December evenings in Boston can be frosty but anticipation of Le Chapître Du Nöel et Intronization Gala at Meritage in the elegant Boston Harbor Hotel had melted the gastronomic hearts of our Balliage.
During a season of seemingly never ending parties and receptions our expectations were rightfully high as our Bonne Bouche for this festive evening was to be none other than Boston’s award winning Vice Conseiller Culinaire Chef Daniel Bruce. Yet as we gathered with expectations high for the feast being prepared the revelers patiently waited as Bailli Provencial Nord-Est Gabor Huszar, M.D. presided over the formal intronization of no fewer than 15 new entrants to the Boston Bailliage. A speedy presentation was requisite for in addition to the copious quantity of inductions the ceremony included an elevation to Chambelan Provincial Nord-Est for Boston Bailli Marshall L. Berenson; Commandeur presentations for Chevalier Kenneth Johnston (XX) and Maître Hôtelier El-Sayed Saleh (XXX) plus a Bronze Mondial Medal of Honor for Professional du Vin Stephen Gaucher and the Bronze Star of Excellence for our host Vice Concelier Culinaire Chef Daniel Bruce
As is de rigeur in Boston our elegant and formal ceremony was accompanied by the presentation of the Golden Goose to the assembled and it’s partaking by the newly inducted.
With Chaîne business complete our reception began with Moet et Chandon, Brut Imperial Rose, Epernay France NV enjoined by delicious hors d’oeuvres of Maine lobster and sweet corn soup sips, maple smoked salmon on melted fennel blinis, braised rabbit & Anjour pear fritter and oxtail & quince confit on a grilled baguette sliver.
Proceeding into the beautiful Meritage restaurant space for dinner the assembled enjoyed the starting course of seasonal flash fried Nantucket scallops, capers, sauvignon blanc, lemon and baby tomatoes with micro greens paired with 2013 Domaine Celeztin Blondeau, Sancerre, Loire Valley, France. Next an exquisite char grilled black sea bass with buttered crosnes and a saffron, leek & shrimp nage was lovingly matched with the lush 2012 David Ramey, Russian River Chardonnay, Napa Valley California. We were moved to tears by the roasted wild mushroom & aged Parmesan risotto with piles of shaved fresh white Alba truffles with it’s pairing of 2004 Sori Paitin, Vicchie Vigne Riserva, Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy. An equally mesmerizing course of pomegranate glazed Colorado lamb sirloin with crispy kale and roasted baby winter vegetables was accompanied by the 2012 Frogs Leap “Estate” Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California that lead us into the cheese course of Jasper Hills Farm Harbison cheese with a warm melted fennel & brioche pudding that literally melted in your mouth. For the sweet finale, we were treated to a spiced pear cake with caramel mousse, spiced crème Anglaise and poached pears joined with the exquisite 2004 Chateau Climens Barsac, Sauterns, France. An amazing and magical meal & evening worth waiting for!
Vive la Chaîne!
