April 2008
Free Portuguese Wittgenstein
If people never did silly things nothing intelligent would ever get done.
— Ludwig Wittgenstein
Read the post-event debrief.
See the photos.
The Pitch
It's always the same dilemma: celebrate Portuguese Freedom Day, or save your energies for all the big Wittgenstein Birthday Bashes the day after?
Agonize no more. Celebrate both together at our April 2008 Cordial. We'll start out Portuguese and by midnight we'll be raising a toast to good ol' Ludwig.
The Scene
The event took place in the magnificently unfinished Room 117 in the old industrial Ford Building that is home to Gallery Homeland. Extra special thanks to gallery owner/director Paul Middendorf and administrative director Caitlin Moore for making that happen.
The day before the event, we videotaped our travels around Portland procuring supplies at farmers' markets and such. At the event we rear-projected a two-hour loop of our adventures, so people could see for themselves where dinner had come from.
At table, guests received a wine list and a phrasebook.
The Menu
Below is a full list. You can also read the play-by-play on our post-Cordial debrief.
Course I — hors d'oeuvres
- anchovy crostini by Anna
- speck, coppa, olives & cheeses from Pastaworks:
- Idiazabál
- Délice de Bourgogne
- Munster Géromé
- wines:
- Aliança Vinho Verde 2007 available at New Seasons
- Thomas Leithner Grüner Veltliner NV from Ewald Moseler
Course II
- Red currant-dressed salad by Anna
- on the table:
- the Poilane-style 1.75kg boule from Ken's Artisan Bakery
- Beurre de barrate de Celles-sur-Belle, available at New Seasons
- wines:
- Thomas Leithner Grüner Veltliner NV from Ewald Moseler
- Agate Beach Oregon Pinot Noir Rosé 2007 from Carlton Cellars
Course III
- Thyme-garnished crème de maitake/shiitake soup by Anna
- wine:
- Quinta dos Roques Encruzado 2004 available at New Seasons (this was a phenomenal pairing; kudos to Mimi for the recommendation)
Course IV
- Chicken in marsala with black cherries on spring greens, with a compote of rhubarb from our garden, by Anna
- wines:
- Quinta dos Roques Reserva Dão 2000 from Pastaworks
- Peter Schandl Pinot Noir 2005 and
- Peter Schandl Blaufränkisch 2005 from Ewald Moseler
Course V — dessert
- Putatively Portuguese Carrot Cake and
- German Austrian Chocolate Cake by guest star Claire Sykes
- wines:
- Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Käferberg Beerenauslese 2004 donated by Ewald Moseler
- Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira 10-Year Tawny from Pastaworks
Special Thanks
- Paul Middendorf and Caitlin Moore for making Gallery Homeland available to us; and Caitlin for staying late helping clean up.
- John Berendzen for being our Rude Portuguese Waiter.
- Claire Sykes for baking the amazing cakes.
- Ewald Moseler for consulting on and supplying the Austrian wines, and especially for donating some fantastic Beerenauslesen.
- Mimi Martin of The Wine & Spirit Archive for consulting on the Portuguese wine selections.
- Carole Zoom and Brett Campbell for loaning us the Incredible Indispensable Van; and Carole for photographing the event.
- David Abel for the video projector, the Subaru, and contributions to the soundtrack.
- Dave & Robin of Carlton Cellars — for making a surprise gift of their new Agate Beach Pinot Noir Rosé.
- Maria y Mark para las sillas.
And all our other guests, who helped us launch The Cordial in high style.