Cooks Classes still Cookin’ with Hendry Ranch Vineyards + Rhone Rangers Wine Classes

Never a dull moment at Cooks of Crocus Hill with Chef Mike Shannon and Sommelier Leslee Miller!  They are taking the summer by storm already with two back to back classes that went down as some of Cooks ‘Best of the Best’ classes.
On May 27th, my dear friend, Ms. Susan Ridley, co owner of one of my favorite Napa Wineries, Hendry Ranch Vineyards, came to town to put on one of most talked about wine dinner dinners of the summer with me at Cooks of Crocus Hill.  With 40pp in attendance and another 40 on the waiting list, the dinner was a huge hit. 
Featuring wines from every side of Hendry’s portfolio, the dinner included:
 Gruyere Puffs with the winery’s Rosé
Prairie Farms Smoked Trout & Duck Vinaigrette Salad with the Hendry ‘Barrel Fermented’ Chardonnay
 Duck Confit paired to the Hendry Pinot Noir
Down to a gorgeous NY Strip topped with local Foie Gras paired to the Hendry Red Wine
And last – Hendry’s Block 28 Zinfandel paired to a delightful Chocolate Flan topped with a lite Carmel Sauce and Raspberries. 
Absolutely outstanding!
For more on Susan’s presentation on Hendry Ranch Vineyard’s and Mr. George Hendry’s story, watch here:

 
Hard dinner to top, but not impossible to match, The Rhone Rangers Class offered on June 9th came as another home run with participants!  A play on all things ‘Rhone Varietal’, Sommelier Leslee and Chef Mike brought out the goods for this class.  With a combination of white Rhone grapes and red, the two took their love for grapes:  Viognier, Marsanne, Rousanne, Picpoul, Grenache, Syrah, Petite Sirah and  Mourvedre to the limit.  Featuring these Rhone Grapes from around the world, Leslee paired to Mike’s perfect ‘Rhone Graped’ menu.
With a combination of:  Ojai Rosé, a succulent Grenache based Santa Barbara sipper, paired to a fresh lemon basil cherry tomato salad
Chapoutier’s Crozes Hermitage paired to a collection of unbelievable Duck Meatballs
Smoked Trout Risotto and a fun Marsanne, Rousanne, Grenache Blanc Rhone white by Chateau de Campuget
Ernie Els’s South African Guardian Peak SMG (Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache) and Braised Short Ribs
Through a fat plate of Warm Brownies and Syrah Syrup paired with Chapoutier’s Banyuls and New World Petite Sirah by Marietta Cellars. 
Seriously!  Mouth-watering and delicious!
Don’t miss out on these, Voted ~ Twin Cities Favorite Wine Classes!   For more information on how you can be a part of these fabulous classes, visit Amusée Events page ~ here.

Bon Apetit and hope to see you soon!