F&W Fest. ?

[tkldisney]

If we do a F&W pairing from 2:30 til 4, will we be ready for dinner by 6:25 at Kona's? Would like to do pairing, but also want to be hungry for dinner.

 

[*Flower*]

It depends on your capacity.

For me- I would say no. I wouldn't be able to eat again after 2-3 hours unless it's something light.

However, like they say- your mileage may vary (stomach that is).

HTH!

 

[GolfCrazy]

Personally, I would say you are fine. I believe the food & wine pairing is more of an appetizer and cocktail prior to dinner. I doubt you will get enough food to really fill you. If anything, you can go without appetizers at Kona and you'll be fine.

 

[tkldisney]

Thanks, We're not big portion eaters, so thats what I needed to know.

 

[oybolshoi]

The food and wine pairings we did last year were like three course meals...with wine...and we didn't need to eat for the rest of the day. We tried Coral Reef and Marrakesh for what it's worth - the portions were quite generous, definitely not tasting or appetizer sized offerings.

 

[oybolshoi]

I can post pictures from last year if you'd like - just let me know.

 

[Leota]

I'd love to see pictures!

 

[oybolshoi]

First Course: Sauteed Shrimp served over Pasta tossed with a fresh Tomato Sauce with Kalamata Olives and Fresh Parmesan Cheese; paired with Merryvale Starmont Chardonnay.

Second Course: Paella; paired with Merryvale Caneros Pinot Noir.

Third Course: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Dried Cherries, Fresh Figs, and Ganache; paired with Merryvale Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon.

Souvenir Menu, Front Cover:

Menu, Inside:

The interior of this restaurant is pretty dark so our other pictures really didn't come out very well, and obviously we neglected to get any pictures of the wine (we're still refining our technique!). One thing to keep in mind (at least from our experiences) is that no two restuarants will handle their food and wine pairings the same way...so don't expect a menu at each event, or seating by party size rather than a guest free-for-all, or even dessert as a third course.

Overall, we thought Coral Reef's F&W pairing was great - it was well paced, very informative, and very guest friendly. The chef and the winery rep. stopped at every table to talk with people and despite the fact that the event was wrapping up near 5PM and there were plenty of people waiting in the restaurant lobby for tables we were invited to stay as long as we liked. The other thing I liked about Coral Reef was that they had a separate waiting area for us after we checked in at the podium, so the 40-50 people who were there for the pairing weren't milling around the restaurant lobby, gettting in everyone's way.

Two thumbs up for Coral Reef!!

 

[oybolshoi]

First Course: Bell Pepper & Tomato Salad with Spices (served cold) and Seafood Bastilla, served with a wine called Masianco from Italy.

Second Course: Lemon Chicken with Couscous served with a wine called Ksar Blanc from Morocco.

Third Course: (AKA not dessert): Beef Shishkabobs with Marinade served with a wine called Condessa de Leganza Crianza from Spain.

Restaurant Interior:

Generous food portions and a lovely interior is about the best I can say. The food wasn't to my taste but then again this pairing wasn't my choice, so there you go! They did not seat by party, there was nowhere to wait other than the restaurant's small lobby prior to the start of the event, there were no souvenir menus or wine tasting notes, no individual visits from the chef, and perhaps worst of all... no dessert!!!!

For what it's worth my family really enjoyed the food, so don't let my opinion make you think it wasn't good. I just think Coral Reef set a high standard in my mind for how the F&W pairings would be handled and I was bound to be disappointed.

That's all I have for food and wine pairings from last year. Hope to have three new ones for this year! Any questions? Feel free to ask.

BTW, tkldisney - hope you don't mind that I took over the thread for a bit.

 

[TDC Nala]

I wasn't thrilled with the Marrakesh one either and that was a couple of years ago, haven't been back.

I'm doing four this year if I can get them and none of them are Marrakesh.

 

[oybolshoi]

I wasn't thrilled with the Marrakesh one either and that was a couple of years ago, haven't been back.

I'm doing four this year if I can get them and none of them are Marrakesh.

I have no desire to go back to Marrakesh either - I wasn't overly impressed.

We're hoping for a Sushi pairing, a pairing at Le Cellier, and the Scotch tasting at Rose and Crown.

BTW - my husband and I just laughed ourselves silly over that picture in your signature.

 

[TDC Nala]

I have no desire to go back to Marrakesh either - I wasn't overly impressed.

We're hoping for a Sushi pairing, a pairing at Le Cellier, and the Scotch tasting at Rose and Crown.

BTW - my husband and I just laughed ourselves silly over that picture in your signature.

I was wondering if people would know who Galt of Triskelion is. Heck, I was wondering if people would know who Michael Chertoff is.

I will do France, Sushi, maybe two Le Celliers, maybe one Le Cellier and a Seas Salon. I have done two or three Le Celliers and they've all been great. Chef Brian Piasecki does all of them as far as I know and he does a bangup job, hope he's still there.

If I can get a DVC room this afternoon...I will be trying for the Scotch tasting too. But I need a room in hand before Monday.

 

[oybolshoi]

I couldn't give you his biography but I do recognize him from Star Trek.

Perhaps Mr. Chekov morphed into Michael Chertoff?

Nah...that would be too easy and terribly insulting to Mr. Chekov.

I was wondering if people would know who Galt of Triskelion is. Heck, I was wondering if people would know who Michael Chertoff is.