The talented folks at Simpatica Catering in Portland did it again.  They masterfully paired food to complement a sea of deserving Pinot and to comfort sixty happy dinner-campers.   Here’s a picture of their braised ribs with roasted shallots and celeriac purée. 

Yum!

I’m a longtime customer and fan of Viande Meats in Portland whose partners also run Simpatica Dining Hall and Simpatica Catering.  Viande is located in NW Portland on 21^st Avenue.  These guys are founding members of the new class of rock star butchers.  Really I could go on and on.  And I’d have to admit that they are my secret weapon in the kitchen.  They are known for their pâté, which they sell at the Farmer’s Market.  Their Bolognese Sauce is terrific.  So is the house-made pancetta.  My Spaghetti Amatriciana depends on it.  I trust them for high grade hormone free meat, and for cooking suggestions.  While there, have them make you a half-sandwich…maybe a froggie with country pâté and pickled onions?  There can’t be a better lunch bargain with such artisanal products.  From my blog, or certainly from Scott’s, it might look like we eat 5-course winemaker dinners all the time.  Yet, nothing makes Scott happier than a dish of beans and rice.  And being from the South, I love to put a pot of black beans on the stove, with onions and a ham hock from Viande.  Scott likes it straight up, but Pirrie and I indulge in a dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of sliced green onions, just like my mother served them.  That’s what I’ll be eating while watching election returns.

Our 3^rd annual “La Paulée de Carlton” is set for Saturday, November 1^st, and we are ready to eat and drink exceedingly well – with the hopes that you can join us! The event begins with a grand tasting in our tasting room, 11-4 p.m and is followed by a Grand Dinner in our winery at 6:30.

The Grand Tasting will be your first chance to taste and buy futures of our pride and joy and most sought-after wine – the 2007 Audrey Pinot Noir. Only eight barrels of this beauty were produced, and like its predecessors it is simply stunning (in our humble opinion!) The complete Scott Paul line-up will be available for tasting as well.

On the Burgundy front, we’ll be introducing our two new producers, starting with Domain Ninot – we’ll be tasting her 2007 Rully Blanc 1er Cru and 2006 Mercurey Vieilles Vignes ($25 each – what a deal!), and then the 2006 Gevrey-Chambertin from young François Leclerc (at $35 the best deal on top villages-level Burgundy on the planet.) We’ll follow that with a super rarity – the 2006 Volnay Roncerets 1er Cru from Pascal Bouley – he only makes one barrel, and only 4 cases come into the U.S.! And of course we’ll have a nice array of cheeses and charcuterie to go with. Make your plans now to be here for one of our best events of the year. FLASH – journalist Jordan Mackay – author of the forthcoming “A Passion for Pinot” will be on hand with a sneak preview of his gorgeous book.

La Paulée Grand Dinner: Join us along with some of Oregon’s top winemakers for a true bacchanalian extravaganza. In the tradition of La Paulée in Burgundy, everyone is encouraged to bring some special bottles from their cellars to share with all dinner revelers. For reservations or more information, contact Kelly at 503-319-5827 or kellykarr@scottpaul.com.

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