A Perfectly Paired Dinner At Harvest Restaurant
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to enjoy a beer pairing dinner at Harvest Restaurant at the Pheasant Run Inn and Resort in St. Charles with my friend Katie from Beneath the Chandelier. Recently, I was invited back for a wine pairing dinner and this time I brought my Noni. Pheasant Run recently launched their own line of wine and Executive Chef Tiffany Tooker created a fabulous menu to be paired with each of them. The Harvest Wine Pairing is available each Thursday in June at Harvest Restaurant in St. Charles. For only $28.95, this meal can't be beat and you won't be disappointed. Take a look.
Duck Egg Rolls Tender Roasted Duck with Brie Cheese in a Crispy Egg Roll with Ringneck Red Wine Reduction garnished with Crunchy Wasabi Slaw The star of the night, these egg rolls were to die for. The savory from the duck, the salty brie, the sweetness from the reduction and crunchiness from the wasabi slaw was an overload of the senses in the best way possible. My mouth waters just thinking about these. We were served three each and I could have eaten a hundred of them. This brilliantly crafted egg roll manages to satisfy every craving you could have and touches most of the main features on the palette. The wine pairing dinner may only be available in June but they should definitely keep these on the menu for the long run. Pheasant Run Ringneck Red (California) A blend of syrah, petite sirah and grenache with notes of licorice, raspberry and blackberry that finish with light smooth tannins My Noni said that this reminded her of dago red. If you're not familiar with that, it's a homemade Italian red wine that is typically very dark and bold. The Ringneck Red was also dark and bold which was perfect to pair with the eggrolls because they balance well together. A white wine would have been washed out by the intense flavors but instead, they stood up nicely to the red. Smelling the wine, I got notes of blackberry and plum. Drinking it, I got the raspberry, blackberry and also cherry notes. It was well-balanced with a lightly dry finish. A pretty good wine if you ask me!
Duel of the Ocean Sauteed Jumbo Prawn and a Diver Scallop on a bed of Vegetable Confetti Quinoa served with Tiffany's Toast Chardonnay Beurre Blanc Let me start by saying that neither my Noni nor I are seafood people but we both gave this dish a shot. I loved the scallop. At the last pairing there were scallops as well and it was my first time trying it. So this time around, I knew what to expect and was looking forward to it. My Noni loved the prawns. The Vegetable Confetti Quinoa was delicious. I personally love quinoa. We both loved the asparagus and the sauce that was drizzled around the plate was delicious. I dipped everything in it because I just couldn't get enough. Tiffany's Toast Chardonnay (California) The pride of the Pheasant Run wine labels, this 100% Napa Chardonnay is full bodied with intense peach and pineapple flavors that give way to vanilla and lemon notes on the crisp long finish The chardonnay was a great pairing for this dish. It had a dry start with a fruity, crisp finish. I was able to smell notes of the peach as well as apple and pear but I tasted the peach and lemon. It was very smooth, not buttery but slightly heavy on the palette.
Door County Sour Cherry CrispA blend of Warm Michigan Sour Cherries with a Crisp Buttery Crumb Topping Finished with a Scoop of House Made Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Love, love, loved this dessert. I loved the intensely sweet flavor of the cherries balanced by the simple vanilla ice cream. The crumb topping practically melted in your mouth. My Noni loved this as well. It might as well have been crafted just for her. This is another dish they should keep on the menu for the long run. Pheasant Run Longtail White (California) A blend of pinot gris and viognier, this wine is light and crisp with melon and citrus flavors, floral aromas and a soft, silky finish The last of the three wines was fabulous. Normally when I've done wine tastings in the past, we start from the lightest white and work our way to the darkest red. It was an interesting change of pace because this dinner did the exact opposite. The Longtail White reminded me of a Sancerre. It had a beautiful color, just barely tinted gold. I got melon and floral notes on the nose and bright citrus on the tongue with a touch of apple and pear. As much as I enjoyed this one, I have to say the Ringneck Red was my favorite of the night. My Noni agrees as well.
Harvest Restaurant is located at Pheasant Run Inn & Resort in St. Charles, IL. For more information, visit their website.
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