed Jidori chicken with garlic soy sauce topped with kim chi
Since members of the Palaka Wine Co favor their big, bold, juicy Napa Cabs, I originally planned on suiting their tastes but nothng on the night's menu really paired with bold Cabs so I tailored my wines to the menu including a 2009 Littorai Cerise Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir... Ted Lemon really knows his stuff with the Burg varietals...
V uncorked a 2009 Sea Smoke Southing Pinot Noir
We were also served a Caesar Salad
And low and behold, H who usually ONLY drinks Cabs brought a 2012 Stags Leap Viognier... everyone had to get a photo of her drinking a white wine. I told her I texted the photo to the Napa Valley Vintners Society... she said she'll have to change her name now...
Some of the other wines uncorked that night... Notice that most of them are big, bold reds...
I also photographed the bowl of rice... I didn't want it to get a complex since I got a picture of all the other courses...
Including the Miso-Honey Glazed Butterfish
The Red Wine Braised Short Ribs
And the Piece de Resistance, the clambake...
Got save the carapice since it contains the rich miso...
I also uncorked a 2010 Varner Bee Block Chardonnay - subtle oak so it didn't overwhelm the fine flavor of the crab or lobster...
M uncorked her Poetry more as an after meal "dessert"
Which was the Kula Strawberry "Shave Ice" with strawberry kanten, mochi ice cream and yuzu-strawberry sorbet. I'm ordering this the next time we visit MW Restaurant! Chef Karr-Ueoka's desserts have never disappointed!
We also uncorked a Filippo Gallino Birbet which was perfect with dessert!
The only "miss" of the evening was that MW Restaurant didn't have any crab crackers and it was nearly impossible to crack the claw of the lobster... You see, they hosted this "clambake" as a donation for an auction item, they usually don't serve clambakes as part of their regular menu. But everything alse including the company, wines and food were all HITS!
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