Perfect Pair: Champagne

Tuesday is all about pairing.  This week Marcel's showed us how to pair an entire meal with Champagne.  Did you ever wish you could be whisked away to Paris for a day to indulge in haute French cuisine and wine?

I felt like I was in France at Marcel's with the five courses of French dishes complemented by selections of the highest caliber Champagnes chosen by Marcel’s resident sommelier Moez Ben Achour. He is extremely knowledgeable.  With the largest Champagne collection in the Washington metropolitan area, Marcel’s was the perfect spot to learn about Champagne pairing.

Chef Paul and I filming in Iceland

Marcel's is an elegant restaurant that's ideal for special occasions.   We filmed two shows with Chef Paul Stearman and I've been dying to dine at the establishment ever since.  The service was exceptional.

The Dish:  An amuse bouche that nods to a certain French general, the Parmesan Napoleon  

 The Pairing:  Veuve Fourny and Fils, 1er Cru from Vertus, France. 

The Dish:  Filet of Norwegian Salmon and Maine Lobster with Chanterelle Mushrooms and Mini Lobster Ravioli.  This was one of my favorites.

The Pairing: Thibaut Jannison, Blanc de Blancs from Virginia wine country.  Who knew that Virginia produced good bubbly?  I love keeping it local.

The Dish:   Filet of Turbot with Saffron Risotto and Pea Tendrils.  Each dish was cooked to perfection.  

The Pairing:  Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs from Reims.
 

The Dish:  Five Spice Duck Breast, Baby Spinach and Duck Confit with a Smoked Apricot Purée and Blackberries  

The Pairing:  Gattinois, Brut Rose. This is the pairing I was most impressed with throughout the meal.  I imagined that Champagne would stand up to fish, but I was skeptical that a Champagne could hold up to the bold flavors of duck.  This Pinot Noir varietal did just that and it was excellent.

The Dish:  Caramel Apple with Caramel Powder and Apple Gelée with Almond Crunch.  Wonderful seasonal flavors, but not overly sweet.

The Pairing:   Cremant de Bourgogne, Brut.  Fantastic ending to a delightful meal.

 

The service, food and pairings at Marcel's deserves a toast!  Cheers!