FWD 14: Monday
The first night of Food Wine Design was nothing short of elegant. As guests arrived to Lumen Private Event Space they were greeted by a red carpet entrance lined with polished premier Lexus vehicles for guests to admire. Ben Bauer of The Libertine created two signature cocktails for the evening using Spirits of Saint Louis Island Time Rum and Regatta Bay Gin. They included a sweet punch with hints of maple and a tangy jalapeno concoction leaving a subtle fiery tingle behind.
Guests experienced a taste of what was awaiting them in the dining room with passed hors d’oeuvres by the evening’s featured chefs, Josh Galliano and Mike Emerson. In the dining room, VIP guests were astounded by the incredible table top designed by The Design Source Limited. All guests were welcomed to their seats where a gift bag awaited them filled with items from the evening sponsors including a Stella Artois chalice and signature wine glass. Bidding wars ensued throughout the evening for gift baskets with proceeds to benefiting Saint Louis Crisis Nursery.
Bread baskets sat on each table filled with slices of fresh artisan bread provided by Companion. The anticipation of the coming meal was felt in the room as Josh Galliano and Mike Emerson were introduced, and explained what they had prepared for the evening. The first course began with Perogies with pulled rib, Potato, cabbage, smoked brown butter, and apricots. The perfect wine pairing of Ruffino Chianti Classico Aziano was poured and savored while guests were explained details of how the two paired well together from Mike Ward of Major Brands. Two more mouth watering courses followed, with a grand finale of Peanut Butter Panna Cotta with smoked peanut brittle, and chocolate. Along with the wine pairings, a beer pairing of Hoegaarden was also enjoyed with dinner.
The first night of Food Wine Design left behind satisfied paletes and a new knowledge of wine pairings. The Design Source Limited set the standards for the coming days with amazing detail and poise in their table creation. The evening was a great success and incredible start to the week.
