The Americas - Winetasting

Picturing the Americas is a fantastic exhibition on at the AGO. I first visited on my staycation, and was happy to return for a second viewing. An artist I want to learn more about is Tarsita do Ameral, who painted the canvas above and is known by her first name in her native Brazil.

This time I was at the gallery because Frank was celebrating the Americas with a winetasting. An exquisitely prepared meal with thoughtful wine pairings had me relishing every bite and sip. Everything was beautifully plated and presented, and the chef and sommelier introduced each course and then visited the guests at table to answer questions and make small talk.

I got a chance to try new combinations and ingredients that were brand new, thinking of simpler versions to try at home. Apparently you can pick up packaged sugar cane at Metro - an ingredient I'll keep my eye out for, since it helps make fabulous cocktails. Charred octopus with malbec was amazing, changing the experience of the wine by softening tannins.

Definitely will get some Cuvee Catherine for a summer celebration. The wait staff greeted us with this as we arrived and it was perfectly chilled to cool us down on a hot summer afternoon. The Sauv-Blanc was also a delicious surprise - great on its own and paired with the salad.

A wonderful evening with Kaarina, Grace and Kirsti, although I did pay for my excess the following day at work by moving a bit more slowly than usual. I blamed it on the heat.

MENU

CUVEE CATHERINE / CANADA

Henry of Pelham 

sparkling rose made in the Champagne style

DUCK

sugar cane

CAIPRINHA / BRAZIL

cachaca & half a lime in wedges muddled with white sugar, ice and sugar cane

CEVICHE

mahi mahi & wahoo

 PASSION FRUIT PISCO SOUR / PERU-CHILE

pisco, passion fruit puree, simple syrup, lemon juice & eggwhite

SALAD

summer squash & peach

gooseberry mash

raspberry vinaigrette

SAUVIGNON BLANC / CHILE

Cartegena  Casa Marlin   2012

crisp acidity and tropical fruit flavour

OCTOPUS

puffed tripe, local grains

malbec gastrique

MALBEC / ARGENTINA

Terra Rosa  Mendoza 2012 

The nose is full with ripe almost sweet blackberry fruit tones that are tempered by that 'stony' quality one finds in the high altitude and rocky vineyards of the Valle de Uco

BISON

blood sausage, grilled scallion, asado king oyster mushroom, fingerling potatoes, chimichurri

CABERNET SAUVIGNON / USA

Ray's Station   Mendocino 2012

The palate has flavours of boysenberry, blackberry and wild cherry.

DESSERT

"I Had Too Much Ice Wine Sugar Pie"

pet de noones, plum chomeur sauce