Wednesday, October 26,2016.
Rock 'n' Roll Gourmets.
Osman Rodas and my wife Mary Ann always seem to have some kind of business scheme going on. Osman is the owner of Pardo's, Tchoupstix, and Forks & Corks--all North Shore restaurants. He's an astute restaurateur, in terms both of business and good taste. He also seems to enjoy the pleasures of the table as much as his customers do. Most people in the business burn out on their own food and service after awhile.
Four years ago, he held a wine dinner at Pardo's with a musical theme. The food and the wine looked extravagant to me, but I didn't attend. I get very little usable (as in article fodder) information from wine dinners.
Osman liked that first effort enough that he's made it an annual thing. The theme was Halloween Rock 'n' Roll. He requested everybody who attended to wear a creepy getup such as would be seen in a rock concert of the 1970s or 1980s. This is not my bag. Nor did I know what kind of costume I could possibly wear. I went as Frank Sinatra. (I wore a fedora.)
The wines were interesting, having been produced using grapes from amazing places, but with blends that could only be called experimental. The one that intrigued me was a blend of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, both of which are components in the classic wines of Bordeaux. The wine's name is Horrow Show, which plugged right into the theme of the dinner. (The word is also a slurring of "khorrasho," the Russian word for "good." The winemaker was there to tell the stories. I committed myself to buying a half-dozen bottles. The price was good.
The food presented by chef Marvin Tweedy made his usual big statements, without investing in the weirdness of the theme. We begin with black-sesame-crusted sea scallops (always good at Pardo's) in a Madras curry sauce and sweet potato fries.
Then some seared Scottish fresh salmon with black gnocchi (!) and pear gastrique. This was MA's dish of the night. Now ravioli stuffed with pork and foie gras. The wine's name is "Double Shotgun," as in the New Orleans-style house, not the Second Amendment. Despite the local connection, it came from Napa.
I was asked at this point to stand up and sing a song. I do not have to be forced. "I've Got The World On A String" is my offering, a la Old Blue Eyes.
And here comes braised lamb with goat cheese polenta and roasted beets. The wine is Crooked Mayor Cabrnet, again from Napa. And yes, that is who it refers to.
Mixed berry cobbler for dessert, with mascarpone and almond ice cream. The wine allegedly comes from Death Valley. I'll bet they sell a lot of it at this time of year.
At the end of the dinner, Osman opens a bottle for those who know what's inside it. "Second Flight" is the second label of Screaming Eagle. The latter is a Napa Cabernet blend that is among the most expensive wines anywhere. I saw a bottle of it sell at half a million at the Napa Wine Auction twenty years ago. The second label wine is made from young vines. More a curiosity than a pleasure. Fortunately, it's not absurdly expensive.
I am asked to sing another Sinatra song. I give them "How Little We Know."
I thank Osman for all this fun. Mary Ann is also having a good time, even though she is only vaguely interested in wine.
Pardo's. Covington: 69305 Hwy 21. 985-893-3603.
