The Carlton Restaurant

Amy’s Army ~ The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ~ The Carlton
Team up for a  5th Wine Dinner – February 26th 2010

The award winning Carlton Restaurant and the culinary  inspirations of Executive Chef Mark Swomley is matched up with 9 very rare and  fine wines in a 3 course feast. Seating is limited to 18 guests, so reserve  your seat early because they will go fast. Net proceeds to be donated to the  Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Amy’s Army is proud to be  a Co-sponsor and assist in the quest for a cure and to raise awareness for the  National Marrow Donor Program in the ongoing search for a match.   Cost is $350 per person.

Chateau  Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc 2006 – WS 94 Release Price  $105
Densely layered, showing peach cobbler,  graham, heather, chamomile, almond and brioche flavors thatglide along the creamy-textured palate, with a long, smoke-tinged finish. Best from 2010  through 2021. –JM

Louis Latour  Corton Charlemagne 2006 – WE 95 Release Price $89
Power, density, huge richness – all the attributes you would  expect from a Corton-Charlemagne. With this being 2006, the ripe tropical  fruits are crispened with acidity which cuts through the impressive opulence  and ripeness.

Kistler “Hyde  Vineyard” Chardonnay 2006 – WA 93-95 Release Price  $70
“Lemon grass, orange blossom,  marmalade, and nectarine characteristics along with notes of buttered citrus,  peach, and wet stones are found in the 2006 Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard. A  full-bodied, beautifully textured style suggest this beauty will drink nicely  for 5-7 years.” RP

LOBSTER  TRIO
Butter roasted  Petite Tail with Crab Whipped Potatoes
Lobster &  Caramelized Leek Ravioli with Smoked Tomato Cream
Chilled Lobster  Salad over Napa Slaw with Champagne Vinaigrete

Course  2
Joseph Phelps  Insignia 2002 – WS 96 #1 wine of the year 2005 Release Price  $150
A rich, polished, seductive style with  layers of complexity built around a dense, concentrated mix of currant,  blackberry, plum and exotic mocha- and cedar-scented oak. This mouthcoating  young wine is powerful yet elegant and deftly balanced, finishing with a long,  succulent aftertaste. Best from 2008 through 2014. –JL

M Chapouiter  Ermitage Le Pavillon 1999– WS 92 Release Price $330
A balanced gem. Aromatically reserved and full-bodied, it  unfolds mineral, wet earth and black fruit. Plenty of refined, ripe,  well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity. Firm finish has a long aftertaste.  Best from 2003 through 2010. –PM

Chateau Lynch  Bages 2000 – WS 96 Release price $125
This  is a superstructured wine with loads of plum, blackberry and licorice.  Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Gorgeous. Tight. Needs  time.–Lynch-Bages non-blind vertical. Best after 2010. –JS

Chateau la  Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape 1998 – WS 90 Release price $35

Juicy and  forward, this is in prime drinking condition, offering dark, alluring plum,  fig, spice and licorice flavors, with a fleshy, structured finish. Drink now  through 2012.. –JM

Banfi Poggio  all’ Oro Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1993 – WS 93 Release Price  $125
This red from Italy is big, chewy and  delicious. Opens with beautiful, multidimensional aromas of ripe berries,  mushrooms and chestnuts, while on the palate, it’s full-bodied and very  velvety, with a long, long, fruity finish. Best after 2002.  –JS

NY STRIP STEAK
Cracked Pepper and Mustard Seed grilled and served  with Roast Pepper & Chorizo Bread Pudding,
Balsamic Glzed Asparagus, Cabernet Demi Glaze and  Maytag Blue Cheese

Course 3

Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 2001 – WS 100 #1 wine of  the year 2004 Release Price $80
Like lemon  curd on the nose, turning to honey and caramel. Full-bodied and very sweet,  with fantastic concentration of ripe and botrytized fruit, yet balanced and  refined. Electric acidity. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is absolutely  mind-blowing. This is the greatest young Sauternes I have ever tasted. Best  after 2010. –JS

WHITE  CHOCOLATE BABANA CRÈME BRULEE
With  Chocolate Glaze Macadamia and Cherry Mint Relish

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History and The Carlton are happy to announce a Wine Dinner featuring the wines from New Zealand’s Brancott Winery on Friday, February 19.   Brancott Winery is one of New Zealand’s’ oldest and literally put New Zealand on the world wine Map.  They are a sustainable winery that has vineyards in Marlborough, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and Otago.

We will feature eight wines – three rated over 90 points – served around of Chef Mark’s creations.  This Wine Dinner celebrates the informative and moving exhibit on “Whales” that will be at the Carnegie Museum until this May.  Everyone attending this dinner will receive 2 free tickets ($30 value) to see this outstanding exhibit!

“BRANCOTT WINERY”
In Partnership with Carnegie Museum of Natural History
With Fraser Mackenzie, International Market Manager, Pernod-Ricard
Culinary offerings by Mark Swomley
Friday, February 19, 2009 – 6:30PM
$99 per person excluding Tax & Gratuity

BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC’08

LOBSTER & CRAB SALAD
Chilled Jumbo Crab & Lobster Tail with Almonds, Grapes and Radish
in a Honey Crème with Organic Greens and Black Currant Syrup

BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH “RESERVE” SAUVIGNON BLANC’08
BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH “ESTATE B” SAUVIGNON BLANC’07
BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH “ESTATE B” SAUVIGNON BLANC’08

PAN ROASTED SALMON
With Apple & Spinach Risotto Cake, Caramelized Onion-Snap Pea Sauté,
Apricot Stilton Cream and Micro Arugula

BRANCOTT “UNOAKED” CHARDONNAY’07

SEARED SCALLOPS
Served over Brioche Crostini with Baby Fennel-Carrot Salad,
Citrus Vinaigrette, Manchego Cheese and Strawberry Balsamic Jam

BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR VI’08
BRANCOTT MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR “RESERVE”‘08

RACK OF LAMB
Spicy Dry rubbed Lamb Rack oven roasted and served with
Wild Mushroom Ragout, Puree of Parsnip, Pinot-Veal Glaze and toasted Pecans

VALLEY OF THE MOON PORT’02

CHOCOLATE PROFITEROLS
Chocolate Cream stuffed Pastries with Caramel Glaze and Macadamia

I was proud to be recognized by my peers in the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association earlier this week as the “Restaurateur of the Year.”  I am sure it was an acknowledgment of our 25 years in downtown Pittsburgh.  Those first 25 would not have been possible without your loyal support!  Thank you for your patronage!

Benjamin Franklin was a vital part of the American Revolution and a true multi-talented individual.  AND, he definitely loved wine! So in honor of his birthday this Sunday, January 17th, here are some fantastic wine quotes by this incredible Founding Father for you to use throughout the years (source: www.wineintro.com).

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”

“When Wine enters, out goes the Truth.”

“Wine is sure proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

“Wine makes daily living easier, less hurried, with fewer tensions and more tolerance.”

“Take counsel in wine, but resolve afterwards in water.”

“Take heed of the Vinegar of sweet Wine, and the Anger of Good-nature.”

The Carlton Restaurant wishes you a happy and prosperous 2010! May all of your dreams come true this year.

Recipe for a Happy New Year
Author Anonymous

Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time.

Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and there’s no better way to bring in the new year than with the classic tradition of cracking open a bottle of bubbly and celebrating.  IntoWine.com asked a panel of wine experts their thoughts on what a good sparkling wine alternative would be to toast the clock striking midnight (source: http://www.intowine.com/new-years-eve-champagne-recommendations-and-ideas):

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“Rosé Sparkling Wine/Cremant de Bourgogne Rosé. Start off the New Year with a new wine! Cremant de Bourgogne is methode Champenoise sparkling wine from Burgundy and a celebratory at that. The NV Parigot Rosé (approx $20-$25) is 100% Pinot Noir juice with a great summer sunset color and moderatly priced in the low twenties.” – Jamie Koren, Buyer/Sales, The Wine House, Los Angeles

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“Try an elegant, smaller production grower-producer Champagne rather than one from a larger, commercially run Champagne house. My recommendation is the 2000 Franck Bonville Brut Millesime Blanc de Blancs Champagne (Price range typically $30-$35). This Champagne is bright and clean with notes of green apple, white flowers and a hint of biscuit.” - Mulan Chan, Rhône and French Regional Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants

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“Roederer Estate N.V. (approx $35). A California sparkler that has loads of fruit and body. This is the one I recommend when someone asks what’s your favorite “reasonably priced” bubbly that’s widely available in stores. Score: 89/100.” – Natalie MacLean, author of the best selling book Red, White and Drunk All Over, offers a free e-newsletter at www.nataliemaclean.com.

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“Cava. My recommendation is the Colet Brut Cava ‘A Priori’ (approx $15). I love drinking Champagnes any day of the year. But as Terry Theise, the importer of most of the grower Champagnes that we sell, says, “happiness is being ticklish in more than one place.” My favorite place outside of Champagne to get tickled with bubbles is Spain, whose sparkling wine is called Cava. Colet’s ‘A Priori’ includes, besides the traditional Cava grapes Macabeo and Chardonnay, smidgeons of Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat, which gives the wine wonderful aromatic verve.” – Mark Middlebrook, Paul Marcus Wines, Oakland, California

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“Instead of mass-produced grocery store Champagne, why not try an estate-bottled beauty for even less money? My recommendation is the Ariston Carte Blanche Brut Champagne (Price range typically mid $20’s). Our best deal in bubbles? No doubt many on our staff would say yes! From the small commune of Brouillet in Champagne, the Ariston is made from 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Meunier. A balanced cuvee in every way, this Champagne is clean and powerful at once. No bottle in our inventory transports me to Champagne like this one. It is as true to the terroir and as pure as anything I could wish for.” – Gary Westby, Champagne Buyer, K&L Wine Merchants

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“Prosecco. Specically, I would suggest Riondo Prosecco (approx $12). By the time midnight rolls around, most revelers have had plenty of libations so I suggest something softer and friendlier like Prosecco. This hugely popular Italian sparkler is all the rage because they have abundant fruit, softer carbonation and lively, crisp finishes.” – - Efrain Madrigal, Wine Director, Sam’s Wines & Spirits, Chicago, Highland Park and Downer’s Grove, Illinois

Mulled wine, variations of which are popular around the world, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. Historically, wine often went bad. By adding spices and honey, it could be made drinkable again. Nowadays, it is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas.  Here’s a great recipe from allrecipes.com for a Hot Spiced Christmas Wine for you to try the next few days:

Ingredients

• 2 oranges
• 2 (750 milliliter) bottles red wine
• 1 (750 milliliter) bottle white wine
• 1 (3 inch) piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, or to taste
• 1/4 cup brandy (optional)

Directions

We hope everyone has a great holiday week! Relax, spend some time with family and loved ones and take in all of the Christmas spirit you can handle!  If that’s not enough for you, here are some more events going on around Pittsburgh this week.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey. It’s a great week for hockey!  The Penguins play twice at home this week – Tonight against the New Jersey Devils and Wednesday, December 23 against the Ottawa Senators.  Give yourself an early Christmas present and head over to the Mellon Arena to catch a game.  Stop by the Carlton for a pregame meal or drink.  If you’re not going to the game, come over to the Carlton and watch it with us in our lounge!

2. A Cool Yule. This is a fun activity for the family.  Tonight at the Frick Art and Historical Center families with kids of all ages can enjoy stories, interactive tours and holiday art-making.  Take away a hand-made ornament for your tree and a family photo in your own frame!  Call 412.371.0600 for more information.

3. Spend Time with The Family. It’s Christmas – get together with your relatives and enjoy some family time.

4. Harlem Globetrotters. Always a family favorite, the Harlem Globetrotters, the “Magicians of Basketball” return to the Mellon Arena Saturday, December 26. Make it an evening and visit us before the show for dinner!

5. Serious Comedy Show. There’s no better way to end the week than with a good laugh!  Modestly daring and poignantly ridiculous, The Serious Comedy Show takes sketch and improv comedy to new widths on Saturday, December 26 at Cabaret at Theater Square and Backstage Bar.

I am proud to host a $250 fundraiser and upscale Wine Tasting event from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 14 for Auditor General Jack Wagner as he begins his campaign for Democratic nomination for Governor of Pennsylvania.  My many years of involvement in the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association have put me in close contact with state and local public officials – giving me a unique perspective.  Jack is an honest public servant that is passionate about good government.  In my opinion, he is exactly the kind of person that we need to lead our state during these difficult times.  We will have over 40 wines available to sample accompanied by Chef Mark’s creations.  Please join us, spend some time with Jack and participate in the democratic process.  Perhaps you can help to elect a governor from western Pennsylvania!

Today is officially our 25th Birthday and we want you to help us celebrate! All guests joining us for dinner today, will enjoy a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, will be able to choose from several dinner selections priced at $25 and sample some of Pastry Chef Jeff Julin’s birthday cake for dessert!

Thank you for keeping us in business for 25 years!  We are overwhelmed and appreciative of your support.  It really seems like yesterday that we opened our doors.  Next summer we will remodel and prepare for the next 25 years!  As our architects are hard at work, we can promise that the look and cuisine of the “New Carlton” will be better than ever!