On September 20th, 2008, eight friends entered the Chateau and enjoyed a meal from the Petrogasm gods. Unfortunately, we didn’t open any Chateau Petrus. But, we did enjoy five courses inspired by the cuisine of Northern Italy and prepared using the freshest and most locally-grown ingredients available. This included two racks of lamb, which I picked up from the uber-sustainable Marin Sun Farms only about thirty minutes away from the Chateau. I should clarify that the Chateau to which I refer is not actually a chateau. Rather, it’s our home in Sausalito overlooking San Francisco and the Bay. But, for this one night, thanks to the generous support of Foodbuzz.com, we turned our home into Chateau Petrogasm, where wine and art flowed like the Pierian Spring . . . . Well, you will just have to see for yourself!
For those of you who are encountering Chateau Petrogasm for the first time, I welcome you! At Chateau Petrogasm we review wines with images instead of words. Following in this tradition, our guests put colored pencil to paper during the cheese course and sketched their impressions of the wine and the evening in general. It was an incredibly cerebral activity, but at the same time it seemed like everyone really enjoyed the change of pace. (I highly recommend doing this at any dinner party, just be sure to tell your guests how you came up with the idea!) Of course, this feasting of the mind was accompanied with a more-literal feasting:
Amuse Bouche
Thymed Cantaloupe
Fresh Roasted Almonds avec Stephanie’s Herbes de Provance
Fra’Mani Sopressata & Nostrano Salumi with a sprig of rosemary
Fantinel Prosecco
Beet & Goat Cheese Tartlet with arugula and a fresh pea puree
Fantinel Prosecco
Rack of Lamb rubbed with crushed fennel seeds and dried chili,
served with Saffron Risotto and garnished with raw fennel, fennel pollen, and gray salt
1999 Paolo Scavino - Barolo, Bric dël Fiasc
1998 Paolo Scavino - Barolo, Carobric
Cheese Course
Robiolia di Langhe
Piave Vecchio
Bocconcino di Pura Capra
Pear Tart with Cardamom-Pear Sorbet
2007 Vietti Moscato d’Asti
Micha, Jocelyn, & Ben
Jocelyn, Ben, & Stephanie
Ben, Micha, & Claude
Stephanie, Jocelyn, Claude, Irene
Ashleigh, (Rebecca), Micha, & Ben
Ben, Micha, Rebecca, Ashleigh
(Irene), Claude, Jocelyn, Stephanie
Ashleigh looking very serene
Ashleigh and Me (Risotto on the stove, Lamb about to hit the pan)
Micha and Rebecca
Referring to the above two pictures, Micha wrote, “Claude and Irene look very conspiratorial in one, as do my segments of lamb in another.”
The main wine offering for the evening
The Drawings:
Jocelyn
Stephanie & Rebecca
Irene
Ben
Ashleigh
Micha
Claude
All in all, this was an incredible evening. Thank you to all who came and to foodbuzz for making it possible!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun :) Your friends are very talented!
Scavino’s Baroo is great, I love Italian wines. Wonderful evening, and great dishes, I made my diner at home too.
Sounds wonderful. my guests did drawings too as part of the event.
What a great party! Wow your friends’ drawings are beautiful :)
i love the concept of your site. Its a bit out of this world. Your 24 mela looks amazing. Well done!
What an enchantingly beautiful evening…I love the mingling of food, wine & art. Very inspiring indeed! Congrats on being part of the Foodbuzz 24!
Great concept! Love the drawings, especially Micha’s. Congrats on pulling it off so successfully!
Well done! I can’t imagine a nicer evening, and would disagree about your view not qualifying your home as a chateau. I love Sausalito. Excellent menu, and the art? Well, lucky you for getting everyone to produce. Love it.
love the menu and the fact that you printed menus! lovely touch. I loved Jocelyn’s drawing. I’d be curious to see that paired with her words describing the meal.
What elegant table settings (I would kill for your plates)!
Looks like you all had a wonderful time.
I really enjoyed this post Ben!
Love the table setting and I might have to steal the picture idea for my next dinner party.
Really like the menu too!