FOOD AND WINE PAIRING AT ITS FINEST

Foodies unite! On September 11^th, the Miami Culinary Institute partnered once again with Casa Vinicola Zonin and the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce for their monthly Italian Culinary Experience.

The moment we heard about this event, we couldn’t wait to attend, and thankfully, we didn’t miss out on it this time around!  Flair Miami was given the opportunity to enjoy a complementary five-course meal among other members of the media, foodies, and even restaurant owners. The meals were prepared by the Executive Chef, Sergio Sigala, from Cecconi’s at Soho Beach House, Miami.  Not only did Chef Sigala execute some scrumptious meals, he also paired each dish with different types of Zonin wines.

The wines were compliments of Casa Vinicola Zonin. CVZ is Italy’s largest privately owned wine company and one of the most popular imported brands in the US, and as expected each wine was superb.

The focus for this month’s event was the Lombardy region, an area with over 375 acres of vineyards in production. Each wine came from Zonin’s Tenuta il Bosco Estate where six different types of grapes are grown, (Barbera, Croatina, Uva Rara, Pinot Nero, Chardonnay and Malvasia.) Each grape specifically cultivated for a specific wine.

So what exactly did we eat and drink? Here is what was on the menu, that delicious afternoon:

• Bresaola Rotolino, Grana Padano & Rucola paired with Zonin Prosecco
• Trota Alla Gardensana with Grilled Olenta paired with Tenuta IL Bosco Oltrenero
• Gnocchi Di Pane & Spinich, Taleggio Fonduta (summer truffle) paired with Tenuta IL Bosco Bonarda
• Risoto Al Salto, Rabit & Mushrooms paired with Tenuta IL Bosco Pinot Nero
• Crema Di Ricotta Di Pecora, Pere & Vin Brulle’ Sauce paired with Tenuta IL Bosco Oltrenero Cruase

Chef Sigala, was not only talented, but also friendly and full of humor. This made the experience that much more enjoyable.  He confessed to his audience that cooking at home isn’t really something he does on a regular basis. However, in case you were wondering… Most of his inspirations for a meal come from everyday items found in the supermarket.

His cooking expertise was evident from beginning to end, starting with the display of his culinary masterpieces, and ending with the skillful pairing of his savory dishes and Zonin wines.

A special thanks to Miami Culinary Institute, Casa Vinicola Zonin, Sergio Sigala, and his team; Flair Miami’s culinary experience was excellent, and we look forward to the next event!