I could not say enough amazing things about The Noortwyck. From the food to the staff, everything…read morewas flawless! The restaurant had a wine dinner series called "Between Bottles," which included a recent pairing hosted by renowned wine expert, Andre Mack, of whom I am a big fan. I immediately wanted to attend the event, though I also knew that my partner was a fussy eater that had a tough time with tasting menus. I saw that the reservation page noted that the Chef tried his best to accommodate dietary restrictions, so I emailed to confirm. I let the team know about his particulars, and the staff graciously agreed to oblige swapping them out, which was so special! I was thrilled to be able to finally experience one of my culinary adventures with my companion.
When we arrived at the restaurant, I just let the staff know that we were the reservation that had requested the special menu, and they had the custom version printed and ready for him! We were escorted to a large communal table by the front window, which was a bit removed from the dining room on the other side of the bar, so our group had some privacy. When Andre arrived, he sat right in the center of the table, engaging the rest of us as if he had known us for years; it was truly an intimate experience. The sommelier, Sam, was also involved in explaining the wines and acting as an additional resource. Jodi, the general manager and wine director, similarly made herself available and had had a hand in crafting my partner's special menu. Honestly, the staff here was incredible!
Anyway, now on to the actual dinner. We were served three wines for each of the three savory courses, which was much more generous than I was used to! One of the three wines was always one from Andre's brand. The 4-course, 9-wine menu was as follows with my comments after the * below each:
First course: Hamachi in a yellow curry with radishes
1.) Maison Noir Wines, O.P.P, Pinot Gris, Williamette Valley 2023
2.) The Eyrie Vineyards, Cuvee Leger, Chasselas Doré, Dundee Hills 2023
3.) Domaine Sylvain Pataille, Aligoté, Burgundy 2022
*The hamachi was very fresh and served sashimi-style. The yellow curry sauce was aromatic and clearly Thai-inspired. The dish was stunningly plated. I enjoyed wines 1 and 3 best.
(Partner received a Kale Salad with toasted pine nuts and horseradish, which he surprisingly liked!)
Second Course: Bucatini with ramps and white pepper
1.) Maison Noir Wines, Oregogne, Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019
2.) Cameron, Abbey Ridge, Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2020
3.) Domaine Christian Moreau, Les Clos, Grand Cru, Chablis 2022
*Pasta was perfectly cooked and spun into a mound on the plate. It had been twirled in a ramp pesto that was divine. Again, I liked wines 1 and 3 the most.
(Partner received a vegan version of this.)
Third Course: Grilled Short Ribs over creamy polenta and wild mushrooms
Maison Noir, Oregogne, Pinot Noir, Williamette Valley 2023
Kelley Fox, Weber Vineyard, Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2021
Lignier-Michelot, Vieilles Vignes, Morey-Saint-Denis, Burgundy 2022
*The short ribs were very tender, but had been cooked with a bit too much cumin, in my opinion. The polenta and mushrooms were great complements, however. I preferred wines 2 and 3 this time, particularly 3.
(Partner received broccoli rabe instead of polenta, and it was a bitter, yet comforting warm slaw of sorts.)
Fourth Course: Rhubarb Choux Bun, Pernod ice cream
*This was a giant cream puff and a layer of oozing rhubarb gem that was as tasty as it was hearty.
(Partner received raspberry sorbet in champagne, which he liked.)
What a treat it is to relive this incredible experience. The Noortwyck delivered sheer bliss and a spectacular evening. We will be back!