My Favorite Chef Peter X. Kelly to Guest Chef at Millbrook's Harvest Party

I am sooo excited!  One of my favorite chefs is going to be the "Guest Chef" at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery's harvest party.

If you have never attended one of Millbrook's harvest party, you must come.  It is a first class event with the beautiful fall foliage of the vineyard as the backdrop. The food is always amazing and this year will be no different with Chef Peter X. Kelly.

Peter X. Kelly is the Chef  owner behind Restaurant X & Bully Boy Bar, X20 Xaviars on the Hudson, Xaviar's at Piermont and The Freelance Cafe and Wine Bar. A Hudson Valley native and although he's a couple years older than me, we went to the same high school (Roy C. Ketcham). His food and service is outstanding!

What can you expect at this harvest party? Definitely a good time and great food! You get to meet new friends and in my case, I got to meet two twitter friends at the last harvest party I attended, Marty Gardner (@MartyGardner)  and Veronique Deblois (@foodwinechickie). I can't wait to see them again this year.

There is always the question of what to wear. Most people get somewhat dressed up. Paul wore jeans with a nice shirt and that was acceptable.

The event begins in the Vineyard Grille where we will be sipping on 2015 Tocai Fruilano Proprietor's Special Reserve, 2015 Hunt Country White, 2014 Pinot Noir and Hunt Country Red and snacking on some wonderful appetizers. Then we move into the big tent for a first class meal featuring 4 courses paired with their wine prepared by Chef Peter X. Kelly.You know it is going to be good! Then there is usually a game played where everyone participates and your table is your team. Not sure what Stacy has in mind this year, but you know it will be fun.

Here's your invitation along with the delicious menu. Come join me and have some fun at the Harvest Party. Reservations must be made by October 10. I'll see you there!

Millbrook Vineyard & Winery Harvest Party Invitation

Enjoying The Harvest Party at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery

If you saw my previous post leading up to Millbrook's Harvest Party, you will see that of all these years I wasn't able to attend due to scheduling conflicts.  Well this was the year, the year I had nothing on my calendar Saturday, October 18 so guess what I attended? I can't believe it took all these years to get me to this event.

What began as a cloudy and bit chilly day turned out to be beautiful afternoon dining on dishes prepared by the chefs of the Culinary Institute of America and paired with the great wine from Millbrook Vineyard & Winery.

Not knowing what to expect and having no expectations, I was floored!  I felt like I was attending a wedding, best was I didn't have to bring a gift and actually received one.

Every person or couple attending received an advance copy of WineWise by Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith and Michael A. Weiss.  I am privileged to personally know Steven, have known Brian (sadly he has passed) and got to listen to Michael address the crowd with his humor as he is a great speaker on wine.

The afternoon began with wine and appetizers by the pond.  Not knowing if I would know anyone attending, I ran into Jerry and Janet from The Valley Table. I have known Jerry and Janet for a long time and it was great to catch up with them.  Their publication is a great link to the farm to table movement in the Hudson Valley and they are the creators of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week. (Which begins November 3)

Jerry & Janet from The Valley Table

After an hour or so we were ushered over to the tent for the wine pairing.  When I say it was like a wedding, we all had table cards (assigned seats) there was even a table challenge to see if our table was "WineWise." A game to be played.

Paul & Paul chatting before entering the tent

The pressure was on for my table.  But I think we were disqualified because Paul is a winemaker, we sat with Paul Gatti, Millbrook's Cellar Manager, but Lydia, and MaryKay from Dutchess Tourism was insistent that we (I) fill out the quiz.  I did, everything but the Team Essay, Haiku.  That I deferred to them.  

The first course was prepared by the chefs at Bocuse Restaurant.  Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream, Radishes, Shallots, Citrus Vinaigrette paired with Millbrook's 2013 Dry Riesling Proprietor's Special Reserve, Hudson River Region, Estate Bottled.  Yummy is all I can say!

Second course was prepared by Ristorante Caterina De' Medici, Cannelloni with Braised Beef & Lobster paired with 2012 Millbrook Chardonnay Proprietor's Special Reserve and 2014 Millbrook Pinot Noir.  This I have to say was my favorite.  Amazingly, each of the flavors from each of the Cannelloni's stayed within each other. The pairings fantastic! This was my favorite dish of the day.

I have to laugh for the third course pairing. If you ever followed my posts on the CIA Winter Dining Series, one year I attended 4 dinners and each of them we were served lamb.  The third course was prepared by the American Bounty Restaurant which paired Grapevine Grilled Rack of Lamb, Wild Mushroom Ragout, Brussel Sprouts with Chestnuts, Parsley Oil, Cabernet Jus with Millbrook's 2012 Cabernet Franc, Proprietor's Special Reserve. The lamb and pairing was great, but I have to ask what is the lamb connection and the Culinary?

Dessert was prepared by the Apple Pie Bakery Cafe.  If you are ever in Hyde Park, you can drop in at the Apple Pie Bakery and pick up a sweet, or lunch, no reservations required.  Dessert was Milk Chocolate Marquis with Apple Butter Center & Warm Local Pear Compote paired with Millbrook's first Ice Wine a 2013 Riesling.

When you go to these events, you wonder who you'll meet.  Well, after posting a picture on Instagram I saw that Veronique Deblois aka @foodwinechickie was also at the event.  One tweet over to her and she said was three tables away.  It was great to meet her in person! Hopefully I'll see her at other events. Oh social media, what did we do before you existed?

In all, the Harvest Party at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is a must!  I just can't believe it took me so long to attend or should I say, clear my calendar.

Millbrook Vineyards & Winery Partners With The Culinary Institute of America for their 24th Harvest Party

You can't ask for a better pairing, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery with the Culinary Institute of America. They come together to celebrate Millbrook Vineyards & Winery 24th Harvest Party, Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 12 Noon.

Millbrook's harvest party is a long standing event in the Hudson Valley and finally this year I will actually be able to attend.  I am looking so forward to it!  I've heard how wonderful the event is year after year but always seem to have a prior commitment, but not this year.

For this event Millbrook partners with a restaurant, either locally our from New York City. This year is very special as they are partnering with the Culinary Institute of America. If you have not had the opportunity to eat at one of the restaurants at the CIA, this is the chance to experience the wonderful food the restaurants have to offer. Each of the four restaurants will be preparing a dish for the event.

The menu looks incredible! (I will post it below to make your mouth water or make reservations)

In addition this year at the Harvest Party, CIA wine instructors Steven Kolpan and Michael Weiss will be guest speaking.  They are re-releasing their book WineWise and everyone in attendance (one per couple) will receive an autographed copy.

The event price is $135 per person / $125 per person if you are case club members. Reservations are required by Friday, October 10, 2014 and can be made by calling 1-800-662-9463, ext. 17. (http://www.millbrookwine.com/events-a-news/harvest-party)

There is no better way to spend a Saturday than at Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, enjoying the breathtaking views from the vineyard, admiring the beautiful fall foliage, dining on delicious food prepared by the CIA and drinking Millbook's award winning wine.  See you there!

Hudson Valley Winegrowing Boot Camp

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work at a winery.  To bring the grapes from bud to bottle?  Millbrook Vineyards & Winery is offering you the opportunity to become a Tocai Friulano Specialist during the 2012 winegrowing season.

Winegrowing Boot Camp will consist of 6 Saturdays beginning April 14, 2012 with vine pruning and tying and end Saturday, March 16, 2013 with bottling your wine.  The 6 part series will be a hands-on viticurtural and winemaking series where participants will learn about the grape growing and production of  Millbrook's Tocai Friulano.

Remember - this is hands on - so no high heels ladies, sneakers are a must for being in the vineyard, along with jeans and a shirt you don't mind getting dirty.

The day will begin with a brief overview of the specific topic at hand and then you will go out in the vineyard, roll up your sleeves and get to work on your 8 assigned Tocai vines.  You will be providing your own manual labor to care for your vines under the direction of  John Graziano, Millbrook Winery's Vice President of Winemaking & Vineyard Management.

The program begins on Saturday, April 14, 2012 with the following dates and vineyard/winemaking tasks:

• April 14, 2012       10am - Noon Vine Pruning & Tying
• May 19,  2012      11am - 3pm  Bud Break & Tocai New Release Party
• June 2, 2012         11am - 1pm Vertical Shoot Positioning
• July 14, 2012        11am - 1pm  Leaf Pulling
• October 13, 2012  9am - 4pm Grape Harvest & Harvest Party Celebration
• March 16, 2013    11am -2pm Bottling

There is rewards after a hard day in the vineyard.  Participants will receive lunch, including a glass of wine after each seminar May - October including a seat at their annual Tocai Celebration and Harvest Party luncheon.  A final celebratory luncheon after the bottling of your wine in March, and you get to bring home a case of your wine, custom labeled for you.

The cost of the program is $750 plus tax per person. Class size is limited to 20 people.  For more information on the program call 800-662-9463 ext. 17  

Harvest Party at Millbrook Vineyards

Millbrook Vineyards 2011 Cab Franc Block 3 East

Imagine, a nice fall afternoon, sitting in the midst of a beautiful vineyard, sipping on some wonderful wine, while munching on delicious harvest inspired food prepared by Chef Angelo Sosa and Bull & Buddha Restaurant.  

You don't have to imagine, you can on Saturday October 15, 2011!  Beginning at 12noon with a wine reception and a wonderful harvest luncheon. (If the food and wine don't inspire you to attend, an afternoon with that handsome Chef, Angelo Sosa should!)

Your reception begins with Canapes, Local Cheese, Curried McIntosh Soup, Duck Pastrami with Cherry Confit and Asain Meatballs with Ginger and Apple Salad.  Now pair that with Millbrook's 2005 Brut Proprietor's Special Reserve, 2010 Tocai Friulano, 2009 Hunt Country Red and 2007 Proprietor's Special Reserve Merlot.  

Hoping you have more room there are three more courses plus dessert.  Next course and pairing is a Warm Fall Spiced Pumpkin Pie Soup with Butterscotch paired with Millbrook's 2009 Proprietor's Special Reserve Chardonnay.  Don't drink all the Chard, because the Chardonnay along with their 2010 Pinot Noir are paired with the Slow Roasted Salmon with Charred Eggplant and Sweet & Sour Cherry.

If you thought the next course was dessert, you were wrong.  Now your glass is filled with the 2007 Proprietor's Special Reserve Cabernet Franc and you are dining on Pork Belly with Old Fashioned Mustard and Cortland Apples and Ginger Chutney with Asain Succotash and Grilled Bok Choy.

Now we are onto dessert which is a Goat Cheese Cake with Pretzel Crust and coffee.

Tickets for the Harvest Party are $125 per person plus tax.  Guest are seated at tables of 8 or 10.  To attend please call 800-662-9463 ext. 17 for reservations. Harvest party is held rain or shine!

Angelo Sosa was the youngest of his siblings, born in Connecticut to a Dominican father and an Italian mother who believed meals were serious affairs. He graduated with High Honors from the Culinary Institute of America in 1997, after running the kitchen at the Escoffier Room, one of the institute’s highly acclaimed restaurants.  

In late fall of 2005, Angelo turned his attention to consulting, having amassed the experience of opening many restaurants in his career. His consulting work includes: restaurant Stephen Starr’s Buddakan, Asian-Mediterranean hot-spot LOFT, Morimoto, Alain Ducasse’s Spoon Food & Wine in Paris among others.In the summer of 2009, Angelo launched his fast-casual restaurant, Xie Xie (shay-shay) in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York City, which won him StarChef’s New York’s Rising Star award for “Best New Restaurant Concept.”

In 2010, Angelo was cast as a Season 7 "Cheftestant" on Bravo's hit reality show, Top Chef. He was then invited to compete on "Top Chef All Stars" which is currently airing.Angelo's most recent project is Social Eatz where he's signed on Executive Chef and Owner, designing a menu that reinterprets NYC staples with flavors from across Asia.

Bull and Buddha restaurant fuses an urban interior with exotic design elements of the East nestled in Poughkeepsie's revitalized downtown.  Served under the watchful eye of a hand-carved two-ton Buddha, the Asian-themed menu reflects the bounty and diversity of the Hudson Valley.