Cusumano Wine Dinner at Michaels on Naples

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

4 of us tonight for a  wine dinner at Michaels. www.michalesonnaples.com. Cusumano Wines which are from the Sicilian area of Italy. Price of dinner was $100, in the past it has been from $125 to $140.  Things must  be slow in the restaurant business right now.  I have noticed a lot of closures lately. Competition is tough. 

Arrived 30 minutes early so sat at the bar and had a Manhattan.  Talked with a man next to me for a bit. Turned out he was a wine rep and got his card. He is doing a dinner at the restaurant in the Porsche Center in Carson. (racetrack where you can rent a Porsche to run the course)  I drive by the facility numerous times but never knew they had a restaurant. In April there will be a high end wine dinner. Plan on checking it out and hope to attend. 

Three distributor reps and the winery rep  Diego Cusumano  were in attendance tonight. Knew all the distributors from other venues.  

We started out with a "Ricciola Sicilian", amberjack crudo, blood orange, EVO. Fish was delicate and delightful. The citrus was a nice contrast.  Paired with a 2017 Alta Mora, Etna Bianco (Caricante grape)  New grape for me so that makes 551 tasted in my quest.

"Antipasto" consisted of pan seared squid, fennel pollen and carmelized fennel. Not a fan of fennel but it was used with a very light touch. Wine was a 2016 Grillo, Shamaris.  Grillo is the grape. A white wine.  A good pairing.

"Primo"  course is "Mafaldine", house made wide pasts, ahi tuna, San Marzano tomatoes and capers. Great flavor but wished for a light touch of cheese to cut the acidity of the tomatoes. But this is how they serve it in Sicily. Paired with two wines. 2014 Alta Mora, Nerello Mascalese, Etna Rosso, Guardiloa and a 2014 Alta Mora, Nerello Mascalese, Etna Rosso, Feudo di Mezzo. Both wines were good but I did prefer the second one more. 

"Secondi" is next with a very thinly sliced egglant rolled with braised pork, pine nuts raisins and finely diced bell peppers. Very tasty dish even if is eggplant.  Paired with a 2015 Noa, a super Scilian  Nerello Mascalese. Big wine but very good with the food.\

"Agnello". is the last dish. Grilled lamb loin, roasted potatoes an olive tapenade. Lamb was tender and had good flavor. I liked the touch of tapenade.  Had just the right touch of saltiness. 

"Per Finire" Dolcetti Della Casa,  is the dessert course, A small almond cake and a mini cannolli.  

Good dinner but I can see where they cut back on certain foods to be able to offer it at $100. Which I am OK with that. Food was good. I do not need numerous dishes of heavy proteins..  I very rarely finish all the courses and the majority of the time I have leftovers to take home.  This suits me better.