Savannah's Cafe in Downtown St. Petersburg recently hosted a wine dinner featuring Beaucanon Estate and winemaker Louis de Coninck. This event unveiled new wines that Savannah's will be offering on their list, with the added bonus of all proceeds and gratuities donated to Greyhound Pets of America.
Each course served showcased some of the best dishes on the restaurant's gourmet Southern-inspired menu, each paired with wines from de Coninck's vineyards in Napa Valley.
Savannah's signature Orange Salad was served with the Beaucanon Sauvignon Blanc — a light, yet crisp wine whose vibrant acidity paired well with the citrus vinaigrette and goat cheese in the dish.
The second course was a delightful surprise: Kentucky Bourbon Pan Steamed Mussels with Andouille sausage and a grilled baguette. It was a nice change from the usual practice of shellfish being cooked in white wine — the bourbon imparted a slightly sweet flavor to the dish, enhanced by the andouille sausage. Again, breaking the passé wine and shellfish rule, the dish was paired with the Beaucanon Trifecta: a Bordeaux-inspired blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, and a touch of malbec that had aromas and flavors of berries and red stone fruit, enhanced by French oak aging.
For the main course, a Savannah's staple was served: Braised Rubbed Beef Short Ribs atop a mound of garlic mashed potatoes, topped with a spicy chili slaw, with grilled asparagus and a barbeque jus. Beaucannon's Cabernet Franc (a grape de Coninck calls "the next pinot noir") that accompanied this dish was robust and tannic, pairing well with the fall-off-the-bone meat and spicy slaw.
Finally, for dessert we were served a Peach and Strawberry Pavlova Napoleon paired with the Beaucanon Tavel-style Rosé. The strawberry notes in this dry rosé paired well with the fruit in the dessert, its dry finish and bright acidity cutting the sweetness of the dish.
All in all, each wine made a fine match for its food pairing. It was interesting to hear that the majority of men in attendance favored the cab franc over the Trifecta, which was clearly the favorite of all of the ladies present. Maybe the male palate is more apt to favor tannic wines, while females prefer softer, fruitier ones. Then again, it could have just been a coincidence — I digress.
Savannah's Café will be hosting future charity dinners, including an upcoming event for the Abilities Foundation of Florida. If you are interested in donating to Greyhound Pets of America, Savannah's servers donate all of their tips to this organization on the third Sunday of every month.
Savannah's Café- 1113 Central Avenue in St Petersburg. (727) 388-4371. www.savannahsstpete.com
This article appears in Apr 14-20, 2010.
