The clock struck 6:00 last Friday evening, and every seat in the house was occupied. The Coho Restaurant sold out for their first of three Wine Dinners this season. The first wine dinner: An Evening of French Food and Wine, hosted by wine distributor William Woodruff of Chloe Wines and Executive Chef Tim Payne.

The Wine Dinner Menu

This evening consisted of a 5-course French-inspired meal, with 5 unique wine pairings that seamlessly accompanied each plate. Chef Tim, a brand new addition to the Coho Restaurant team, created the menu:

1st

Dungeness Crab Stuffed Puff Pastry
Marie Copinet Champagne Brut NV

2nd

Seared King Salmon, Celery Root & Potato Puree
Domaine du Prieure Savigny Les Lavieres 1er Cru 2014

3rd

Roasted Squab, Wild Mushroom & Gruyere Tarte
Capitain -Gagernerot Corton-Charlemagne 2013

4th

Braised Lamb, Grilled Leeks & Roasted Squash, Blackberry Demi-glace
Domaine François Capitain-Gagnerot Ladoix 1er Cru ‘Les Grechons et Foutrieres’ 2014

5th

French Cheese, Shortbread Cookie, Fresh Apples
Marie Copinet Champagne Cuvee Monsieur Leonard 2006

Even sounds delicious on paper, doesn't it? Each course told a story of these wine making families, the estates that they farm and about the friendship that William developed during his visits over the years. At the end of the night, William shared a 2003 vintage of the Domaine du Prieure Savigny Les Lavieres 1er Cru. The bottle looked a bit warn and tattered but the juice inside was lively and youthful. It could have been enjoyed in 2027, but we were delighted that William decided to share it with us, on this very special evening.

Well take a look at a few shots from the night. Warning: if you do, you'll want to book a seat for our next event: DeLille Cellar's Wine Dinner. Luckily it's right around the corner. We'll see you there.

Photo Gallery