Share Our Strength Dinner: Thanks, Foodbuzz!

Back in February, Foodbuzz had an essay contest to win a ticket to A Tastesful Pursuit Dinner hosted by Share Our Strength. I actually won and have been waiting ever since to come to this fabulous event: dinner cooked by well known chefs with proceeds going to finance programs that eradicate child hunger! The dinner took place at Charlie Palmer last Wednesday.



Here are a few shots of the gorgeous views from the Penthouse rooftop!



And then the weather turned and it began pouring!




While on the rooftop, we enjoyed fabulous appetizers, wine, and beer. I especially liked melon cubes with red caviar and beet merengues!

The dinner consisted of 5 courses, each paired with wine. I was a bit tipsy when everything was said and done. The room was gorgeous!

Course #1: Duck Foie Gras Parfait (Peaches, vidalia onion marmalade, brioche melba, bliss vinegar) with 2007 Lemelson Vienyards Dry Riesling

Course #2: Pan Fried North Carolina Soft Shell Crab (Pickled ramps and mango brown butter) with 2006 Ramey Cellars Chardonay

Course #3: Roasted Guinea Hen Roulade (Israeli cous cous "risotto," spring garlic and wild nettles) with 2006 T.R. Elliott Pinot Noir

Course #4: Roasted Loin of Spring Lamb and Foraged Mushroom Pave (Tomato-rosemary pudding and devil's club root sauce) with 2005 Parry Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Course #5: Roasted Peanut and Chocolate Gateau (Caramelized banana and sweet cream) with Leffe Blonde Belgium Pale Ale

The food was really good, but my favorite was the dessert. It was so rich and sweet that I could not even finish the whole thing...and that's something that doesn't happen too often.

There were powerful speeches by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and MD Governor Martin O'Malley. This was a fabulous evening.