Click Here for Event Photos photographed by Dennis Swanson
The Ranch House in Portola Valley
1 Indian Crossing, Portola Valley
12:00 PM Reception and Wine Sharing
12:45 PM Business Meeting and
French Luncheon by Chef Chantale Doinel
The Venue
The Portola Valley Ranch House
The venue was the Portola Valley Ranch House where our Chef member, Chantale Doinel, severed us another amazing luncheon. While harvest is some months away, we asked each of our members to bring a bottle of their favorite 90+ point wine to share with their fellow Chaine members.
Chef Chantale Doinel
Chef Chantale Doinel is a “Maître Rôtisseur” of La Chaine and the Hillsborough Bailliage. Following the Passed Hors d’Oeuvres and sharing of the wines brought by our Members and from our Bailliage “Cellar”, Chef Chantale delighted our palates with an elegant luncheon leading into the season.
Chef Chantale has extensive experience as a private chef and owning her catering business, as well as conducting culinary classes at Draegers Cooking School. Born in Morocco, but a pure French National, Chef Chantale has lived and traveled throughout North Africa and Europe discovering the diversity of subtle flavors that she incorporates into her dishes. Her passion for fine dining shows thru the elegance of her presentation and her dishes always incorporate edibles flowers and herbs of her own home growing.
Chef Chantale is an honor graduate from the International Culinary Center founded by Jacques Pepin and served her externship at the Michelin Star rated Village Pub in Woodside. Eight years ago she became the first Woman Chef at the exclusive Bohemian Club, executing a dinner for 40 gentlemen .
AND THE WINE – BYOB!!!
La Paulée is the Burgundian food and wine celebration held annually at the end of the grape harvest. A special feature of La Paulée is that everyone brings their best wines to share which, no doubt, makes it the world’s classiest BYOB party. A friendly but intense competition reigns as bottles are uncorked, shared and imbibed.
Some of the wines shared by members included:
Annemarie Redmond & Bud Hoffacker brought a 5 year vertical Pinot Noir from Portola Winery
Patricia & Bruce Bastl brought a Magnum of 2016 Miner Family Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir
Pulled from Bailliage Wine Cellar by Bruce / Echanson to share
Rack & Riddle Sparkling Wine, North Coast, CA NV 2 bottles BB
Veedercrest Vineyards Chardonnay, Sonoma, CA 2022 2 bottles BB
Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko, Santorini, Gr. vintage unknown 1 bottle BB
Domaine Grandes Perrieres, Rose, Sancerre, Fr 2017 1 bottle BB
MENU
WINE TASTING LUNCHEON
Amuse – Bouche
Nouvelle-Orléans Shrimp Puff
Charcuterie Skewer Salami. Olive . Tomato . Basil
First Course
Glacee Watermelon Raspberry Soup
Artisanal Chef Cracker
Le Plat
Summer Sea and Orchard
Wild King Salmon, Incrusted Herb Peach
Pickled Onion, Red Capsicum Salsa
Forbidden Black Rice
Velvet Lemon Herb Dressing
Crispy Wanton
Douceur de Vivre
La Tart Tropézienne
(The Brigitte Bardot Iconic St Tropez Brioche Tart)
Orange Blossom Vanilla Custard
Raspberry Coulis
ATTENDEES
Bruce Bastl / Vice Echanson
Patricia Bastl / Guest
Jerry Dowd / Chevalier
Christine Dowd / Guest
Bob Gallagher / Guest
Bud Hoffacker / Professionnel du Vin
Annemarie Redmond / Guest
Michael Kalkstein / Bailli
Susan English / Vice Chargée de Presse Hon S.V.
Jim Kaye / Chevalier SAC
Glenys Kaye / Guest
Darrell Monda / Vice-Conseiller Culinaire
Claudia Smay / Vice Conseiller Gastronomique, Commandeur
Dennis Swanson / Vice Chargé de Missions
Sally Swanson / VC-Argentier Silicon Valley
Jean Underwood / Dame de La Chaine
Carol Bagley / Officier de la Chaine
Yuliya Voroninskaya / Vice Chargée de Missions
Chris Compton / Chevalier SiVly Chaine
Weldon Wood / Chevalier
Jeanne Casilli / Guest