
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Bringing tastes of Lake County to Sacramento, Chic Le Chef Catering of Middletown is planning a carefully selected menu complementing Lake County wines for the upcoming “Wine, Tunes & Classics” at the California Automobile Museum, 2200 Front St.
The Lake County wine tasting event will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Sacramento Music Festival.
The Lake County Winegrape Commission is inviting the public to taste wine from Lake County, sample food paired with the wine and prepared by Julie Hoskins and her staff at Chic Le Chef, enjoy vintage rock ‘n roll music by the LC Diamonds, and take in the antique and classic car exhibits at the museum.
Admission price for the wine tasting event is $40 per person. Attendees will receive an educational tasting booklet with information about the wines, the pairings, and several recipes.
Having worked in cooperation with the Lake County Winegrape Commission on a number of events over the past five years, Hoskins looks forward to presenting her food and wine pairings at this out-of-county event.
“The ultimate goal is to create dishes that compliment a specific wine’s unique flavors and fragrances,” said Hoskins. “When I’m successful, both the wine and the food complement one another to enhance the experience of tasting both the wine and the food.”
A preview of Chic Le Chef’s selections reveals fish tacos with Sauvignon Blanc from both Alienor and Six Sigma wineries, sesame beef stix with Diamond Ridge Cabernet Franc and Wildhurst Cabernet Sauvignon.
Event attendees will taste chicken tostada bites with Guenoc Petit sirah and Bullion Creek Rouge. Chardonnay from Gregory Graham and Pinot Gregio from Thorn Hill Vineyards will be paired with cherry tomato gazpacho.
Lamb meatballs and Cimarron from Vigilance, a Pissaladière (a French version of a pizza) with Chacewater Malbec and Noggle Cabernet Sauvignon, as well as a crab salad with Sauvignon Blanc from Mt. Konocti Vineyards and Chardonnay from Cache Creek are among the dishes planned.
Rounding out the menu will be muffaletta sliders with Brassfield Eruption and Bell Hill Merlot and barbecued baby back ribs with Rosa D’Oro Barbera and Steele Winery Writer’s Block Zinfandel.
Hoskins explained the process she and her staff use to develop dishes that are matched with the varietals. Tasting the wine allows the chefs to pinpoint distinct flavors that may be enhanced by certain foods, she said.
The caterer and her staff, including Executive Chef Mario Monroy, have worked with the winemakers and wineries of Lake County over the last several years. This has enabled Chic Le Chef Catering to develop knowledge of the types of foods enjoyed by Lake County wineries’ families and staff, she said.
“We’ve been fortunate to work with so many wineries. We get a firsthand experience of creating a dish, to have the winemaker taste it in our presence,” she said. “We can then hear how well they think it works. It allows us to have a dialogue and conversation.”
She admits that may give her an advantage in selecting dishes that will work and aid her in her goal to present “exciting and dynamic cuisine that complements Lake County’s wine industry.”
For information about Hoskins’ catering company, menus, classes and recipes, visit her Web site, www.chiclechef.com .
The event on May 25 is made possible by a grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Additional sponsors include the Lake County Winery Association, Sutter Health, Calpine Corp. and the county of Lake.
To purchase tickets for the Wines, Tunes, & Classics event, visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org/redcar .
For more information about the Lake County Winegrape Commission and the event, call the Commission office at 707-279-2633 or visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org .
For information about the Sacramento Music Festival, visit www.sacmusicfest.com .
For information about the California Automobile Museum and its upcoming events, visit www.calautomuseum.org .