Let’s start off with a fine wine dinner coming up Saturday.
Jim Klein, the winemaker of Navarro Vineyard, will host a wine- and food-matching dinner at Yujean Kang’s Asian Bistro at South Coast Plaza.
A tasting of seven varietals of Navarro vineyard wines is set to accompany Yujean’s food. Love these wines, not to mention Yujean’s progressive look at Asian cuisine.
My husband Patrick and I took an Anderson Valley wine trip one time, along with wine cohorts Ron and Debbie Marshall, owners of Mr. Stox in Anaheim.
We did the whole thing, starting at Guenoc, above Calistoga, and wandering to the Pacific Ocean over several days, stopping at prestigious wineries along the way. We still talk about Navarro and its charms that are carried out in the wines they produce.
Most people don’t know that Yujean was raised in Northern California, and, through his family’s restaurant heritage, became fast friends with some of California’s winemaking stars. Of course, none of them were stars back then.
Yujean worked his way into national culinary magazine articles and earned wonderful reviews for his delicious food while his winemaker friends polished their names and reputations via reviews by famous wine critics and connoisseurs. This is your chance to meet one of those guys.
Navarro Vineyard is in Philo in the Anderson Valley, which is north of Sonoma Valley.
“Our dear friends Ted Bennett and Deborah Cahn have been growing grapes and making wines since 1974 (at Navarro),” Yujean says. “Because they are small in production, most of their wines are sold directly through their private mailing list, and to fine restaurants. They are making some of the best riesling, gew & #252;rztraminer and pinot noir in California. Ted is also a big Burgundy fan, which shows in his pinot noir. They also make very fine Muscat, chardonnay and other varietals.”
It’s Yujean’s vision to introduce a wine or highlight a winery at his dinners. He probably was the first to feature the legendary winery Williams Selyem back in 1986 at his initial restaurant in Albany in Northern California.
Tastings of wines from Stony Hills, Grace Family, Navarro, Forman, Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Chateau Lynch Bages, Domaine Leroy, Bruno Paillard Champagne and Leopold Gourmel Cognac are indicative of what Yujean has presented.
The menu and wines for the Navarro dinner: chef’s selection of sushi with 2003 Anderson Valley Pinot Gris; pepper prawns with Chinese cold sesame noodles accompanied by the 2003 Estate Bottled Dry Gew & #252;rztraminer; saut & #233;ed fresh sea scallop in a light curry sauce with 2002 Mendocino County Chardonnay; braised pork chop with daikon and kabucha and Anderson Valley 2002 Dry White Riesling; crispy quail with julienne of tea smoked duck and chicken breast with 2003 Methode a l’Ancienne Anderson Valley Pinot Noir; and saut & #233;ed lamb loin with garlic and chives accompanied by the 2002 Mendocino County Zinfandel.
Dessert is glazed banana fritters with papaya sauce and Anderson Valley White Riesling 2002 Cluster Select Late Harvest.
I’ve had most of these dishes, some more than once because they are so delicious, and all but two of the wines. This is some culinary lineup. Pay attention.
Dinner starts at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are highly recommended. Price is $85 per person, all-inclusive.
Yujean Kang’s Asian Bistro is on level one near Robinsons-May, 3333 Bristol, Costa Mesa; (714) 662-1098.
Pass the Wine
Recent news that’s created big buzz in the wine industry is Fairport N.Y.-based Constellation Brands Inc.’s $1 billion-plus offer for Napa-based Robert Mondavi Corp.
The Mondavi Winery in Oakville and the company’s holdings had been the object of much speculation lately. The acquisition would make Constellation the largest wine company in the world, displacing Modesto’s E. & J.; Gallo Winery. The deal is set to close early next year, though it’s still possible another suitor might sweep in.
While previous talks with other contenders edited out certain wine properties, Constellation would end up with the whole Mondavi portfolio.
Just two weeks ago, we attended a wine dinner with Carlo Mondavi, grandson of Mondavi founder Robert Mondavi. He was presenting the wines of one of their holdings, Byron.
At that time, Carlo was optimistic that his family would remain in the wine business and ultimately control some winery operation.
Robert Mondavi is set to remain on board and be ambassador for his namesake winery. Tim Mondavi and his sister Marcia Borger, company directors, voted for the sale.
The other sibling, Michael Mondavi, resigned his board position in October. I watched these three kids grow up and the winery expand from a small, family operation. I have many fond memories of visits to Oakville, even attending some weekend music concerts there over the years.
Robert Mondavi is mother hen to Robert Mondavi Winery, La Famiglia, Woodbridge and Robert Mondavi Private Selection. Some of the other names under the company’s wing include Arrowood, Grand Archer under the Arrowood label, Byron, Io and Opus One, a partnership with the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild of Chateau Mouton Rothschild in France.
Winery operations in several other countries also are part of the deal.
A What?
How about a Wooloomooloo restaurant for Orange County?
When we were in France’s Proven & #231;e the last time around we had our first taste of the Wooloomooloo: candlelit places that bridge romantic and outback rustic.
Wooloomooloo are Australian eateries serving a fusion of Australian, Pacific Islands, Asian and North African dishes filtered through a French glass.
Seating is on long benches or simple wood chairs at bare tables set with iron candelabra. Besides the interesting food, what makes these places so intriguing is the use of candlelight rather than electricity in the dining rooms.
I could do with a Wooloomooloo here. Such fun. Is anybody listening: investors, creative dining forces and such?