Save the date! Madeira dinner in Chicago on May 10

[John Danza]

Hello all,

I wanted to make you aware of an event I'm arranging for the Northern Illinois branch of the International Wine & Food Society. I'm doing a Madeira Party, similar to those held in the 19th century. It will be held on Saturday, May 10 at Bank Lane Bistro in Lake Forest, IL., a suburb of Chicago. The event is open to all, so I'll keep you aware of updates in case you're interested in attending.

Here's the specifics that I know right now. The dinner will consist of a reception and 5 courses, with me doing a fairly short presentation on the history of Madeira in America during the reception. I'm organizing the event as a black tie dinner for our branch members, however non-members are welcome to come in coat and tie.

My intent is to showcase the different grapes of Madeira and get the general public interested in these great wines again. I tasted all the wines yesterday with the chef so he can come up with the courses, which I should have in about a month. However, here's how the wines lay out:

Reception: Blandy's 5-year Sercial
1st course: Rare Wine Company Historic Series: Terrantez
2nd course: Rare Wine Company Historic Series: Sercial
3rd course: Henriques & Henriques 10 or 15 year Verdelho
4th course: Rare Wine Company Historic Series: Boal
5th course: Broadbent 10-year Malmsey and Barbeito 1834 Malmsey

The chef I'm working with has a great palate, and he's already got some great ideas on the food. I want to introduce the 1834 Malmsey to showcase what the old wines can be like, but due to price considerations I'll be doing only about a 1-ounce pour of that one. All the others will be 3-ounce pours. Price point will be about $150 per person.

If you have any questions, please let me know. Otherwise, I'll keep everyone up to date as I get a menu and we get closer. I hope you can attend.

All the best,
John Danza