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Herbfarm - Woodinville, WA Last Post 01-10-2008 12:45 AM by Drew. 5 Replies. | Sort: |
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Drew  
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3219
 | | 12-24-2007 12:46 AM |
| Quite an interesting experience. Communal tables (10 seats), so helps to be social. Was $195 a head, minus $30 on the overall bill because I had a MSFT Prime account. Started off with a "tour" of the wine cellar that was basically a "look at all the bottles" trip, with the wine names written on the bottom of the bottles in the racks. Something tells me they could use Cellartracker... We ate:
Course 1: The Edge of the Sea
Scallop and Dungeness Crab Souffle with Montana Paddlefish Caviar
Butter-Braised Geoduck with Radish and Shaved Celery with Chevril
House-made Merguez and Duckling Proscuitto with Beet Salad & Quail Egg
- 2002 Argyle Orgeon Brut
Course 2: Low Tide at Elephant Rock
Puget Sound Mussels and Clams
With Full Circle Farms Shell Beans and Fennel in a Carrot-Sunchoke Broth
- 2004 Abacela Estate Albarino, Souther Oregon
Course 3: Tidings of Foie and Joy
Morel-glazed Pacific White Sturgeon with Foie Gras Sausage
Bay-Vanilla-Scented Parsnip Fonandt and English Thyme
- 2001 Elemental Cellars Viognier, Deux Vert Vineyard
Course 4: The Quail with His Last Desires
Bobtail Quail Stuffed with Dried Winter Fruits and Wild Rice
With a King Bolete and Hazelnut Vinagaigrette
- 2005 L'Herbe Sauvage Pinot Noir, Etzel Grapes of Wrath Cuvee
Course 5: Herb-Crusted Oregon Lamb Loin
With 17-Hour Braised Wagyu Beef Short Rib
Truffled-Potato-Leek-Fondue, and Black Trumpet Mushrooms
- 2004 Betz Family Winery, Clos de Betz
Course 6: Estella Creamery Course
With Housemade Whole-Grain Bread and Honeyed-Chestnut Spread
Wine Interlude: Muscat Love
2002 Domaine de Coyeux Muscat Beaumes de Venise
2003 Bonny Doon Muscat Vin de Glaciere
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rare Rutherglen Muscat
Courst 7: Sweet Singing of the Choir
Wild Huckleberry and Elderflower Semifreddo Enrobed in Chocolate
With White Chocolate Brice Bread Pudding
Tea: Dragon Phoenix Pearl Jasmine
Course 8: A Selection of Small Treats
Lost the dessert card
- 1916 Barbeito Malvazia Madeira
Yum. Overall, it was worth it and we had a great time. Got seated across from a sommelier from a well-known SF restaurant, so we had an even better time. | | |
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kpak
Alaska
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3010
| | 12-24-2007 02:48 AM |
| Drew - first visit?
I've been really interested in trying this but it never seems to work into my schedule (read, 5 hour block) when I'm in the area.
| | | In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is
.ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
| Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3219
| | 12-24-2007 11:36 AM |
| First time. Wasn't sure what to expect and the 5 hr experience is a bit much, but overall it was definitely something to do once? Surprisingly, it was pouring rain, so we didn't get up to go see the pigs during dinner. They could shave an hour off of the total if they dropped some of the pomp and circumstance (30 mins talking about the herbs and giving you the restaurant story, introducing every single person, including the dishwasher, that worked there, etc.) I get it - they're selling the experience - but try telling that to my hungry stomach :-D European seating was great, but really depends on the luck of the dice, especially when you have 4.5 hrs next to 8 strangers and you're all drinking a lot. We were fortunate and got a couple with similar interests and then had another threesome at the table from the Bay Area, so it worked out. One last couple at the table wasn't really into food/wine (why are you HERE?) and sat and stared at the rest of us all night. *shrug*
One side note - I was underwhelmed with how the cellar is organized. The display bottles were arranged with little rhyme or reason, with bottles of Guinness, Rogue and other beers (assuming they have special significance) interspersed at seemingly random intervals. Several bottles of Yquem were placed at random points on display (next to the beer, next to some middle of the road WA syrah - David would be mortified) and I laughed when I wandered into a dark corner and saw a bottle of Harlan literally sitting on the ground with a couple bottles of Beaux Freres. | | | |
| stemor
Collierville, TN
Wine Connoisseur
Posts: 5564
| | 01-09-2008 01:56 AM |
| | We're heading up to Woodinville for Valentine's weekend. Staying in one of the Willows suites over the weekend, and dinner (and a private table) Friday night. This will be our second visit, but first as a married couple. | | | Cheers, y'all | |
| kpak
Alaska
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3010
| | 01-09-2008 12:16 PM |
| Very smart move. 
| | | In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is
.ps - friends don't let friends eat farmed salmon. | |
| Drew
Sammamish, WA
Wine Bottler
Posts: 3219
| | 01-10-2008 12:45 AM |
| | How long are you in town??? We don't have a Commissary BBQ out here, but I'm sure I can dig up some wine if you guys want to meet up :-D | | | |
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