June was full of Summer Wines and BBQ

Hi Gulpers! 
I am sorry for my tardiness in posting June’s pairing event.   I was home in Missouri visiting my family while all of you were munching, gulping and chilling at the warehouse.  In my absence a brave volunteer documented all the fun.  Take it away Gulp Volunteer! (click here for the pictures!)
 
GULP! Food And Libations--Summer Wine Dinner, Lake Park, Fla.
It was hot and muggy when I arrived at the GULP! Food and Libations Summer Wine dinner.  Everyone seemed busy including the guests who were clumped in small groups both inside and outside the floral decorated warehouse. All were there to taste how the barbequed food of Chef Romain Dagot went with the summer wine selections of LeBeau Kpadenou, co-owner of GULP! Food and Libations.
The other co-owner Coreen Gottschalk entered the room. “We are sharing the warehouse with Palm Beach Organics. You all know Chef Chris, Right?” The guests clapped wildly. “Chef Romain's opening up a restaurant in Delray and wants to use you as a guinea pig,” continued Coreen, “We have never had a crowd this big before, sort of yeah!”
Jazz music played softly in the background as Chef Romain described his first course, “It is a duck confit amuse-bouche with potato skins, and summer greens.” He used a Carolina style barbeque sauce, “Because of the vinegar it has more of a bright flavor. Hope you enjoy,” he said.
Florida born Chef Romain spent all his childhood summers in France and later attended a culinary school in Lyon. This was his first catering event and I could tell he was nervous from how fast he explained each dish.
LeBeau served Two Vines Gewürztraminer (2010) which was high in acid to cut through the duck grease. He said, “Barbeque is something to do more with summer. Gewürztraminer means spicy. It is a cold climate grape. This particular wine is from Washington State and is lower in alcohol.”
The delicately hollowed out potato skins were filled with crispy fried duck fat, tender duck meat and bacon flavored dark greens. Unfortunately the Gewürztraminer got lost in the flavor of the duck.
I sat at a table with some ladies from Dublin, Ireland. There was Audrey Farrelly, manager of O'Shea's Pub on Clematis Avenue, West Palm Beach; Laura Alonso and her American husband Mike; and Marie Doyle and her American fiancé Nick Flade, a bartender at O'Shea's Pub. Also at the table was Shawn Powell, a server at City Cellar in City Place; and Deb Knepp, a broadcast journalist.
Audrey said, “Coreen kept inviting me to these events. I told her to not stop inviting me because I needed something to commit to. I've been coming for three to four months now.”
Laura said, “I've never been to something like this. Audrey told me about it.”
At the same time Audrey explained, “I dragged them along.” Everyone laughed.
“So far so good for first course,” said Nick.
Shawn said, “I've had Romain's cooking before and it's awesome. And LeBeau's wine knowledge is out of this world. When I heard they were putting on this dinner I had to come.”
The heat index rose to about 90 degrees at the end of this course and many people took a break outside in the tented rear parking lot.
Back inside, the second course of pork ribs came with a new wine, and my table companions started high fiving as it was poured.
LeBeau explained that the Penfolds Hyland Shiraz (2010) wine came from Adelaide, Australia, making it a hot climate wine. He added that the best choices for barbeque were Shiraz and Syrrah. “The same grape is used, for both of those for you who didn't know or don't remember,” He said with a smile, and added, “Australian wines go well with barbeque.”
He told us it was a heavier wine and so would be hotter to drink instead of light. This was not entirely good news because the temperature inside the warehouse was creeping higher. This was when the demand for cold water increased.
Chef Romain said, “You are eating: baby back pork ribs marinated with a ginger beer, fresh ginger and molasses sauce.” He also roasted the potatoes before he mashed them. “I do like a bit of bite on the ribs so the meat doesn't fall off the rib. It's the way they like it in cooking contests,” he said with a smile. “The salad is to offset the heavy meal. The meat's going to knock you on your butt later,” he said, adding, “I don't like to serve people things I do not like. I hope you like them.”
The deep burgundy colored wine had a strong tannin mouth feel and a delicious oaky flavor. The spiciness of the wine made the barbeque meat taste spicier. My impressions of the dish were: creamy, smoky, spicy, and bright.
Then everyone chomped down on the ribs, slathering barbeque sauce all over their faces and hands. I looked around the room and noticed most people were enjoying the ribs so much they forgot to drink the wine. Mike said, “This is one of the top ten things that ever happened to me. This food is amazing.”
There was a discussion at my table about the poor quality of potatoes in America compared to Ireland. The Irish ladies came to an agreement that the mashed potatoes served with the ribs were delicious.
LeBeau called for a Question and Answer session between Chef Romain and the guests.
Someone asked: “Do you like vinegar or mustard more?”
Chef answered, “Mustard.”
Someone else asked, “What temperature did you cook the meat at?”
Chef answered: “Low and slow.
Then Jim Brogan, a regular, asked, “Will there be mats provided so we can take naps?” To which the guests answered with laughter.
After the ribs were licked clean, most of the guests got up and went outside again.
I asked Jim his impressions of the meal. “I don't want to just motor through the food. I want to enjoy the pairings. These guys spent so much time,” Jim said. Then it started to rain and the conversation was cut short. Jim suggested I talk to Wally Lurz another long time fan.
I asked Wally how he learned about these dinners. Through friends he told me. “The pairings have always been new and interesting. I like learning about different styles of wines and different tastes,” he stopped for a breath and then continued, “Do you know how all of this happened? It started with Coreen wanting to learn more about wine. We taste what we taste. It's been very rewarding. We keep coming back. We have a lot of duck this time,” he said.
Back inside, I sat down, just as a cool, wet breeze blew in from the rain. As the break ended LeBeau walked through the rows of tables handing out something, “want one to cool off with an ice pack?” He asked, as he handed me a little package of Arctic heaven. Guests rested the ice packs on their foreheads, necks, and some even wore them as hats.
Once everyone was cooled down, LeBeau said, “A little bit of business we have to do. Can I get a hand for Romain?” The crowd responded with thunderous applause and continued as LeBeau went through the list of volunteers: Chef Chris, Photographer/server Tracey, Coreen, himself, and guest blogger Helen A Lockey. “For the first time ever we are starting a tip jar because everyone is volunteering their time,” he said holding up a large plastic jar. “The next dinner is July 14^th,” he said smiling.
The third course came out quickly after the announcements. It was pulled pork butt on honey cornbread with coleslaw. The meat was hickory smoked with ginger.
Chef Romain started, “It is pulled pork butt,” but could not continue over the noise from the guests repeating, “Butt, butt, butt.”
LeBeau came to his rescue explaining that butt did not mean the backside of the animal, but was in fact referring to the shoulder of the pig.
Jim said loudly, “Oh, that's what it is,” then laughed and other guests joining in.
LeBeau introduced the next wine, it was a 2011 Rosé from Bertarose, “Merlot grapes are for red wine,” he said but got interrupted by a small boy walking by who commented, “Correct.”
The audience roared with laughter, and Chef Chris smiled and said, “That's my son ladies and gentlemen.”
LeBeau continued, “All wines are made from the same grapes. Rosés crush grapes with the skin for a short time.”
I turned my attention back to my meal. I sipped some rosé then took a mouthful of cornbread, pulled pork, and slaw. The slaw was made with Brussels sprouts, purple cabbage, and carrots. The rosé wine brought out the sweetness in the bread and brightened the coleslaw. Of all the pairing I liked this one the best.
Conversation about the meal was lively at my table despite the heat.
Nick said, with rivers of sweat pouring down his face, “It's kind of like you're gaining weight but losing weight because you're sweating.”
“This is my favorite course,” Laura said.
I moved to another table and talked to pharmacist Angelique Hazard. She was wearing a light cotton dress because she knew it was going to be hot inside the warehouse. “We've been coming to GULP for over a year. We've been to at least four to five of them,” she said, stopping to take a sip of wine, “The first one my husband treated me. It was an Italian one. It was really enjoyable. They used to have them at the beer depot. It's a great afternoon with friends.”
There was a commotion near a refrigerator. Chef Chris had opened the refrigerator door to reveal a chair inside. He smiled, turned, climbed in, sat on the chair, smiled again and closed the door. Guests started giggling.
Chef Chris eventually opened the door, climbed out and said, “That's my chill spot,” making guests roar with laughter. He offered his chill spot to Coreen and LeBeau, who quickly said, “yes.” Another chair was found so they could both enjoy their refrigerator ride at the same time. When the door opened again people grabbed cameras and phones to click pictures paparazzi photographer style.
When everyone had had their turn at the refrigerator rides dessert was served. It was a pancake battered, deep fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with blueberry compote, bacon, honey, mascarpone cheese, and goat cheese. It was served with Sangria.
LeBeau's Sangria recipe was, “You take wine, hard liquor, in this case Everclear, and fruit juice and combine them together. Then you serve it over ice.”
“Good job LeBeau,” said Shawn, clapping enthusiastically.
“Thanks,” said LeBeau smiling, “Every bottle of wine we had tonight is for sale, we have one of each,” he said, holding up a bottle. “Again thank you Romain and Chris.” And guests agreed with loud clapping.
The dessert was sweet and crispy on the outside with a thin smear of honey. The inside was gooey with warm peanut butter and dark globs of sweet blueberry. The cheese had all but melted into the dessert.
Shawn told me he was a first time diner, “The ability to learn and eat some really good food brought us here. We'll be back.”
Then just as the temperature inside the warehouse cooled down the dinner was over. Later, as volunteers collected plates and glasses Coreen said, “I'm glad people liked this style because there were no leftovers. For July we'll do it somewhere with AC.”

Gray Mockingbird Community Garden is Lake Worth’s New Eden

Last Friday night I was treated to a delicious jazzy evening at Gray Mockingbird Community Garden.

 

What is Gray Mockingbird Garden you ask? Well, Gray Mockingbird is a community garden situated on North D Street in Lake Worth.  Their mission is to teach sustainability and resiliency on land generously donated by the Scottish Rite. 10%-15% of food raised is donated to feed local hungry people. The dinner I attended, held in the garden under the shade of a big oak tree, was a fund raiser for the organization. Jazz pianist Gianni Bianchini treated us to old school Sinatra sounds while our own GULP Founder, Coreen, prepared an outstanding 5 course dinner.  Check it out!

 

 

 

 

Cantaloupe, prosciutto, cream cheese canape

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roasted new red potatoes wrapped in bacon with a sour cream and chive dipping sauce appetizer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

gazpacho with crème fresh

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summer stacked salad of watermelon, feta cheese and arugula with a balsamic glaze drizzle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cream Cheese and Mango Chutney stuffed Chicken Breast
Yellow Squash Casserole

 

 

 

 

 

There should be a picture of dessert: 

Apple Cinnamon Chimichangas with
Sapodilla Ice Cream

I ate mine before I remembered to take the picture.  My excuse was the giant rain storm headed our way and we ended up in the Kitchen for dessert!  You gotta love Mother Nature.

 

Here are a few images I caught of the Garden.  Hopefully it will inspire you to get involved by donating cash or even sweat equity!  You can find out how to contribute by visiting their website:  http://www.graymockingbird.com/ or liking their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GrayMockingbird?fref=ts

Gray Mockingbird Garden VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Don’t miss July’s GULP Pairing!  It is A Shakesperience!  July 21st on the grounds of Shakespeare By The Sea. Each course will have a Shakespearean theme. Then, stick around after the GULP! event for the final performance of Shakespeare's Coriolanus at 8pm when a handful of our very own GULPERS will take to the stage and behind the scenes to top off your Sunday Shakesperience! Tickets $35 ~ More details to come soon!

Pairing wine is just for food, or is it?

April’s Gulp turned 25 or so foodies into scientists for a day led by our mad scientist host LeBeau. 

Two of his favorite subjects, wine and science, came together recently when he read some interesting research regarding the pairing of wine with music.  That’s right, music!  Pshaw! you say. 

Clark Smith is a highly regarded wine production consultant and professor at UC Davis teaching Fundamentals of Wine Chemistry.  He too is a mad scientist.  Through his extensive research and experience as a wine marketing expert Clark has discovered an important and influential connection between wine and music.  In the same way food can change the way we experience and taste a glass of wine so can music.  Crazy, right?  Actually there is science to back this up.   One of the things he and his company are sought out for is creating the proper musical and ambient background in wine tasting rooms. 

LeBeau decided to put Clark’s findings to the test in his own personal wine laboratory, Gulp! According to Smith’s research there are peak experiences we have where all the components of the moment come together and produce unforgettable memories.  "The more we explore it, the more mysterious wine seems. It appears to provide a mirror to our feelings," says Smith, who is also an Adjunct Professor at California State University at Fresno. "We associate different wine types with different moods, just as we do with music. When the wine and the music match, both improve. When they clash, it can be awful!"   Lebeau saw this to mean, We should learn to enjoy the wine as a whole cloth instead of just judging the components.”  So let’s get onto the learning!

 

One of the first things that made this Gulp different from others was that we ate between the pairings.  LeBeau wanted to make sure the only thing we were pairing with the wines was the music he would be pairing.  Deb Knepp provided a lovely opener with her homemade breads.  Both breads used a craft brew in the recipe.  One was her Angry Orchard cider bread.  The texture was a little chewy and the flavor was tangy with just a hint of sweet.  The other was her Hoppy Cheese bread.  This was made with one of Coreen’s homebrews.  It was very reminiscent of rye bread and the cheese was a back note.  Deb also made deviled ham spread that was great on the Hoppy Cheese.  It was like having a ham sandwich on rye!  All I need was a cold one and a pickle!  (If I drank beer and liked pickles.)

Coreen made chicken enchiladas with lettuce, tomato and cheddar cheese. They were nicely spiced and I liked the mix of dark and white meat chicken.  Yummo! 

We enjoyed the food and chatted then Lebeau called us to attention.  He explained how the day was going to work. First this was a blind tasting.  We would also be tasting both red and white wines.  We would be served 3 glasses each for the tasting so we could really compare any differences in the wines with different styles of music.  Lebeau cautioned everyone,  “There is going to be a lot of wine today so make sure you eat.  We want everyone to have a great time and be safe.”  He went onto explain how music and wine work together.   According to science the thalamus is this spot in the middle of the brain and it has a big job.  It registers stimulus and relays it to the rest of the brain for response.  When hear you a bird singing in the park you take the sound in your ears and it goes straight to the thalumus. It sends the message to the other parts of the brain for processing,  For instance:  You hear a bird singing.  The thalamus says, “Oh, that’s a bird singing, what do you want to do brain?”  The rest of the brain takes over and decides whether or not to stay and listen, move away or throw a rock at the damn thing.  (My brain would stay and listen.) 

So the point of Clark’s study was that wine works on the brain in the same way.  The wine goes in, the thalamus says wine and sends it off to the rest of the brain for enjoyment or not.  The bird singing could enhance the experience because you are enjoying the sounds or sour the drink because you find the sounds irritating.  According to Clark, “What goes with what? You can make pretty good guesses about what will work by learning to be as sensitive to the mood of a wine as to the mood of a piece. Anybody can tell happy music from sad from angry from romantic from lustful. Wines are the same. Cabernets are angry, Pinots romantic, Rieslings cheerful. After that, it's trial and error. Pay particular attention to astringency: the smoothness or harshness a wine displays when tasted in a specific musical environment. You don't need more than a few seconds to sense the effect.”

The first pairing was with white wines.  We were served the wine in order and then Lebeau turned on the music.

The wines were all Chardonnays.  We were not told what they were or the vineyards they were from until after we tasted and listened. The pre-music tasting notes were:

Wine #1 was Robert Mondavi’s Private Selection, citrusy with grass and tropical notes, crisp and clean. 

Wine #2  was Febvre Chablis, acidic and minerally.

Wine #3 was Oak Leaf, pear, oak and buttery.

Song #1 The Beach Boys “California Girls.”  Everyone agreed this was a happy song evoking beaches, suntan lotion, summer and teenage hormones.  The Mondavi, for me,  was a great match up for this light and fun song.  I really noticed the tropical notes in the wine and the sweet citrus really showed up.  The Febvre was ok.    Some in the group preferred this one over the first.  There was an oakiness to it that some liked and I found the minerality wasn’t as pronounced.  The Oak Leaf was flat.  All the butteriness was  gone and we lost the fruit.

Song #2 Ella Fitzgerald “St. Louis Blues.”  Who doesn’t love Ella?! Well the Mondavi didn’t.  It was pithy and bitter.  The Febvre was the favorite for this song.  It was dry with the mineral/stone flavor in the front and green apple showing up on the end.  The Oak Leaf found its oakiness with the Blues but still a bit flat.

Song #3 Sean Hayes “Angel.”  Mondavi loved Sean Hayes bringing the citrus to the forefront for a sweet juicy sip.  The Febvre went flat with little to no flavor.  The Oak Leaf lost the buttery and got fruity.  The winner this round was the Mondavi.

Song #4 Stereo Lab “One Note Samba/Surfboard.” This jazzy little number made the acid jump up in the Mondavi.  The Febvre got fruity with more apple and a touch of citrus.  The Oak Leaf is made for Jazz.  It smoothed out and got all kinds of buttery and toasty, oh yum!  The Gulpers were evenly split between 2 and 3 as the best pairing for this song.

The group was amazed by the changes in flavor and mouth feel in the wines depending on the songs.  It really was like pairing food!  While Coreen brought out the next food course discussion was lively and loud as people talked across the room commenting on the songs and artists as well as the wines.  It was like the Umami event earlier in the year.  Everyone’s curiosity and taste buds were piqued.  We were learning something new that was increasing our knowledge and enjoyment of not just the wine but music as well.   I love learning when I feel like I am playing!

Coreen served a crispy flatbread pizza topped with cherry tomatoes and sausage.  It was a perfect choice for  busy table talk.  They were bite sized pieces, crispy and savory just right for popping into the mouth.  You had eaten 2 or 3 before you knew it when you suddenly realized how delicious it was.

 

 

 

Next up was a red course.  Just like in the first course this was a blind tasting.  LeBeau also asked us to taste only one wine with each song.  Kyle pegged it before the reveal this was the same wine in each glass, Lindeman’s Pinot Noir.  Without knowing this was there enough difference in the music pairings to think these were different varietals…hmmm.   Without the music this Pinot is medium bodied with strawberry and cherry flavors.  It is a touch acidic but not so much to be off-putting.  Bring on the music!

Song #1 Classic Spanish Guitar.  (please remember we didn’t know this was the same wine).  Wine #1 got smoky to match the seductive strains of the guitar and I got a green pepper taste while others felt cherry was the big fruit note.  It was nice and could be a Pinot.

Song #2 Vivaldi “Spring.”  First off I did my Laura Linney impression, “I’m Laura Linney and this is Masterpiece Theatre.”  KP laughed.  Anyway, this music brought a richness to the wine that wasn’t there before.  Licorice and caramel were right there then came the cherry and a touch of smoke.  The smokiness is interesting since this wine is fermented in stainless steel vats.  Maybe a cab?

Song #3 SOS Band “Tell Me if You Still Care?”  This song was very much a sultry rumba and it brought out a seductive vanilla note in the wine.  I just wanted to listen and drink.  Wally yelled for Barry White.  You get the idea.   Who cared about the varietal.

We were duly impressed this was all the same wine, except for Kyle who guessed it right at the beginning….smarty pants.  We became believers and couldn’t wait for the next setup!

The third tasting was a little more involved.  Lebeau didn’t hide the wine varietals.  Each glass held a different wine.  The idea was to compare the findings of Clark’s experiment to our own taste buds. As Coreen and I passed out wines Lebeau gave us Clark’s opinion of each wine’s mood and music pairing:

Beringers White Zinfandel, Happy and lively that goes with Pop, Dixieland or Polka

Lindeman’s Pinot Noir, Romantic and seductive that goes with rumba, R&B, Jazz

Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvingon, dark, angry and brooding that goes with Metal, Blues, Angry Jazz

Our results were:

White Zinfandel tastes a lot like sweet tea no matter what we listen to but it really was best with lighter music like Dixieland.  Jim said it reminded him of drinking an Arnold Palmer.  It was least flavorful with the Doors.  Do not drink Zin while listening to Ministry.  It was awful!

The Pinot liked the Doors and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds.  It was fuller bodied and jammy with cherry but not sweet.  The Blue Grass tune made it very green and acidic tasting.  Sinatra brought out vanilla and cloves. 

Then there was the Cab .  Dixieland and Polka brought up a lot of acidity and killed the fruit.  The Doors made it astringent and brought out a green pepper taste.  I thought for sure Jim Morrison would have been a Cab guy.  I loved it with Nick Cave.  I tasted Vanilla, smoke and leather, very sultry and brooding.  Dixieland and Polka amped up the acid and minerality and not in a pleasant way.  Sinatra brought coffee, smoke and vanilla to the Cab.  He was always so classy.  For a lot of tasters Ministry paired best with the Cab.  This is pure headbanger music and the cab tasted like caramel, leather and smoke.  People were bouncing and sipping. 

To finish out the day Coreen served and oreo ice cream treat and as usual I forgot to take a picture of the dessert!  I guess I am so full of wine and food by the end I am in a happy Gulper mood and just enjoying the afternoon so the dessert is lost.  Sorry Coreen.

This was a really great afternoon.  Thank you LeBeau for all the work you put into this day!  Thank you Coreen for the delicious food treats that kept us all eating and sober!  I LOVE GULP!  See you next month!

April 2103 Gulp! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

March Gulp: Gulp!'s Peeps Come Out on Easter Eve to Determine Battle Between Beer and Wine

I am sad that I missed the last Gulp! Event but I am very glad our guest blogger Brian Bixler was there to record all the excitment.  So without further ado take it away Brian!  (sorry no pictures, it seems Ashley was missing that day too).

Behind BX Beer Depot's unprepossessing storefront we gathered next to a thatch-roofed tiki bar and long tables set with tablecloths, silverware, stemmed glasses and snifters awaiting libations that would flow freely so that we could compare which one went

best with the delectable dishes that would be set in front of us.

And so it began, Gulp!'s third tasting that would pit beer against wine in an event that attracted an eclectic and fun-loving group that included members of the media, musicians and artists, entrepreneurs, and employees in the hospitality industry who have one thing in common: they're all foodies interested in learning more about the food they consume and the beverages they drink. The Wrong's lead singer Jimmy Brogan was there as well as videojournalist and sometimes Shakespeare by the Sea actor Wally Lurz and his fiancée Krystina Parker.

And the setting, warmly lit by tiki torches on Easter Eve, was entirely apropos, casual, communal and comfortable. Sally Parsons is one of the first business owners in Palm Beach County to recognize the growing demand for craft beer and her small tap room, tucked away on Second Avenue North in Lake Worth, has all the accouterments for making your own brew at home. The walls are lined with dippers, utensils, copper coils; and in a huge walk-in refrigerator she stores yeast, hops and heavy bags of grain that can be used to make everything from a chocolate-flavored beer to coffee-infused stout.

Sally was a wonderful co-host for the evening, not only serving the Gulp! guests but providing a personal tour of her business, which may be Lake Worth's best kept secret (aside from Gulp! of course). As a tasting room, it provides a wealth of craft beers by the bottle ranging in cost from a couple of dollars to larger sizes in the $20 range. But even the brands with higher price points don't deter true beer connoisseurs, who come from as far away as Vero Beach and Miami to visit Sally's store.

"It's like a fine wine," Sally said of her inventory. "We have customers who can buy a bottle of beer and sip it for two hours."

In addition to coming for the array of craft beers, patrons are also looking for the supply of fresh grains stored in tight containers that allow home brewers to create an assortment of beer at home. And for those who want to know what their own concoctions might taste like, BX Beer Depot also has a tempting variety of its own brews on tap that are kept cold in the refrigerated unit just waiting to be dispensed in a glass and raised to your lips.

Naturally, Sally also offers beer-making classes for those who want to learn more about the age-old beverage revered by America's Founding Fathers, especially Ben Franklin. She also offers wine-making kits and guidance and has recently branched out into cheese-

making. And so, her business provided the perfect location for Gulp!'s boxing bout between beer and wine. And the pairing of Gulp! and BX Beer Depot was as natural as the coupling of food and beverage that night. As Sally said, the two companies share the same model and mission of providing education and socialization for their guests.

It was my initiation into a Gulp! tasting and I couldn't help feeling a little bit like a pledge being inducted into a secret society like Skull and Bones (on second thought, scratch that, make it more like the Algonquin Round Table).

There were plenty of regulars there to recall the very beginnings of Gulp! when Coreen Gottschalk would research various wines and pull facts and tasting notes together, then invite a few friends to her home, serve the wines and pair them with tasting-sized portions of food and discuss them. ClearChannel radio host Deb Knepp (who sat crocheting tiny Easter Bunny heads from yarn for everyone to wear as a pin or hair adornment for the evening) shared memories of those first days, along with other veterans like massage therapist Michelle Getty.

I felt so proud for my friend Coreen, one of the most extraordinary people I have met in my life, to see how her simple idea of spending time with friends has grown into a truly professional venture and full-fledged business with help from her partner LeBeau Kpadenou. But I wasn't the only newbie in the crowd: the very-blue-eyed Laura Powell, a server/bartender from O'Shea's Irish Pub, was also experiencing her first Gulp! tasting.

"Nothing excites me like good food," said Laura, who, by the end of the evening, expressed how much she enjoyed it and promised to return for future tastings.

And tastings -- tempting and plentiful -- were what the evening was all about, paired with carefully selected beers and wines that were meant to complement the food and bring out the various spices and flavors of meats, cheeses, herbs, fruits and vegetables.

The Tastings

The first course was an inviting little morsel: a slider-size burger stuffed with pesto and a tangy Chaumes cheese from Périgord in southwest France. Wrapped within the burger, the cheese provided a full-bodied flavor not unlike brie. The tasty treat was presented in a crispy wanton cup topped with a sprinkling of tomato and clover sprouts that provided additional flavor and texture to the appetizer. It was a great way to start the meal.

LeBeau introduced the first wine of the night, presenting Dry Creek Valley 2010 The Federalist, a California Zinfandel from 2Sons Winery. It was a fruity, medium-bodied red wine meant to compete with the first beer selection by Corey from BX Beer Depot, who chose Wychwood Brewery's Hobgoblin, an imported dark English ale made from chocolate and crystal malts with a dash of citrus aroma.

Round One went to The Federalist with more than half of the diners preferring it paired with the appetizer than the ale (Ben Franklin might have been disappointed, even though the wine bottle pays homage to fellow Founding Father Alexander Hamilton).

The second course, courtesy of a recipe from Corey, was, for me, the most interesting dish of the evening: Éphémère salad, made with jicama, apple, fennel, sweet pepper, red onion and oranges tossed with a dressing made from Éphémère Ale and Mint Oregon Garden Vinaigrette. The melange had an autumnal flair to it but was neither overly sweet nor spicy; but an exciting blend of the two. I would make this salad at home. Even though it reminded me of fall, I could also see it being a crisp, refreshing salad on a hot summer day.

LeBeau paired it with a playful, low-alcohol, sparkling wine, Moscato d'Asti, from the Piedmont region of Italy, more associated with Christmas in that country than Easter. Corey cleverly chose to pair the salad with the beer used an ingredient in the dressing:

Éphémère, a Canadian ale brewed with apple juice, coriander and orange peel, with a hazy clarity. The Belgian-style witbier was intended to bring out the spices in the salad. Once again, the wine won the round, with more guests raising their hands in favor of its

pairing with the food. But that didn't mean the beer didn't have its defenders.

"This beer has so many wonderful flavors in it," said Barry Imhoff, owner of Mad Rush design and graphic arts in West Palm Beach. "So, to pair it with something neutral like french fries would be very nice."

The third course, the entree, was a deliciously moist and flavorful herb roasted pork tenderloin, or as LeBeau introduced it, "the same cut on a pig you would get filet mignon on a cow." Perfectly seasoned with a selection of herbs, served with baby white potatoes and covered with a vermouth sauce, the tenderloin was prepared medium-to-well done which failed to reduce its tenderness. Many diners went back for seconds after LeBeau announced he had made enough for an Easter dinner.

He paired the meat with what he considers to be one of the best wines of its kind, a 2010 Trimbach Riesling 2010 imported from Alsace, France. In introducing the wine, LeBeau commented that "this is what a Riesling should be" -- not sweet, but elegant and dry.

Corey noted that Germans know pork and sausage and which beer goes great with it. Taking a cue from those barons of Bavaria, he chose Great Divide Brewing Co.'s Hoss rye lager from Denver Colorado, an American beer based on the Märzen lagers of Germany. Savory, malty and carmel-ly with an unusual red-orange color, the beer was the first of the evening to win a round with an overwhelming majority of votes from the tasters.

Between courses, discussion included talk about the pairings, with a general consensus That all of the choices were excellent, whether they won the round or not.

Audrey Farrelly, manager of O'Shea's, attending her third Gulp! tasting, remarked that making a decision between the unusual beers and fine wines being served was a tough call.

"It's like having two children and saying which one is your favorite," she said.

But that was before Sally and Corey delivered the coup de grâce: BX Beer Depot's own milk stout, that was served as something extra for the evening to be enjoyed with Coreen's "sexy," decadent and oh-so-scrumptious crème brûlée with caramelized organic cane sugar that Coreen created herself.

"I got to wield a blow torch, which I recommend even if you're not making crème brûlée," she told us all before we slid into the silky dessert with our spoons.

The wine for Round Four was Castlenau de Suduiraut's 2007 Sauternes, a French dessert wine with an excitingly sweet aftertaste. In presenting the wine, LeBeau described to his guests how it is made from grapes that have been affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. The fungus shrinks and sucks the water from the grape, causing it to become partially raisined and resulting in concentrated and distinctively flavored wine. Another beer, St. Ambroise Vintage ale from Canada brewed by McAuslan Brewing in Montreal, was offered by Corey, but the overwhelming favorite paired with the crème brûlée was the freshly brewed milk stout. Audrey made it clear that it was her favorite child.

So, since it was a draw -- wine winning two courses and beer winning two -- there was no real TKO that night -- just plenty of succulent food and really interesting selections of beer and wine that delivered a powerful punch!

I'm sure Mame Burkett will be back for the next tasting after some recuperation but I was so glad to be her substitute for the night. I usually don't like to use the word "special" to describe things because it's so trite, but in this case it's absolutely fitting for the night's festivities and my first tasting.

I Love Chocolate and Aphrodisiacs or It’s February Gulp!

 

Oh February how quickly you have come and have left but you can’t take away the wonderful day Gulpers had at the Warehouse.  That’s right we celebrated chocolate and aphrodisiacs at Coreen and Lebeau’s Warehouse location in Lake Park.  A  transformation has taken place in this once stark and sterile place.  Sheer draping, twinkle lights, woven baskets and various other fun details really softened the space and made it very welcoming and comfortable.  The space truly reflected our wonderful hosts.  It was a wonderful introduction to the new Gulp Gathering Place and maybe it was the food but I think it was the location and guests that helped me feel a little romantic and friendly.  John loved my mood when I got home….just sayin.

Before I get to the pairings let me give you a quick lesson on aphrodisiacs.  I promise to keep it PG.  Stop laughing!  I can keep it clean!  Okay, an aphrodisiac can be a food, a scent, a feeling that evokes and increases sexual desire.  (see that was clean).  The most popular aphrodisiacs are food because they work on all five senses.  There are a couple of odd ball things that have been popular over the centuries.  One is Rhino Horn which is used in the wilds of India and said to make a man’s virility unstoppable….whatever.  The other one is a breast feeding woman.  Again this is considered more of a turn on for a man. 

Back to the food.  Foods that are considered as having aphrodisiac properties are often visual representations of a man’s penis.  There I said it! Penis! These foods are asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, and Olive Garden’s breadsticks.  Other foods that are sexy are ones that smell and/or taste luscious and sensual.  Chocolate is probably the most famous and that is why it is the most popular of Valentine Gifts.  Oysters are popular because they are juicy and cold and slippery and….well, you get the picture.  Wine is also considered an aphrodisiac.  The aromas of smoky, fruity and sometimes flowery set the mood while the alcohol loosens the libido and conscience…I think that says enough.  As a non-expert of aphrodisiacs but a married woman of a pretty good 30 years I recommend a regular diet of aphrodisiacs.  Some of my favorites are lobster with butter sauce, think “Flash Dance” and  for dessert chocolate sauce, think….        whatever you want. 

Onto the pairings!

The First Course was a lovely twist on an asparagus and swiss cheese quiche and a leaf lettuce salad with a raspberry vinaigrette. The asparagus is well known as an aphrodisiac.  English herbalist from the 17th century, Nicholas Culpepper, wrote that asparagus "stirs up lust in man and woman." The little twist to this savory pie of libido enhancers was instead of a pie crust for the quiche Coreen used croissants.  I loved how the eggs melded into the buttery bread.  The asparagus was fresh and still had bite.  The swiss cheese brought it all together and added a lovely umami element.  The salad was a great offset to the creamy, soft quiche.  The lettuce had snap to it and the vinaigrette gave just the right amount of acid that lightened up the whole dish.  Lebeau paired this with Barton & Guestier Sparkling Rose’.  This is a refreshing rose slightly sweet with a nice effervescence.  The nose is full of strawberries and summer.  It tastes just the way it smells.  The pairing of the rich eggy quiche with the sparkling wine was spot on.  It cut the richness of the quiche and then joined with the salad for a wonderfully light entre’.  Everyone at the table was thinking this was a perfect Sunday brunch course.  It would certainly perk up my Easter Sunday.

The next course was an intermezzo.  Well, not really, since an intermezzo is usually a palate cleanser in between the first and main course.  This was a delicious foodie treat our friend and fellow Gulper, Kyle provided.  His family owns a fish market, Captain Clay and Sons Fish Market, in Delray and they make their own smoked fish dip.  I don’t like fish dip.  It is always overpowering with smoke and fishiness and mayo…yuck.  Not so Kyle’s offering.  It was spicy, rich and yes smoky but it was not overpowering and it lightly dressed with mayo and it was fresh.  Kyle served it on a slice of crusty french bread and a couple of slices of pickled jalapenos.  Those spicy little green circles with their tang of vinegar helped cut the richness of the dip and the bread held it all together for a perfect bite. 

The Second course was another one where a few Gulpers said they didn’t like the main ingredient then had to take it back.  It featured, what I think most people consider first when we talk about aphrodisiacs, oysters.  This was Coreen’s take on an oyster stew and it was my favorite course of the day.   The oysters were perfectly tender and creamy.  The bacon was there but didn’t overpower the other flavors as it can sometimes do.  Barry loved the addition of the chard.  It added a wonderful bite of texture and the bitterness of the green refreshed the palate before going in for the next rich spoonful of stew.  Lebeau selected Rodney Strong Chardonnay to go along with this course.  Great pick Lebeau!   This crisp and refreshing wine was the perfect foil for the stew.  There was vanilla and apple with just the right amount of toasted oak for a delicious glass. This course was a perfect example of something I have said many times before; the best thing about pairings is how the wine transforms the food and visa versa.  These were a couple and they were making my mouth feel nothing but love. This course was so good the room went silent except for occasional slurps and moans of happiness; some very sexy sounds for foodies.  There was one exclamation of “But I don’t like oysters!”  Then she went silent again as she returned to her bowl.    Oh yeah, this was good.

The Third course took us to the hot side of aphrodisiacs.  Thai basil beef contained spicy chile and sweet basil, both of which are considered aphrodisiacs.  The chile is pretty obvious as it warms up the insides but basil is a little more subtle.  This sweet and slightly peppery herb dates back to Greece and has chemical properties said to enrich the blood and one’s desire.  Put these together and it’s a hot time in the ol’ bed tonight.  Coreen paired them up with tender ground beef, green beans and red bell pepper then nestled them gently into romaine leaves.  The fact that you can eat this with your hands makes it a sensual and playful dish.  The Henry Fessy St. Amore Beaujolais with its aromas of strawberries and spice made the meat juicier and amped up the spice in the meat mixture.  The food mellowed out the acid in the wine and brought out cherries on the tongue.  It was really, really delicious.  My table-mate Corrina said this was her favorite course.

Our Fourth and final course was as sweet as the Valentine Holiday!  Coreen created a honeyed goat cheese chocolate truffle which she lovingly placed atop vanilla ice cream and added a cocoa dusted almond.  Lebeau  paired it beautifully with a ruby port from Terra d’Oro.  Here again was a course with a disliked ingredient transformed.  Steve Hussey loudly proclaimed he HATED goat cheese.  HATED IT!  He LOVED this dessert.  I think he may have eaten more than one truffle and asked for more!  The truffle was a delicious combination of the tangy goat cheese tempered by the honey and enriched by the chocolate.  By the way this little mouthful is an aphrodisiac powerhouse.  Both the honey and the chocolate are classic aphrodisiacs.  In fact, honey was called the nectar of Aphrodite by the Greeks.  Sticky, gooey sweetness…oh yeah I am feeling amorous just thinking about it.  The vanilla ice cream was just as luscious and of course vanilla in the ice cream is also a classic aphrodisiac.  The aroma of the vanilla increases our sense of anticipation and excitement.  It is also comforting and relaxing.  Put the three together and somebody is very ready for love.  Wait, don’t stop at the food add the Terra d’Oro Ruby Port and the whole thing gets even sexier.  This is a Zinfandel port, deep dark and mysterious.  The aroma is dark chocolate and raspberries and the flavor adds raisins and coffee to the party.  It is a wondrous thing we weren’t seeing half the room leave the event early to go home and work off all those sweet, sensual and sexy ingredients that were flowing through our veins.  I know I left quickly.  I had a sudden urge to see what my husband was up to! 

It was a very very good day.  Thanks again Coreen and Lebeau!

March is Wine v Beer at Bx BeerDepot!  Signup early!  It is going to be awesome!  See you next month!

Umami–Who knew?

January’s Gulp was curiouser and curiouser.  It wasn’t exactly sweet, certainly not bitter, it got a little salty and never did it get sour.  Hmmm…what was that rich, fatty, almost meaty taste left in my mouth?

Umami.  That’s right, the fifth taste of the tongue is umami.  It is that taste that conveys richness, it makes the mouth salivate and coats the tongue.  It makes you want more and then helps with making food taste satisfying.  This long debated taste was the topic for our pairing and let me say right up front that LeBeau did an awesome job sharing and demonstrating what he learned about this elusive taste.  Just a tip from LeBeau as we proceed.  Taste is that thing the tongue senses.  Flavor is the result of combining aroma with taste.  I will try hard not to get the two confused.

A little background before we get to the tastings. Umami has been used for centuries in Asian cuisine.  As early as 1200 years ago Japanese cooks would add seaweed to food as a flavor enhancer.  Umami was first identified way back in 1903 by a chemistry professor at the Imperial University of Tokyo, Kikunae Ikeda.  By himself he spent a lot of years isolating the elusive “receptor”.  Glutamates were bandied about and nucleotides were twisted. He discovered in the right combinations these elements deepened the flavor of food.  He used dashi, a broth made of seaweed and dried fish to prove his theory. LeBeau treated us to a sample of the broth to start the day.  I can’t say it was a really pleasant flavor.  It coated my tongue like a fat but there was no fat in the broth.  I got the sense of rocks, kind of metallic and earthy.  Daphine said she got smoke from it.  These are all examples of what umami does on the tongue.  Umami isn’t a single taste like salty, sweet or sour.  It is the thing that makes those tastes bigger more flavorful.  In fact, the first commercial use of umami was a flavor enhancer called “Accent.”  As their commercials advertised “It wakes up food.”  It really does it in a way that the other tastes just miss.

Examples of food with umami are seaweed, pretty much all meat and seafood, mushrooms, parmesan, milk, spinach tomatoes and asparagus.  Think about them; there is an element beyond salty in all these foods that make them taste richer and even more satisfying than foods without umami.  LeBeau shared so much information that our collective brains swelled 10 times 10 that day and it was good.  He recommended a cookbook called “The Fifth Taste, Cooking with Umami” by Anna and David Kasabian to get inspired by delicious recipes that are made even better with umami.  There are also many many websites to further anyone’s more scientific interest in this topic.

Onto the pairings!!

We were treated to Domaine St. Michelle Luxe Sparkling Wine.  This lovely sparkler was a bit dry with a grapefruit aroma. It had a nice finish lingering in my mouth.  There were flavors of pineapple and something spicy on the tongue.  Later I would find out the creamy note I sensed was a hint of umami maybe from the aging of the wine in oak barrels. 

The daschi was to follow and I wouldn’t say this was a pairing. 

The first official pairing of the day was a really cool creation of Coreen’s called California Roll Salad.  Basically she took the classic ingredients of a California Roll, krab, rice, avocado, and cucumber then added lettuce.  She tossed it all with a vinaigrette bursting with umami flavors like soy sauce, sesame oil and a little kick of wasabi.  Finally, she sprinkled crushed nori on top for crunch.  It was fantastic.  Adriel and KP both said while they weren’t fans of the well known roll they would eat this salad all day long. Adriel even went so far to say, “Maybe I should smash my California roll next time!”  It was paired with an Angoves Clare Valley Riesling that was more dry than the average Riesling and quite refreshing with notes of lemon.  Paired with the salad it changed a little with a grassy note joining the citrus which was actually really nice.  The acidity of the wine cut the savory dressing and made the salad taste lighter that it was.  Another example of how important the right pairing improves everything.

The second course was spaghetti with prosciutto, asparagus, parmesan and tomato.   It was paired with an Estancia Reserve 2007 Chardonnay.                                            This was my favorite course of the day and I am going to tell you why.  It was in a word DELICIOUS! Lebeau spent a lot of time explaining how the different chemical elements came together to create a sensation of fatty, savory, even buttery on the tongue giving the diner great satisfaction and even a feeling of satiation.  You know that old adage of how quickly you feel full after eating Chinese food and then 30 minutes later you’re hungry again?  Well the Umami does that and it did this in this course with perfection.  This was an incredibly simple dish made with almost no fat.  They used a little olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking and for a little moisture.  This dish was on the dry side and yet I didn’t seem to mind that at all.  I wanted to just keep eating.  The tomatoes popped and the asparagus gave a fresh garden taste.  Then add the oaky creaminess of the Chardonnay and suddenly there was this HUGE party going on in my mouth.  Flavor danced all over my tongue.  I felt like I was eating a fatty, creamy dish and there wasn’t a speck of butter or cream anywhere to be found!  White wines grapes don’t in and of themselves have the glutamates or amino acids in enough abundance to create umami.  The fermentation process however, especially if fermented on oak and/or on lees can increase this.  The creamy mouth feel of the Chardonnay along with it’s smoky/apple-y flavors work with the umami in the food to create an intensely savory, deeper flavor on the tongue.  KP said the tomatoes burst in her mouth.  “This is a lively example of how wine and food can be spectacular!” 

The third course ran a close second to the spaghetti.  LeBeau prepared umami burgers.  In the meat he added garlic, pepper and a secret ingredient which he revealed after much quizzing as Vietnamese fish sauce.  The fish sauce is all umami all day long.  It was accompanied with a truffle aioli.  Again, truffle is very rich with umami.  The burger was served on a soft bun that added a lovely touch of sweetness to the burger and a little lettuce for crunch.  It was paired with a Catena Cabernet Sauvignon from Argentina.  This was a very nice example of Cabernet.  It had a leathery, chocolate aroma and the flavor was pretty close with a lovely dash of pepper.  Remember in the last course I mentioned white wine grapes didn’t have so much umami.  That isn’t the case with reds.  While the umami is not the overwhelming taste in red wine it definitely increases the deep woodsy, earthiness that is often associated with reds.  This Cab really enhanced the already mighty umami in the burger, not so much by punching it up as much as smoothing it out making all the flavors linger on the tongue.  Oh yeah, this was something I wanted to keep eating! 

The 4th course was a further demonstration of umami.  LeBeau made a miso soup.  I hate miso soup.  When I go to Saito’s for lunch I always refuse the miso soup.  So you know I don’t like this stuff.  Then I tasted LeBeau’s and I wanted to call up Saito’s and ask them why they can’t make proper miso.  It was really good!  It won’t ever make my top five soups but this was tasty.  Miso is a very simple soup made with miso paste, daschi and tofu for a little texture.  Miso paste is made from fermented rice, barley or soy.  The most common is made from soy and I believe LeBeau said his was soy.  Anyway, it was salty, eathy, even meaty tasting.  Tasting this soup, I started to understand why miso, soy and the like are so often used in vegetarian preparations.  The umami gives food a meaty, fatty quality without the meat!  I know, you can see the light bulb shining above my head.  I drank the cabernet from the previous course with this and I have to say it worked pretty darn well.  I was so busy being amazed I liked this soup I forgot to take a picture of it.  Silly me.

The fifth and final course was a lovely dessert of green tea ice cream with strawberry sauce and a chocolate chili sauce.  Coreen made the ice cream.  I have had her ice cream before and I was excited to know she was making some for this event.  She didn’t disappoint.  The ice cream was smooth and sweet with the added depth of the green tea.  The strawberry sauce was not the highlight for me.  It was the chocolate sauce!  It was deep, rich, sweet and just a little bite of heat.  It is a very wonderful sensation to have cold and heat in the mouth all at the same time.  Loved it.  Here’s a tip from Coreen:  Instead of spending big bucks on a specialty chocolate sauce you can use your favorite brand of chocolate and stir in the spice yourself.  Thinking this way my mind spins with possibilities.  Choco orange or lavender or curry.  Think about it.  I paired this with the sparkling wine from earlier in the day and I was very happy!

That does it for this episode of Gulp.  I want to take a moment and thank Ashley for the pictures she took throughout the day.  My Dream Share pictures were great.  I really liked that they were stamped with the Gulp logo!  For those who would like more information on Umami and wine checkout this nifty blog I found:  the swami of umami.  Enjoy the pictures and I will see you next month!

Umami Gulp VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Gulpers!

Wow!  It was a fantastic contest!  It was a perfect party.  It was a new location!  Coreen and LeBeau invited the group to their office/warehouse in Lake Park for a Christmas pairing event.  As is our Christmas tradition, (wait…we’ve been together long enough for Christmas traditions?) we split into teams, took all the knowledge we have accumulated and prepared our own special pairings.  There were six teams and while there were 3 winners there were no losers.
Here are the teams:
 Team 1-Michelle Getty, Kelly Ainsworth, Tracy Cottle, Bryan and Tony .  Their pairing was a  Malbec and a Crostini with bacon jam, brie and roasted tomato.

Team 2-Coreen, Chris Pawlowski, Heather Hatter, and Todd Johnson .  Their pairing was a pan seared mahi with a grapefruit vinaigrette and micro greens with a grapefruit mimosa.

Team Three-Mariana and Aladia Nascimento,  Adriel Wright and Barry.  Their pairing was an apple crisp with carmel popcorn and Riesling.

Team 4-Jim and Kelly Brogan :) & Xtina & Wally Lurz :)  They paired a 3 cheese mac and cheese with a Spanish Rioja Crianza.

Team 5 - Mame Burkett, LeBeau Kpadenou, Ashley Walker, Pam Schuster.   These guys paired a spice cupcake with sparkling rose and smoked bleu cheese with Riesling.

Team 6 - Deb Knepp, Alicia, Steve Hussey and Keil Brand.  Olive picnic pizza was paired with Reisling.

All of the food was a delicious but the winners were: 
In third place was the cheesy group of Team 4-Jim and Kelly Brogan :) & Xtina & Wally Lurz. 
Second place went to the spice gang of Mame Burkett, LeBeau Kpadenou, Ashley Walker, Pam Schuster.
drumroll please…….
In first place with a blinging and “look at me” table  was Team 1-Michelle Getty, Kelly Ainsworth, Tracy Cottle.
Congratulations to all the winners! 
In addition to the food pairing contest there was also a Yankee Christmas swap.  Since your intrepid blogger was sick with a head cold I didn’t stay for this part of the evening.  Can someone tell me who picked the redneck wine glasses? 
Finally, what a year this has been.  Engagements, Elections and Excitement abounded.  We met locally and across the country in search of more knowledge and adventure in wine pairings.  Some of us struggled sometimes and some of us announced wonderful successes and triumphs.  We did it!  We filled up another year of living and loving and drinking wine the whole dang time.  I wouldn’t have missed a minute with all of you.
So lift your glasses my friends with the fruit of the vine and the juice of life.  As Mr. Grgitch said, “Men need only two things.  They both start with “W”…women and wine.  Women need three things. 

The Party VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

They all start with “M”….men, money and merlot.  No matter what you might need may 2013 bring us more of all!  Happy Holidays Gulpers!
See you next year!