Relief Dinner at Chianina

Wednesday,  November 15, 2017

Chianina restaurant in Naples, www.chianina.com, hosted a dinner tonight to raise funds for the wine country fire victims.   The restaurant donated the food, the staff donated their time and the wineries donated the wine. The $175 I paid for the dinner was 100% tax deduction.  Michaels on Naples was doing the same. Both restaurants are owned by Michael Dene. 

We started off with a glass or Starmont,  Sauvignon Blanc. This is a second label of Merryvale. I really enjoyed this wine. Slightly acidic but with a peach taste. 

First course was a Scallop with butternut squash, hazelnut, amarant leaves (beautiful colors) and brown butter. Exquisite.  Perfectly paired with a 2014 Grgich Hills, Napa, Chadonnay. Slightly oaked but paired perfect with the scallop.

Next was a Coddled Egg on a bed of leeks with shaved black truffle. Then a potato cream soup was poured around that. Everything about this dish was perfect.  But the wine was a 2014 Nickel & Nickle, Napa, Merlot. Did not go with this dish at all. The Chardonnay from the first course was a much better  pairing. 

Third course is a Roast Chicken Breast, braised thigh, napa cabbage and turnip. I rarely have chicken in a restaurant but this piece of poultry was so perfectly cooked. Moist, juicy and the flesh itself was solid, not stringy like some chicken breasts get. It had a slight hint of salt but you could not say it was salty.  A 2011 Sullivan, Napa, Coeur De Vigne, a Bordeaux blend. was the wine selection. This to be was the best wine of the evening.

A Roasted Prime Angus Beef with maitake mushrooms, brussel sprout and bone marrow was the last entree.  I had one bite and took the rest home. I was overly stuffed by now as I had two of the salted honey rolls with loads of marscarpone butter.  Paired with a 2013 Antica, Napa, Cabernet Sauvignon. My least favorite wine. Needed more cellaring.

Dessert was a Poached Pear with a spiced ice cream. Served with a Moscato. A bit too sweet for me.

Again a good dinner at Chianina aside from Marc's rating on politics.  They do food here really well. A nice fund raiser and glad to contribute.