Late summer seems to energize local chefs and stimulate their desire to stretch and try some new things, which they then put on menus for special dinners. This week you can try pairings of wine with international barbecue dishes at LouVino, taste a range of wines from the Languedoc region of France at Brasserie Provence, try out a little-known Italian wine varietal (and help save Golden Retrievers) at a benefit dinner at Cuvée Wine Table and support food literacy at the Food Literacy Project Field-to-Fork Dinner.
- LouVino celebrates barbecue and wine with Smoke ‘n’ Vines Aug. 23 at the Douglass Hills location, 11400 Main St., Middletown. The 4-course dinner will feature international styles of barbecue paired with global wines. The menu and pairings: Jamaican-style jerk chicken with tostones and jicama slaw paired with NV Mionetto Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore, Italy; Korean-style barbecue bulgogi pork skewers with rice noodle bowl and kimchi, served with 2015 Trimbach, Riesling, Alsace; Argentinian-style asado beef with chimichurri and congris paired with an Argentine wine, of course, 2014 Luigi Bosca, Malbec, Luján de Cuyo; and Kentucky-style barbecue lamb with corn pudding, cucumber and heirloom tomato salad served with 2015 Angry Bunch, Zinfandel, Lodi, California.
Cost for the dinner, wine pairings and gratuity is $75. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the first course served at 6:30 p.m. To reserve, go to www.louvino.com.
- Thursday, Aug. 24 at 6:30 pm. Brasserie Provence, 150 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy., tours the Domaines Paul Mas of Languedoc with a 5-course wine dinner. French Winery Ambassador Guillaume Virsolvy will be on hand to introduce the wines.
Chef Patrick Gosden offers a contemporary American menu to complement these wines, starting with grilled octopus and eclectic sauces for the reception, served with the Picpoul de Pinet. The appetizer and poultry courses follow the reception, and include seared pork belly with lemon basil langoustine risotto paired with the Marsanne “La Forge Estate” and a barbecued quail with southern greens & grilled peach relish paired with Carignan “Vieilles Vignes.” For the entrée, a beef filet mignon Napoleon with Yukon potato coin, mushroom cake and jalapeno green onion coulis is paired with the Clos de Savignac. The dinner will end with a fried banana split spring roll, vanilla gelato, strawberry coulis and tropezienne cream paired with the Côté Mas St. Hilaire Crémant de Limoux Rosé.
The dinner is $75. Call (502) 883-3153.
- Master Sommelier Scott Harper’s two loves, wine and Golden Retrievers, combine at Cuvée Wine Table, 3598 Springhurst Blvd. Wednesday, Aug. 23 and Thursday, Aug 24 at 7 p.m. Advanced sommelier Julie Defriend of Vintner Select will discuss the Arneis wine, a lesser -known Italian grape varietal that makes one of Cuveee’s Scott Harper’s favorite wines. Proceeeds from the dinner benefit Golden Retriever Rescue & Adoption of Needy Dogs (GRRAND)
The Arneis wine dinner menu includes assorted passed crostini served with 2016 Rive Gauche Malvira, Roero, Italy; smoked crab bisque paired with 2016 Malvira, Roero; pasta with shrimp, Brie, sun-dried tomatoes and Kalamata olives, served with 2014 Trinita, Malvira Roero; veal and prosciutto involtini paired with 2006 San Guglielmo, Malvira; and dessert of Rogue blue cheese with honey drizzle served with Malvira, Roero.
Cost is $75. Call (502) 242-5200 or go to ww.cuveewinetable.com.
- On Thursday, Aug. 24, The Food Literacy Project’s 8th Annual Field-to-Fork Dinner & Auction begins at 5:30 with music and silent auction, with dinner served at 7. The dinner will be served at Oxmoor Country Club, 9000 Limehouse Lane.
The 5-course dinner benefits the Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm, the only area nonprofit organization providing farm-based education programs for Louisville youth and families. Each course is prepared by a different local chef, using fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farms. Participating chefs will be Jonathan Exum of Wiltshire Pantry, Patrick Roney of Harvest; Mat Shalenko of June Health & Wellness; Matt Durham of The Oakroom at the Seelbach; Jason Jones from Ashbourne Farms; Michael Hargrove from Bourbon Academy; Maggie Hoy of Sweets by Millie; Lynette Ruby of Louisville Cream; and mixologists Zac Cunningham from The Bristol Bar & Grill and Chris Luckett from Artesano.
Tickets are $125 and include specialty cocktails; beer provided by Against the Grain Brewery; passed hors d’oeuvres; and a five-course dinner with wine pairings courtesy of Horseshoe Bend Vineyard and Winery.
Advance tickets are required and seating is limited. Go to foodliteracyproject.org to purchase tickets online or call (502) 491-0072.
Proceeds from the Field-to-Fork Dinner will support the Food Literacy Project’s effort to engage local youth and families in active discovery by touching, tasting, smelling, exploring, and cooking fresh vegetables at Oxmoor Farm and in school and community gardens and kitchens, unleashing the power of discovering real food.
