Sorrentino’s chef pairs his dishes, Ontario wines
Due to our proximity to British Columbia, we often forget about the great quality wines that are being produced in Eastern Canada. Sorrentino’s Downtown, 10162 100th St., aims to shine some light on Ontario wines by hosting a dinner with Paul Pender, wine maker at Tawse, a threetime Canadian Winery of the Year recipient.
Pender is a firm believer in terroir and that great wines start in the vineyard. The winery uses organic and biodynamic farming techniques and is a leader in the Canadian wine industry with respect to producing single vineyard designated wines to highlight the concept of sense of place.
Sorrentino executive chef Jeff Jackson’s five-course, sixwine dinner is highlighted by salmon tartar with the Quarry Road Chardonnay, porchetta with Gruyere risotto paired with the Quarry Road Pinot Noir and venison osso bucco with the delicious and complex Laundry Vineyard Cabernet Franc. The dinner will conclude sweetly with tiramisu cannoli paired with the Riesling Icewine.
Dinner is on Monday, Feb. 24 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $125 per person (plus gratuity and GST). Reservations required and space is limited. Call 780-4247500.
HOT CHEFS , COOL BEATS
One of the city’s hippest, most creative culinary events is back. The biennial Hot Chefs Cool BEATS is set for Saturday, March 29 in Hall D of the Shaw Conference Centre and will highlight some of Edmonton’s most talented chefs, mixologists and entertainers.
The event will showcase a variety of culinary and beverage delights from a street festival to food sampling installations featuring such foodie films as A Big Night, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, The Green Butchers and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. The event also features live musical performances, street dancers, a graffiti artist, DJ, Japanese drummers, Brazilian Capoeira and a latte art throw-down organized by Transcend Coffee.
Experience wines and beers of the world, a tequila bar, sake tasting and cocktails featuring creations from Three Boars and St. George Distillery. The evening culminates with a dance party featuring Juno-nominated jump blues band The Rockin’ Highliners.
Participating restaurants include Drift Food Truck, Tres Carnales, Filistix, Elm Café, Bistecca Italian Steakhouse, Little Village, Duchess Bake Shop, The Parlour, Nomiya, Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse and Lux Steakhouse.
Proceeds from the event support the High School Culinary Challenge and the Grateful Palate Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation.
Tickets are $125 at hotchefs.ca