CHAMPAGNE & SPARKLING WINE DINNER

Over Memorial Day weekend, David and I went to our favorite wine store in DuPont Circle, Best Cellars, to stock up on one of our favorite wines, which was on sale. I actually never made it into the store...I had to sit in the car, which was parked illegally, prepared to move it if the parking enforcement or a tow truck arrived. David returned from the store not only with the white wine we had planned to purchase, but also with a sparkling Shiraz (we have not tried it yet) and tickets for two to a champagne and sparkling wine dinner at Sonoma Restaurant. The dinner was gift to me in celebration of quitting my job and getting into Maryland's PhD program.

Last night was the dinner, and it was fantastic. Two men from Best Cellars and a woman from a restaurant in Georgetown served us champagne and sparkling wine with each of the four courses. They also taught us some of the basics for pairing food with wines. It was a lot of fun, and the food was fantastic. The menu included (highlighted in purple is my new favorite champagne):

salad of baby lettuces with local strawberries, goat cheese, & vincotto vinaigrette
Paired with: Champagne Jose Michel Blanc de Blancs 2000 Brut &
Domaine Daheuiller Cremant de Loire NV Brut

grilled fresh prawns with fregola couscous and remesco sauce
Paired with: Champagne Janisson & Fils Rose Brut & Amime Prosecco Rose Brut (which were both perfect with the prawns)

porchetta and braised chard with mustard sauce
Paired with: Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Brut & Champagne Veuve Clicquot Rare Vintage 1988 Brut

sabayon with fresh local berries and pistachio tuille
Paired with: Champagne Laurent-Perrier Demi-Sec & Torley Fortuna Doux