Ruth's Chris Steakhouse joined forces with Caymus Vineyards for this unique evening where wine enthusiasts sipped, ate, and rejoiced.
If you are not familiar, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, located at the Aruba Marriott Resort, has been partnering with some iconic vineyards to create dining events that they call Taste Maker Dinners. Vineyards like Belle Glos, The Prisoner, and Stag's Leap, to name a few have already been a success and when Caymus Vineyards was announced to be the new one, I jumped at the chance to attend.
I am not a wine connoisseur at all, let's start with that! I just enjoy wine as much as anyone else. Being familiar with Caymus comes from events where I have been introduced to their bottles and varieties, a delightful assortment. So what better formula than this partnership at Ruth's Chris, one of my favorite restaurants on the island, and this vineyard?
The menu.
As you can see the menu offers a wide range of dishes from the land to the sea: cured pork, shellfish, poultry, and of course, beef! it was going to be interesting how the wines would complement or contrast each dish. That for me is the most interesting part of wine-pairing dinners, the opportunity to discover and learn new things about wines and the complexity behind them.
The amuse: A prosciutto and melon skewer with a little bit of whipped herb cheese was a nice welcoming bite. An ode to the classic Italian appetizer Prosciutto e Melone. The pairing was a nice crisp Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc that we all enjoyed several glasses of.
A small bowl of a thick crab bisque followed. With a dollop of tarragon cream on top, was the sweetest thing. A fantastic little bowl that could have been a full pot and we would have devoured it anyway.
White blends are unusual to me. This Conundrum 2021 immediately raised eyebrows for its character. Scents of jasmine, honeysuckle, apricot, and tangerine. Flavors of pear, apricot, and a hint of citrus.
Coming to one of these dinners at Ruth's Chris the menu could have dishes that are not usually on their rotation, like this Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Breast. I am personally not too inclined to eat chicken whenever I am out. The verdict: not that it was a miss for me, I just think this dish could have sung better perhaps at a brunch menu.
The pairing: Red Schooner Voyage 11 Malbec. Talk about a great-looking label!
A visit to a steakhouse without a filet would have been incomplete. No notes, 10/10. The accompaniments, charred broccolini, and a white bean cassoulet that was my absolute favorite! I would have never thought of beans and steak and here we were.
The Sommelier, Ruben van der Ven, and others raved about this wine at the beginning of the night causing great expectation and it delivered. The Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon is a bottle you should have in your stash. Cocoa, cassis, and ripe berries.
A tiny chocolate crème brûlèe was our farewell and we did not need much else. The menu said "Coffee & tea" but we opted for Espresso Martinis. It was Friday and we decided to live a little.
The wines were great, the night was young and these Taste Maker Dinners at Ruth's Chris are perfect to have a bit of everything. I will definitely stay pending when the next one is announced and you should too! $150 per person and being able to enjoy all I just described is just a steal!
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