Since I was on stay-cay the last in October, we decided
to take advantage of the wine dinners created for the multiple winemakers
visiting the 50th for the annual Hawaii Food and Wine Festival. Since 12th
Ave's wine director, Rick Lilley spent harvest season working at Tyler Winery
several years ago, he hosted a dinner for winemaker/owner Justin Willett.
Since it was a weekday and we would be on the freeway during the "pau-hana" traffic, I decided to leave K-Town a little early... we could always have cocktails at the bar before dinner started... which we did including my...
...Perfect Pair with Rittenhouse rye, Belle de Brillet Pear, Cocchi Barolo Chinato, absinthe and house bitters... a little bitter, a little sweet and juuuust right!
While the Mrs sampled the Lemon-Ginger-Mint with New Amsterdam vodka, muddles fresh lemon and mint and hopuse ginger syrup... a very refreshing starter...
Because we had about 10 minutes before dinner started, our server "convinced" us to sample one more cocktail... the Cul de Sac with New Amsterdam vodka, Tanqueray gin, creme de violette, house lemongrass syrup and fresh lemon... very refreshing!
We then were seated with dinner looking like this:
1st
House Made Lomo- Grilled Peach & Big Island Beet
Panzanella Salad
Fresh Nalo basil-Dijon dressing.
paired with
w/ Lieu Dit Sauvignon Blanc
Rick Lilley explained that the lomo wasn't as salty as proscuitto so he felt it was a better pairing and the grilled peaches were a nice touch to the dish...
2nd
Meyer Lemon & Thyme Brick Pressed Jidori Chicken.
Hauula tomato polenta cake, pistachio-mint pesto
paired with
Tyler 'W Block' Chardonnay
My favorite part of the dish was the polenta cake though the chicken was perfectly cooked...
3rd
Maui Rum & Fennel cured New Zealand King Salmon
House made creme fraiche, yuzu tobiko, chive oil
paired with
Tyler 'Santa Rita Hills' Pinot Noir
I'm always a sucker for cured salmon and this version didn't disappoint...
4th
Tamari & Molasses Braised Duroc Pork Cheeks
Red cabbage w/Ka'u orange, smoked pear chutney, crispy
potato nest
paired with
Tyler '12th Ave Grill' Pinot Noir'
Cheek meat whether from beef, pork or veal is always succulent and paired nicely with the Pinot...
5th
"Sweet Potato Pie"
Holiday spiced Molokai sweet potato gelato, ginger graham
cracker and toasted coconut.
This dessert would be perfect for Thanksgiving... like a frozen sweet potato pie!
As usual, i brought some extra credit wines to share with our table and the guest of honor including Master Sommelier Larry Stone's own label Lingua Franca based out of Oregon...
And a slightly aged Pinot Noir from Small Vines on the Sonoma Coast.
It was another great dinner at 12th Ave Grill! Luckily both the Mrs and yours truly were off as making it from Wahiawa to Kaimuki by 6:30pm is near impossible unless the Mrs gets off at 4pm which is a rarity...
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