Tasting on Thanksgiving
MILLIE: I welcome Thanksgiving every year as a chance to thank the good Lord for His bountiful blessings. I offer daily novena masses that culminate on my birthday and also celebrate for at least 10 days with different groups of friends.
This year, we kicked off with a simple Thanksgiving family dinner the Sunday before and prepared a huge whole roast turkey that my family devoured and didn’t even leave me any leftovers because my siblings divided what was left of the big bird, wrapped it and took it all home. Even the baby back ribs and the mushroom linguini Karla had labored for hours to prepare were wiped out. But it felt good to be with family and I remembered how happy my parents always were at family gatherings.
One of my birthday blessings this year was a chance to attend the US Thanksgiving dinner at The Tasting Room of the Crown Towers Hotel in the City of Dreams. The dinner was hosted by Kathy Yao Santos of Happy Living Philippines with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg as guest of honor, other US Embassy officials, local chefs and some media friends.
It was one of the most memorable and superb dinners I have ever attended recently prepared by chef William Mahi, who gamely posed for pictures, signed autographs and even gave us a kitchen tour after the dinner, where we were served bubbly Champagne. It was a perfect meal ender and one witnessed and felt the warm and friendly camaraderie among the guests. Perhaps it was the effect of the wines generously offered by Happy Living Philippines Corporation.
KARLA: The dinner started with an amuse bouche served in a black jar with smoke from dry ice. We were asked to first eat the fried apple chip, then the popping foie gras bobba that looked like chocolate lollies and finally, the salmon bonbons. This was served with a Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, 2011. Next was the hot and cold soup consisting of cold Maine lobster slices with ponzu sherbet, basil, nori and edamame. The broth was poured over it upon serving. It was paired with the Sauvignon Blanc, Cakebread, Napa Valley 2014.
The next course was the 52°C egg with potato mousse, which was velvety smooth and light. The foam was decorated with shaven black truffles and jamon Serrano and topped with an egg yolk upon serving. You break the yolk and mix it into the foam. Such interesting flavor and textures with each bite, I swear I could have had two of these. It was paired which the Chardonnay “Luminus” Beringer, Napa Valley 2013, which was probably my favorite among the wines served that evening.
The next course was also one of my favorites, consisting of two seared US dive scallops on cauliflower cream and black shrimp, Imperial caviar and winter black truffle oil. It was paired with a Pinot Noir, Dierberg, Santa Maria Valley 2012.
For the main course, we had perfectly cooked US beef tenderloin cooked for 24 hours, then seared and topped with red wine sauce, charcoal leeks on the side with black trumpet mushroom and Bordelaise Moroccan red onion puree. It was paired with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cakebread, Napa Valley 2011.
For dessert we had saffron ice cream with Kalingo chocolate and chocolate mousse. They poured hot chocolate on top, which melted right through the thin chocolate layer and allowed the passion fruit, orange rinds and pecan nuts to mingle with the chocolate soup. Every bite was a surprise, as you didn’t know what you were going to get. This was paired with the Zinfandel “La Promesa”: Sbaragia, Sonoma Country, 2009.
Everything was outstanding. Both mom and I were so happy with the dinner and the wines served that we wanted to go back the next day.
MILLIE: The pairing of the food and wines that evening was perfect. I, of course, had my own favorite pinot noir from the Dierberg Estate Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, which was inspired by the great wines of Burgundy, and I was quite satisfied. Karla and I recalled our visit last year to Napa Valley, where we spent a whole day tasting wines at the Beringer Vineyards, established in 1876 and the oldest operating winery in Napa. Perhaps it’s time to go back!
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The Tasting Room is located at the Crown Towers Manila, City of Dreams, and is open daily from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. For reservations, call 691-7789.
