By Adrianna Zampieri
The Messina Hof Winery and Resort invites you to their “Cooking Party with the Chef” on February 21. Featuring succulent French dishes, this is a party at the Vintage House Restaurant you won’t want to miss. Savannah Gaines, PR Coordinator for Messina Hof, promotes this experience as a way for participants to “take home a new understanding and appreciation of the art of cooking and wine while enjoying the company of peers.”
Inspired by Messina Hof’s “Vineyard Cuisine Cookbook,” “Cooking Party with the Chef” is all about pairing food with wine. Gaines elaborates, “Every dish in the Vintage House incorporates Messina Hof wine, and at our cooking parties, we do the same thing – focus on wine and food.”
So from 1 to 3 p.m., embark on a French culinary adventure and challenge your traditional American palette. A full menu for the event is available online, courses including escargot (otherwise known as snails), foie gras (a food product made from the liver of a fattened goose or duck), steak frites, and a mouthwatering chocolate soufflé.
French cuisine may seem intimidating and foreign at first glance, but you’ll be in good hands with Executive Chef Glenn Huggins, who studied at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. During the event, he’ll be demonstrating classic French cooking techniques while providing tips and tricks for establishing the perfect partnership between food and wine.
And if French cuisine isn’t your cup of tea, Messina Hof hosts a party every month focusing on a variety of other cuisines and techniques. Are you a fan of brunch? On March 20, learn how to make classic brunch dishes with a special twist. Enjoy traditional Italian cooking in April, or add a little spice in your life in May with Cajun cuisine.
Tickets are available online through their website for $69.95 each. Buy one soon for a lesson you won’t forget because a dinner here is never second best!
