Pave: Welcome To America

Posting has been light, but we have been busy.

Pave had the pleasure of playing host to its hostess, Carine, this weekend at The Jefferson Hotel ("TJH") in Richmond, Virginia.

We schemed with Pave pal Hervé to get Carine across the Atlantic. Once arrived, Pave feted Carine with a small reception and dinner* in her honor attended by John Fund of the Wall Street Journal, financial analyst and Pave reader James Lucier, blogger Joe Noory of ¡No Pasarán!, Hervé, who lends a hand over at BAF, and yours truly. The conversation was informed, wide-ranging, and impossible to reconstruct at this remove.

Chefs Jannequin Bennett, Matthew Tlusty, pastry chef Erinn LeClair and the Jefferson kitchen and wait staffs all outdid themselves. We present the evening's menu below.

Hors d'Oeuvre
Savory Lollipops
Variety of Smoked Salmon, Goat Cheese, Oyster Corndogs
♦ Meinklang Gruner Veltliner Blend
♦ Gruet Blanc de Blancs (Welcome Toast)

First Course
Red Crusted Jumbo Scallops
With Spring Pea Froth
♦ Domaine Vincent Girardin Les Vermots Dessus, Savigny-Les-Beaune ’05

Second Course
Truffled Cauliflower Soup
♦ Drylands Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough ’05

Third Course
Watercress, Jicama Green Apple Salad
With Candied Walnuts and Orange Vinaigrette
♦ Tamar Ridge Pinot Gris, Tasmania ’05

Fourth Course
Grilled Opacapaca
With Adzhiki, Sugar Snaps, Himalayan Red Rice

-- Or --

Grilled Hanger Steak
Grain Mustard Glace de Veau, Fried Shallots,
Roasted Eggplant Mashed Potatoes
and Basil Grilled Corn
♦ Four Vines Heretic Petite Sirah, Paso Robles

Interlude
♦ Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs

Dessert
Celebration Cake
Mignardise
♦ R.L. Buller Solera Fine Muscat, Victoria, NV
♦ LillyPilly Noble Blend, Riverina '05

Pave extends its thanks to all -- attendees and the attending -- who made this such a great evening.

Regular posting will resume tomorrow.

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* TJH provided the ambience for another celebrated dinner, Louis Malle's My Dinner with André (1981).