The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail hosted its first batch of wine dinners at Catherine’s Restaurant (routes 82 and 162, Unionville) on Oct. 28. This intimate gathering was an opportunity to not only savor a fantastic six-course meal and local wines, but to get a first-hand lesson about wine from the winemakers themselves.
Lance Castle, co-owner of Black Walnut Winery; and John Weygandt, owner of Stargazers Vineyard, were the humorous hosts of the evening. Lance spent two hours sampling Catherine’s eclectic menu to find the perfect pairings. He kept a nice pace throughout the courses, allowing enough time to let each person savor each bite while he answered questions about winemaking.
Catherine’s Restaurant has a comfortable and laid-back ambiance, with its warm autumn-colored walls and lots of candles for a romantic setting.
To start the intoxicating dining experience, guests were served a Roma Tomato and Basil Puree as a dip the homemade bread. The first course was a mushroom and crab bisque that was paired with a Pinot Noir from Chadds Ford Winery. The soup is a crowd favorite and signature dish at Catherine’s, and was full of flavor. It leaves you craving more once you get home (Good thing they sell it to go). The Pinot Noir had a light and medium body with a very smooth finish.
Next up was goat cheese ravioli served with Patone Cellar’s Viognier. This ravioli was served with smoked scallops, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach in a blush sauce. The dish had a lot of distinct flavors that blended perfectly with the Viognier, which has hints of vanilla, citrus, peach, pear and apricot.
Next, the spicy chipotle Caesar salad offered a bold kick. This snappy salad was paired a sweet White Cabernet Franc from Black Walnut Winery. This refreshing wine had a sweet and subtle taste that balanced the spiciness of the salad.
The fourth course was a filet mignon that melted in your mouth, with foie gras, green beans and a dollop of black truffle butter, in a Barolo wine demi glace. This juicy steak was served with Paradocx Vineyard’s Merlot, a complex wine with a long finish, made from dark berry fruits with hints of earthy tones.
The next course was a creamy risotto with generous portions of shrimp in a zesty lemon and ginger sauce. It was paired with Kreutz Creek Vineyard’s Chardonnay, a smooth wine with a buttery flavor and enchanting smells of vanilla and oak. The sweet and dessert-like sauce was a perfect transition to prepare diners for Catherine’s signature dessert tray. The meal ended with a dessert sampler that was out of this world, including lemon cheesecake, a homemade truffle, chocolate cake, blueberry tart and key lime pie.
Everyone raised their glasses of Stargazers Vineyard Sparkling Traditional champagne to celebrate a wonderful evening.
Kirby Tirk was one of the satisfied diners. He and his wife have visited Catherine’s and some of the winery tasting rooms. “We value the idea of drinking wines from the area,” he said. “It was a really great night. I really liked the fact that they introduced wines I would have never tasted that went well with foods you can’t do yourself. It was very enlightening and I hope they do more of this stuff.”
Catherine’s Restaurant is a family-owned business. Marybeth Brown takes care of the front and her husband, Kevin McMunn, takes care of the kitchen. The restaurant is named after Marybeth’s grandmother. It’s a perfect place for a private party, to pick a up a boxed lunch during the week, or grab a delicious weekend brunch. Catherine’s Restaurant was the 2010 Chester County Cuisine and Nightlife Reader’s Choice Award Winner for Best BYOB. They constantly give back to organizations and schools in the community, buy local and organic as often as possible, and will soon be showcasing local art. To view menus or read reviews, visit www.catherinesrestaurant.com.
The next Wine Trail dinner will be at Majolica Restaurant in Phoenixville, so be sure to visit www.bvwinetrail.com to learn details.
