Artful tasting

There was a special tasting event at Frank, pairing Tuscan wines with food.  It was staged to complement the exhibit Stories and Secrets in Florentine Art, that opens at the AGO March 16.

At the beginning of each course, a sommelier said a few words about the wine, and executive chef Anne Yarymowich talked a bit about the food. Perfetto!

The food was absolutely delicious and plated with a perfect eye, like the solitary leaf of parsley that decorated the plate of prosciutto, fig and parmesan. Balanced for the palate/palette. Best prosciutto ever! Satin sauces. Complex flavours. Unique combinations. This was the kind of dining I'd hoped for on my trip to Italy, and to have it served on a cold-hearted winter night in Toronto was like a mini-vacation to the Tuscan hills.

The wine was also outstanding, so I couldn't believe that I actually left some Brunello and Barolo behind. Totally sated, I couldn't take in another drop.

The menu:

• Sparkling Lombardia (Majolini, Franciacorta Brut 2008) with prosciutto, fig and parmesan cheese
• Dry White (Le Corbinie, Toscano Bianco 2011) with spinach and ricotta gnudi with gorgonzola sauce
• Chianti Classico (Podere Elisa, Tuscany 2008) with chicken liver crostini with chianti poached prune
• Colognole (Jacobo Blondi Santi, Sassoalloro 2008) with red wine braised octopus on a bed of fagiolo puree with garlic and rosemary
• Brunello (Roberto Cosimi, Brunello di Montalcino "Annata") with wild boar ragout and potato gnocchi
• Barolo (Cascina Adelaide Barolo "4 Vigna" 2007) with venison medallion with truffled polenta
• Vin Santo (Lomano del Chianti Classico) with chocolate panforte

The private room at the back of the restaurant only seated about 40 guests. When this was publicized it sold out within a few hours, so I was fortunate to have a friend with a watchful eye. (thanks Kaarina!).