Perfect Pairings: Oysters & Sauvignon Blanc

Oysters are one of my favorite delicacies.  They are one of those amazing foods that feel both simple and luxurious at the same time and are an exciting treat on the beach or in a sophisticated restaurant.  I love nestling up to the bar at Balthazar for a few freshly shucked oysters and a glass of wine, but even more, I love sucking my own at home with a few bottles of wine. 

Brancott Estate made my dreams come true when they sent me a case of their Sauvignon Blanc and an oyster shucking kit complete with level 5 cut-resistant gloves and a shucking knife.  Included was a bottle of their classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, The Letter Series 'B' Sauvignon Blanc, and the Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc. 

Needless to say, I immediately went to the store and picked up 18 oysters and my oyster party was born. 

I love briny oysters, so I picked up the briniest they had: 6 Barron Point, 6 Barcats, and 6 Kumamotos.  I made my own Mignonette Sauce with red wine vinegar, shallots, and freshly cracked pepper, and served it along side these beautiful bivalves. 

I opened the three bottles of wine, and served a glass of each for everyone, and we dug in.  First of all, Sauvignon Blanc and oysters is a perfect pairing with oysters, and are especially delicious with briny oysters.  I've never done a mix and match pairing with three different wines and different styles of oysters, but I loved it, and so did my guests. 

It was really interesting how the flavors of each oyster changed with each wine, and how each oyster kind of naturally gravitated towards its best wine pairing.  I really loved the Barcats with the Flight Song, and the Barron Points with the Letter Series, and the flagship Sauvignon Blanc with...everything.

Although I styled this shoot inside, I recommend shucking outside where spills and flying oyster shells won't be an issue.  Do yourself a favor and pick up those level 5 protective gloves and some dedicated dishtowels; those oyster knives are sharp, slip easily, and no one wants to lose a thumb. 

There are still a few months left to summer, which means lots of time to have your own Oyster & Sauvignon party.  I think I have a new summertime tradition in the making, this party may need to become an annual celebration! 

Cheers!

Tasting Notes:

Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc:  The Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the flagship wine of Brancott Estate, and is an exquisite Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine is sweet and crisp with flavors of grapefruit, citrus, pear, tropical fruit, with a slight vegetal note and an underlying saltiness (my favorite).  You can never go wrong with this wine.  Never.

Brancott Estate Letter Series 'B' Sauvignon Blanc:  The Letter Series 'B' is a great Sauvignon Blanc for Chardonnay lovers.  It is a bit more round on the palate due to its time on oak, yet has bright flavors of grapefruit, guava, passion fruit, white peaches, and a crisp vegetal note signature to all Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blancs.   

Brancott Estate Flight Song Sauvignon Blanc:  The Flight Song is the lightest of the three wines, in both alcohol level and calories.  It is light and crisp with flavors of grapefruit, lemon, and tropical fruit with nice minerality.  I'm such a big fan of this wine - a glass of cold Flight Song is perfection on a hot summer day. 

Mignonette Sauce

1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced shallots (I like them roughly chopped, but that's just me)
1/4 t ground pepper

Mix in a bowl and serve with freshly shucked oysters.

Styling Notes:

Silver Oyster Forks - Vintage
Silver & Glass Pitcher - Vintage
Silver Trays - Vintage
Bottle Opener - Viski
Gold Coasters - Ikea
Glasses: Riedel

Perfect Party Recipes With Président Cheese

 

Last week I was invited to the Président Cheese pop-up store in New York City for a cooking class with the James Beard Award winning chef Gavin Kaysen to learn how to use Président Cheeses and Butter for holiday entertaining.  There was champagne, there was wine, and there was cheese. So basically, I was in heaven. 

Night Out with the Spring Street Social Society

A few weeks ago I was invited to join the Spring Street Social Society for one of their latest dinners in partnership with Stella Artois.  

Weekend Guide: Spritz Party!

It is still very much summer, and libations are very much in order!  There is nothing, and I mean nothing more tasty than an Aperol Spritz in the heat of the summer!

I was invited to host an Aperol party this summer with some of my besties, so I called up my girlfriends from graduate school, packed up my adorable Spritz Kit, we fired up the grill, and toasted the summer with spritzes in hand!

Cointreau + Eye Swoon Rooftop Soirée

Photo by Winnie Au

I was recently invited to the most gorgeous rooftop soirée hosted by Athena Calderone of the lifestyle blog Eye Swoon and Cointreau liqueur.  The event was hosted at Ms. Calderone's Dumbo rooftop that overlooks the Manhattan skyline, and delicious edibles were provided by Franny's of Brooklyn.  Chef John Adler put together a lovely menu of seasonal, elevated-yet-rustic cuisine.  For those of you who have not yet visited Franny's - run, don't walk, to this gem of a neighborhood eatery.

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala 2014 - Highlights and Highballs

This year marks the five year anniversary of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York’s largest and booziest celebration of the mighty cocktail.  Events include industry seminars, tasting events, cocktail and cuisine pairings, distillery tours, but the highlight of the week is the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala.  On Friday May 9, the New York Public Library opened its doors again to host New York’s most decadent cocktail party for over 3,000 lucky imbibers.

Prior to entry, guests formed a line to anxiously await what the evening had in store.  The line itself was a who’s who of the spirits and cocktail world - brand ambassadors, decorated mixologists, master distillers, brand owners, and thirsty imbibers.  I, can be filed under the last category, and thirsty, I certainly was.

A Lady's Guide to the Manhattan Cocktial Classic Gala

One of the greatest parties in New York City is almost upon us - a night where we bow down to the spirits and pay homage to one of the world's greatest creations: The Cocktail.

I'm amazed to say this year will be my fourth Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala - and I couldn't be more excited.  This year I know all the tricks, and I'm here to share them with you! 

Ladies, this one's for you: Gastronomista's Lady's Guide to the Manhattan Cocktail Classic Gala:

Gastronomista Gift Guide - Hostess Gifts

Some people are impossible to shop for.  They seem to have everything under the sun, and whatever they need, they go out and purchase it.  Gah!  Gastronomista is here to help, gifts for your well-provisioned hostess.  Remember, good guests never arrive empty handed.

1.  Great parties require thoughtful details.  Vintage Knife Rests are a great way to add character and whimsy to a dinner table.  $95 for 6

2.  Games keep fellow party goers occupied (and out of the kitchen).   Pocket Boccee travels well, and is great for gardens and hallways.  $8

3.  Even the most perfect hostess never has enough ice.  Bring a bag of ice and a handsome Ice Bucket, and you'll be a gal's favorite guest.  $40

4.  Bottle Openers one of my favorite hostess gifts - they add so much character to a home.  I love these sphere cuties from Poketo.  $20

5.   Give a gift that takes your hostess out on the town!  A night out at The Spot Dessert Bar in the East Village is a fun and memorable evening.  The Spot serves gorgeous tapas-style desserts developed by Ian Kittichai such as Green Tea Lava Cake, Yuzu Eskimo Ice Cream Bars, Kabocha Creme Brulee, and Smoked Coconut Cheesecake.  $10 and Up

6.  Fashionable Aprons for your chef who will never leave the kitchen.  So cute, it doubles as dinner wear. $30 

7.  Christmas snappers are so last year.  This year give your hostess an Exploding Braquier Chocolate Bomb filled with Almond Dragees and toys.  $100 - $150

8.  Upgrade your hostess' butter dish with a Japanese Beehouse Butter Dish that come in fun colors such as carrot and artichoke $26

9.  Great glassware = great drinks.  These Poodle Low Ball Glasses are memorable and whimsical.  Purchase them from the virtual pop up Joyus, where all proceeds until the end of 2014 go to Women for Women International!  $75 for 6

10.  Upgrade your chef's plastic measuring cups with Nesting Ceramic Measuring Bowls from West Elm.  They are even tapered so you can pour from them!  Genius!  These are some of my favorite tools in the kitchen.  $15 

11.  Nothing says party like a Graphic Cheese Platter!  Handmade in Austin, Texas!  $35

12.  For the pie lover, give Kate Lebo's book A Commonplace Book of Pie, that is filled with poems about making pie, eating pie, and theories on pie, and gorgeous pie porn watercolors.  $14

13.  Spoil your favorite hostess with a pair of Manitobah Muklucks!  No one likes cold feet when out and about provisioning for parties, and these Aboriginal Canadian made boots will make her feel warm and cozy even when charging through the snow.   $200

Note:  I have a pair of these, and I LOVE them.  Obsessed.  Wearing them right now, my heart filled with bliss, and my toes warm and snuggled up.

14.  For the hostess who likes a great cocktail, but doesn't know what to make: a subscription to Julibox, a service that sends your hostess a monthly cocktail kit with all the necessary ingredients!  Recipe cards help your hostess make them for future parties.  $36 / mo

15.  Modern Marble Trivets for Hot Dishes by Fort Standard.  $88

16.  Have you ever noticed that it's always the cheese grater that seems to jam up your utensil drawer, and is always the guilty culprit to cut your hand?  Solve the problem with this Folding Cheese Grater by West Elm that folds all the away around, protecting your hands from its sharp edges.  Again, with the genius design move here.   $30

17.  For the hostess with the inclination towards all things Paleo:  Melissa Joulwan's latest edition of her Well Fed cookbook series filled with healthy, fast, and delicious recipes.  $17

18.  Tiered Cast Aluminum Displays for all things pretty and delicious.  $259

19.  Impress everyone at the party with a Cecil & Merl Cheesecake - handmade in Brooklyn with a graham cracker crust.  Flavors include Dulce de Leche, Lemon Ricotta, and Pumpkin.  Trust me, bringing one of these to any party is a very good move.  They are insanely light, fluffy, and mind-boggling delicious.  $55

Hurricane Punch

One of my favorite party tricks is to make a big, delicious punch in my grandmother's antique silver punch bowl, served in her silver punch cups, and hand garnished for each guest.  It's always a statement of the party, one that get's people chatting about family, tradition, and punch.  Punch is also great because people can help themselves, so you don't have to spend the entire night shaking everyone's cocktails!

Grandma's Punch Bowl - A Treasured Family Heirloom
Photo by Meredith Kole

There are good punches and bad punches, but the general rule is "One of Sour, Two of Sweet, Three of Strong, Four of Weak", a rhyme that comes from the recipe for traditional Barbadian Rum Punch. 

The recipe for one of my all time favorite punches comes from a dear friend and flawless hostess, Miss Sklansky.  I have modified it a bit, 750 ml less of Rye whiskey, but it's delicious either way.  I've named my version Hurricane Punch because in the late summer months I fill my freezer with ziplock bags of water for storm preparation, and use the ice blocks in my punches during the remainder of the winter (good weather permitting).  After all, the key to a good punch is good ice, it keeps your punch cold while you can enjoy your party, and it adds the ever important cocktail ingredient, water.

Pre-Batched Punch, Ready to Serve

Hurricane Punch
Serves 15 

1 750 ml bottle Rye Whiskey (Bulleit is a one of my favorites) 
2 cups Ginger Liqueur (Barrows Intense Ginger or Domaine de Canton)
1 cup Freshly Squeezed LemonJuice
2 cups Pineapple Juice
2 cups Orange Juice
¼ cup Demerara Sugar
1/8 cup Luxardo cherry liqueur
A few dashes of Angostura bitters 
Ice Block


Slice a few lemons and float on top of the punch


Garnish:  Filthy Black Cherries, one cherry per serving of punch

Enjoy!

xx