Main Line Today’s Food & Wine Affair graced The Desmond on Friday night for a Grand Winemakers Dinner and Saturday afternoon for a Grand Tasting of both food and wine. The wining and dining was all for a good cause, with part of the proceeds benefiting Philabundance, the region’s largest hunger relief organization. Local restaurants’ offerings included handmade gnocchi, gazpacho, chips and guacamole, bread and cheese, chocolate-dipped fruit, pork flautas, and many other delicious snacks.
The most delicious food item that I tried was Creed’s Seafood and Steaks’ dark chocolate flan. Though I studied in Spain for a semester, I had yet to encounter a nonstandard flan. This was the most enjoyable introduction to chocolate flan I can imagine. It was smooth, rich, and the perfect size to share. My husband particularly enjoyed Matador’s gazpacho and said that it was the best he’s ever had.
And the food was only the beginning. After checking out all of the food stations, we entered the adjacent room, which was packed with winesellers. I held onto part of my dark chocolate flan so I could find a nice red to go with it. Of course, I was successful in my search with a Pinot Noir from Robert Mondavi Winery, located in Napa Valley. This pairing made me consider beginning a weekly (or nightly?) dark chocolate and red wine ritual. So many antioxidants!
The wine selection was honestly a bit overwhelming. I had to take a preliminary lap around the room to take it all in and plan my next move. So many wines; so little time! There were, of course, the tried and true classics, vintage imports, and smaller wineries represented from all over the country. Kirk Haverkamp, a representative from Peju, another Napa Valley winery, recommended their Sauvignon Blanc, which was delicious.
What really caught my eye, though, was something out of the ordinary. Tucked away in the corner of the room, I spotted Subarashii Kudamono Gourmet Asian Pears. My husband is an Asian pear lover, and we often pick some up at the West Chester Growers’ Market. Asian pears are delicious on their own, but this company, based in Coopersburg, offers Asian Pear table wine, dessert ice wine, and brandy to boot. In addition to the delicious libations, Subarashii Kudamono also graciously brought three varieties of Asian pears, AsaJu, JunoSan, and Yoinashi, so that those unfamiliar with the fruit could have a taste.
The PA Wine and Spirits set up a mini pop-up shop in the hotel lobby so that participants could have instant gratification in snagging any of the wines they fell in love with during the event. Post-tasting, guests could drink their bottles on the deck while listening to live music, the perfect way to end a late summer afternoon. It was impossible not to find something for every palate, in both the food and drink arenas, and I can’t imagine that anyone who left The Desmond on Saturday did so either hungry or thirsty.
Photographs credited to Nina Lea Photography.
