The SB Post

Day 11: Sunday, February 5th

Posted On: Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012 11:45 AM

Guest bloggers, Noelle and Jen, share some of their Film Feast and Film Fest favorites from the weekend's events!

Screened: We arrived to a very full house at The Arlington on Friday night; everyone was arching to get a good look to see which celeb would grace red carpet for the Virtuoso Award. This was one of the most anticipated events at the Fest as it brought together a handful of seasoned and up-and-coming actors and actresses. Before each interview, several clips were shown that displayed each actor's recent work. I had only seen a few of the films, including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Bridesmaids, but the short clips made me want to hit the theaters to see the rest. I was particularly moved by the clip from A Better Life with Demian Bichir. I hadn't heard of the film previously, but I could tell that it was a powerful movie and I definitely want to watch it in its entirety.

 

Savored: We selected Cadiz, the new Mediterranean restaurant on State Street, to enjoy a Film Feast bite before spending an evening among stars at the Film Festival. The restaurant was quiet upon arrival, but picked up quickly and was soon filled with laughter from fellow diners and delicious aromas. There were two options for the Film Feast menu at Cadiz so my dining partner and I opted to order both options and share (I love sharing!). We started out with the Riviera Salad which was decorated with bell pepper, haricot vert, green olives, frisee, and drizzled with a light red wine vinaigrette. With it, we enjoyed their Roasted Chestnut soup with golden raisins, olives and pistachios. It was quite savory and had a nice texture and crunch with the olives and pistachios, overall very delicious! The second course was a yummy Grana Padano Risotto that was just as colorful and flavorful on the plate as it was in my mouth. It had flavors of pumpkin and sage and was rich, creamy and hearty. The entrée was beautiful and every tasty bite of the dish was validated by the presentation. The second entrée we shared was the Local White Sea bass with lentils, sun chokes, green olives and tarragons with an heirloom carrot reduction. It was beautifully presented and extremely well balanced. The Sea bass was perfectly grilled with a flavorful crust. The accompaniments paired beautifully and had a great variety of flavor and texture. The sparkling glass of champagne (included in the Film Feast menu) was a perfect complement to the meal and cleansed our palettes before the final course...drum roll...dessert. The server brought out the Crème Brûlée, which can be described in two words: simply amazing. Under the caramelized crust was a sweet, tangy and creamy center. The dessert was accented with juicy berries and a buttery cookie. Ahhh...perfection. The flavors were perfectly married and I enjoyed every last bite. Although extremely satisfied, we were presented with the Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse with Passion Fruit Compote. Another unique offering with a refreshing tang to it. Alas, we would be too full for popcorn at the Arlington!

Spotted: The honorees of the Virtuoso Award were in attendance, including Demián Bichir, Rooney Mara, Patton Oswalt, Andy Serkis and Shailene Woodley. Unfortunately, Melissa McCarthy could not attend due to laryngitis. A low "awww" swept over the crowd upon this announcement. I have to admit I was disappointed because I was eager to see her and hear what funny and sharp remarks she would make during the interview. Demian was charming and his thick accent made his words seem even richer. Rooney was beautiful and soft spoken but blushed and smiled at a few questions and I was surprised to see that she had a very pronounced dimple in her cheek. I suppose it was because her dark character in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo never smiled. Although I loved her in the film, it was refreshing to see a different side of her in person. Patton Oswalt was hilarious and kept the crowd laughing throughout the interview. Prompted by a funny crack that Patton made during his interview, Andy Serkis entered through the Arlington stage door and came out the other side shirtless! The crowd roared and I don't know if they were more surprised at how quickly he de-shirted, or how he sat through the entire interview sans top. He was charming however and very comfortable on stage (clearly). The final interview was Shailene Woodley and she was captivating. Although a young actress, she was self assured and handled the interview like a seasoned pro. All in all it was a wonderful night that didn't disappoint.

epicure.sb - Oct 19th: Chocolate & Wine Pairing Class

Posted On: Friday, Oct 21, 2011 2:26 PM

The Wine & Chocolate Pairing Class at Margerum Wine Company was a true delight for wine and chocolate lovers alike!  The class was set up around the bar in the Margerum tasting room and led by Jillian of Margerum and Jessica of Jessica Foster Confections. The tasting room was decorated with hints of fall with pumpkins and gourds of all colors and sizes adding to this enjoyable epicure.sb event.

Indulged – Expertly paired with each wine were handmade chocolate truffles. The truffles included White Chocolate Green Tea, Dark Chocolate Chai, Dark Chocolate Rosemary, Dark Chocolate Coffee and White Chocolate Lavender coated with Salted Marcona Almond. To properly experience the combination of the wine and chocolate, we were instructed to take a sip of the wine and then a nibble of the truffle and repeat. That way the flavors and aromas of each had a chance to unite. We were blown away with the hints of flavor at the end of each taste.

Imbibed – The flight paired with the truffles included the following Margerum Wine Company selections:  2010 D Sauvignon Blanc (with White Chocolate Green Tea Truffle), 2009 M5 Rhone Blend (with Dark Chocolate Chai Truffle), 2007 UBER Syrah (with Dark Chocolate Rosemary Truffle), 2007 Colson Canyon Syrah (with Dark Chocolate Coffee Truffle), and 2010 Late Harvest Viognier (with White Chocolate Lavender & Salted Marcona Truffle). My personal favorite was the UBER paired with the Dark Chocolate Rosemary. The boldness of this wine complemented the strong essence of the rosemary. The Late Harvest Viognier with the White Chocolate Lavender & Salted Marcona Almond was also quite unique as the salt on the almond added a new element and kick that complemented the Viognier nicely.

Inspired – After this mouth-watering and scrumptious flight, I am inspired to start enjoying more wine with chocolate at home. In the past, I have opted for some stinky cheese to partner with my glass of vino, but this experience showed me that a sweet option is just as enjoyable if not more so at times. Jessica was extremely informative and fun in addition to being a talented truffle maker. I will definitely be using these truffles as Christmas gifts this year for my lucky family and friends.