Summer 2005
Volume
5, Issue 1
Corks and Forks
The unofficial Newsletter of the York, PA Branch of the International Wine & Food Society
BRANCH
OFFICERS:
President:
Don Butcher
Vice
President:
Brian Kottcamp
Treasurer:
Larry Heim
Secretary:
Joe Marino
Wine Master
Evelyne
Pritsios
Cellar
Masters:
Jack Hankle
Larry Heim
Archivist
Fran Polk
Editor:
Don Butcher
Wow! After a late start we’ve had a terrific year. I personally want to thank each of our hosts & hostesses for presenting outstanding events: Jane and Jim Zarfoss for the Fall Dinner (held in January), Mary Ellen and Don Hoyt for the Fall Tasting (held in March), Larry Heim for the Spring Dinner (held in April),
and
Karen and Dennis Willman for the Spring Tasting (held in June).
Many thanks also to the entire membership for your attendance in
record numbers. Please note that I take full responsibility for the late
start in recruiting our hosts. Incoming
President Kottcamp has promised to get us back on schedule!
“Wine from Every Continent” was the theme for our Fall Dinner, hosted by Jane and Jim Zarfoss at the Left Bank on January 23, 2005. For the second year in a row, arriving guests were treated to an abundant snowfall; but it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of our IWFS membership.
We began the evening with Chef’s Tapas at the Bar, accompanied by the Italian wine Bisol Prosecco. Dinner started with a bouillabaisse style lobster, shrimp, mussel and crabcake fragrant saffron infused lobster consommé, paired with an Alsacian
Trimbach Gewurtztraminer. The salad course consisted of exotic mushroom, bacon and a sweet onion tart over carpaccio of tender beets and horseradish tangled mesclun greens, paired with a California Beringer Viognier. The First Course was a potato scaled black grouper fillet with ratatouille tomato garlic olive oil confit, paired with a New Zealand Te Kairanga Pinot Noir. The second course featured a spinach stuffed roast filet mignon, bouquet of vegetables, two sauces, potato fennel puree and red wine jus, paired with a Chilean Concha Y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon. The California Bonny Doon Muscat vin de Glaciere went great with the tiramisu trifle with fresh berries and marsala zabaglione sauce.
Jane and Jim – the Left Bank continues to be one of York’s finest restaurants. Thanks.
The Strand Capitol Performing Arts Center was a terrific venue for our Fall Tasting, hosted by Mary Ellen and Don Hoyt on March 13, 2005. Obviously, March is in the Spring, not the Fall – see “President’s Message” to understand the rewriting of the calendar!
The function was held in the Donors’ Lounge and featured wines purchased in the “Chairman’s Selections” section of the PA Wines and Spirits shop. Wines included Geyser Peak Winery 1999 Reserve Shiraz, Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc-Viognier, Ravens Wood 2001 Teldeschi Zinfandel, Talbott 2000 Sleepy Hollow Chardonnay, and Vine Cliff Winery 2000 Merlot. Hors d’oeuvres
included domestic cheeses, chicken satay,
roasted vegetables, assorted wraps and chocolate covered strawberries.
A behind the scenes tour of the newly remodeled PAC followed, and was enjoyed by all. We may have some budding actors in the group – they couldn’t resist hamming it up on the stage! Many thanks to Mary Ellen and Don.
Spring Dinner
2.4 pounds of grapes = one bottle of wine
1
vine yields approx.
4 bottles of wine
For many years Larry Heim has suggested holding a Branch event at the Union League of Philadelphia. On the weekend of April 23rd it finally happened, and what an event it was! We had a great turnout that included both members and guests. Several couples arrived on Friday and enjoyed terrific dinners at either Le Bec Fin or Spasso’s. Saturday included a trolley car tour of Philadelphia, and a Black Tie Dinner at the Union League. On Sunday we toured the Italian Market and enjoyed lunch at Pietro’s Coal Oven Pizzeria.
The Union League made a great venue, with stately ballrooms, club rooms and guest rooms. Even the locker room was worth a visit. Too bad the exterior was covered with scaffolding, but the cleaning and restoration work will be something to look forward to the next time.
Dinner was held in the Library, which made a great setting for the group. Hors d’oeuvres included duck spring roll, chicken w/ black bean burrito, and spanikopita. The wild mushroom consommé was paired with a Yamhill Valley Pinot Noir. A Pio Cesare, L’Atro Chardonnay accompanied the grilled jail island salmon with pickled ginger cucumber salad and topped with micro mustard greens. Champagne sorbet followed. The entrée of medallions of veal with wild mushroom demi glace, dauphine potatoes, asparagus and baby spring vegetables was paired with Kermit Lynch, Cotes-du-Rhone. The almond macaroon pyramid cake with raspberry coulis went great with the Warres Port.
After an absence of several years, this event proved that an out-of-town weekend makes for terrific fun and fellowship. Let’s do it again!
Spring Tasting
Karen and Dennis Willman hosted our Spring Tasting featuring Italian wines at the School of Culinary Arts. For those that attended you know that this turned into a full course dinner, held in the teaching kitchen of the School. Chef Jackie prepared much of the meal in front of our eyes, and provided great commentary on the pairing of the food and wines selected.
The evening began with a Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, Villa Sandi, paired with grilled asparagus on shallot foccacia with shaved pecorino romano cheese and chervil butter sauce. A house-made tagliatelle pasta alla panna with smoked trout and a flurry of
tobiko caviar followed, accompanied by a Pinot Bianco Alto Adige, Alois Lageder.
The first course was a wonderful grilled medallion of pacific tuna garnished with tournee celery root and young carrots. A Rosso Umbria Vitiano, Falesco paired magnificently.
The second course consisted of a roast leg of lamb in rosemary porcini Barolo essence with roasted beet, garlic polenta, and haricots verts. The Barolo, Massolino Riserva that was paired came from our cellar and, unfortunately, was past its prime. Our apologies to Karen and Dennis.
Dinner (tasting!) concluded with a mascarpone cheesecake with burnt orange biscotti and honeyed strawberry coulis. The Moscato d’Asti, Pio Cesare matched perfectly.
What a great event!
Our
spring board meeting was held on March 3, 2005 at the home of Marla and
Don Butcher.
Evelyn Pritsios reported on the wine cellar inventory and plans for
additional purchases.
There was a general discussion as to limitations on the number of
membership.
Historically, our size limitation was established to ensure that
most events could be held in the homes of the membership.
It was also noted that the Branch has seldom had a waiting list;
and since guests can attend almost all events, there is almost no need to
increase our numbers.
The Board voted to maintain the current level of 25 memberships.
The dues increase from BGA was approved, but local dues will remain
the same.
Finally, as is befitting an IWFS Board meeting, wine and food
followed!
Please check our website – www.iwfs-yorkpa.org.