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Dîner with the French Ambassador
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Mr. and Mrs. Hervé de la Vauvre
Alsdorf Foundation |
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Silent Auction 201. Château LaGrange St. Julien “Vertical” Having remade the vineyards and the cellars in 1983, Château LaGrange now produces a fragrant, classically structured Saint-Julien. Three bottles are presented here for your enjoyment. The 1990 (WS95) is a deep, full ruby color, with explosive, rather wild aromas of dark fruits, leather and chocolate, offering terrific volume and finishing very smooth and very long, with utterly suave tannins. According to International Wine Cellar, it had " A superb showing.” The 1995 (WS91) is, "Wonderfully crafted, with mint, blackberry and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of berry flavor and velvety tannins.” The 2005 (WS 93) is a medium red-ruby color, with aromas of plum, black cherry, mineral and bitter chocolate. Thick and powerful but with sweetness as well as a slightly exotic character to the red fruit and spice flavors. A deep, slow-mounting wine that builds impressively on the back end. 202. Dîner Chez M. et Mme de la Vauvre Savor a Dinner Especially Created by the Chefs of Griffith Laboratories for Six in the Evanston lakeside prairie style home of Isabelle and Hervé de la Vauvre. As well as experiencing food ingredients developed by Griffith, you will enjoy viewing the display of Hervé and Isabelle’s art collection and the scintillating conversation with these two global citizens. Your souvenir of the evening is Deux Regards, A Collection of Poems by Hubert and Hervé de la Vauvre. 203. Summer Soirée Chez Traylor A spectacular evening is guaranteed at this Dinner for 16 People of your Choice, Catered by Froggy’s Restaurant, at the Home of Gala Chair, Nancy Traylor, and her husband, Glen. You will be dazzled by the elegantly decorated home and terrace as you experience the exquisite cuisine and gracious hospitality. 204. Sunset and Cocktails Summer and early fall in Chicago are particularly nice times to be outside in the evening. What better way to experience the sunset in Chicago than at a Cocktail Party for 25 People on the Rooftop Deck of the Ambassador Condominiums? From 6:30-9:30pm, your group will be served drinks and hearty hors d’œuvres while admiring the spectacular Chicago skyline. Arrange a Wednesday or Saturday evening to witness the fireworks display from Navy Pier. 205. Dom Pérignon In the 17th century, Dom Pierre Pérignon, the cellar master of the Abbey of Hautvillers in Epernay, developed a wine whose extraordinary quality would make him the spiritual father of Champagne and one of the great visionaries of the winemaking world. Made exclusively from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from ten Grand Cru vineyards, Dom Pérignon is produced only in exceptional vintage years. These Two Bottles of Dom Pérignon Champagne Vintage 2000 (WS91), 206. Dîner À Domicile Alliance Française Executive Director, Jack McCord, well known for his abilities as a chef, will prepare A Regional French Dinner for Eight in Your Home. After discussing the menu in advance with you, Mr. McCord will do the shopping, cooking and serving of this fabulous meal. The last dinner received five-star reviews! 207. Dégustation de Vins Megan Wiig of Wine Wise Consulting, a graduate of the prestigious Organisation Internationale du Vin et des Eaux de Vie and locally acclaimed wine educator and consultant, is offering A Private, Personally Tailored Wine Tasting With Wine for 6 to 8 People at Your Home or Megan’s. Megan pairs a contagious passion for wine with an extensive international, educational and professional background. Having lived in France and studied in each region on the French wine map, she brings stories and anecdotes to enliven and enrich the evening. 208. Bastille Day Fête at The Alliance Française Celebrate July 13, 2010 à la française—à table! Enjoy the evening of Bastille Day with A Private Dinner for Eight, far from the tumultuous républicains, In the Calm and Comfort of your Very Own Alliance Française. Director Jack McCord and Chef Madelaine Bullwinkel (together again for the first time!) Will Prepare and Serve a Special Summertime Provençal Menu, featuring Bouillabaisse Nouvelle, a specially created Bastille cocktail—and much, much more! 209. A Fine Wine Sampler These three special bottles of wine, all stored in the strictest conditions, include: Château Lafite Rothschild, 2002, (WS95), full-bodied, with gorgeously velvety tannins and a long finish of pretty fruit. This is a racy yet elegant Lafite. Classy. Best after 2010; Gaja Sperss, 2001 (WS93), superbly well-balanced, it offers tremendous length and purity in its sweet dark fruit, plum, prune and cassis flavors, closing with a very long, fresh finish; and Château Haut-Brion, 2001 (WS95), intense aromas of violets, berries and spices follow through to a full-bodied palate, with layers of supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Very classic in style. 210. Cocktails with Stanley Paul You will be treated to an entertaining evening with Cocktails and Hors d’Œuvres for Eight on the Terrace of Stanley Paul, famed orchestra leader and society pianist. 211. Exclusive Chef’s Dinner for Six Bistro 110’s fashionable, friendly atmosphere buzzes with the energy and flair of an authentic French bistro, just off Michigan Avenue. Six People Will Experience a Special Meal Prepared by Bistro 110’s Chef, Dominique Tougne. Tougne’s expansive professional history includes significant periods of study with leading figures in French cuisine, including Joel Robuchon and Jacques Senechal. Be prepared for a delicious evening! 212. Wine Tour of France at Since 1888, family-owned House of Glunz, in Old Town, has continued to offer a thoughtful selection of the finest wines to Chicago’s wine appreciators. This Wine Tour of France for Six Guests, Conducted by Barbara Glunz at the Old World Tasting Room of The House of Glunz, Includes the Wines of Champagne, the Loire, Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône Valley, and the Southwest, and is Accompanied by a Selection of Artisan Cheeses, Pâté, Saucisson, Olives and Breads. 213. Château Léoville Las Cases, According to Wine Spectator (WS98), this Château Léoville Las Cases, St. Julien, 1985, is a fabulous wine; one of the first great Las Cases. It is full-bodied and rich, with the tannins extremely well integrated into an impressive background of fruit. 214. Chef’s Table at the Woman’s Enjoy an Intimate, Private Dinner for Eight People at the Historic Woman's 215. Beaujolais Nouveau Celebration Every year, the third Thursday of November is almost a national holiday in France, for it is when the country’s beloved Beaujolais Nouveau is unofficially uncorked. Light, fruity and young, Beaujolais is one of France's most popular red wines and there is much excitement surrounding its release. The celebrations mark the end of the harvest, and this year you can be part of the festivities with Four Tickets to “Passport to France”, French-American Chamber of Commerce-Chicago’s 26th Annual Celebration of the Official Uncorking of the Beaujolais Nouveau, Thursday, November 18, 2010, at The Union League Club of Chicago. Guests at the event will enjoy live French entertainment, cuisine from local restaurants, wine and spirits and a silent auction. Get in the spirit with this Beaujolais Nouveau Gift Basket of Wine-Themed Items. 216. Divine Sunday Brunch The Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago has always been a landmark of refined comfort, and the hotel’s opulent Seasons restaurant is known for fine cuisine. Sunday Brunch for Four, Tax and Gratuity Included, is the ultimate buffet. 217. Box Lunch for 20 Entertaining Company is an innovative catering company, providing an unforgettable culinary experience. Gather your 20 best friends or 20 of your colleagues at work and treat them to Entertaining Company’s Box Lunches (Sandwich, Two Accompaniments, Chips and Dessert) for 20, Delivered in Chicago. 219. Four French Feasts The lucky bidder will eat well at four of Chicago’s most popular French restaurants. Included are: A $50 Gift Certificate to Le Bouchon; A $50 Gift Certificate to La Sardine; A $100 Gift Certificate to Bistro Zinc; and A $150 Gift Certificate to Café Matou. 220. Wine Lover’s Picnic Basket Summer would just not be summer without the occasional picnic. This stunning French Basket is Filled with: A Linen Tablecloth, Silk Flowers, Candles, A Fleur-de-Lis Candelabra, and Two, Hand-Blown Wine Glasses will create just the right ambience for an elegant meal en plein air. 221. Chicago’s Best Italian Steak Since the 1940’s,Gene & Georgetti’s has been a Chicago culinary institution, serving the best Italian steak dinners in its casual, intimate dining room. You can partake in a hearty meal with your $100 Gift Certificate to Gene & Georgetti. 222. 33 Club This flashy Old Town spot from mega-restaurateur Jerry Kleiner combines contemporary American fare with an antiquey Euro-inspired setting. Enjoy dinner or brunch with your $100 Gift Certificate to 33 Club. 223. Froggy’s Froggy’s, a Highwood neighborhood bistro, maintains an atmosphere devoid of pretension with a commitment to a deep understanding of food, value and the patron’s palate. You will enjoy This Gift Certificate for $150 for Dinner for Four at Froggy’s Café in Highwood. 224. Chef’s Dinner at Oceanique Oceanique, located in Evanston, is an eclectic seafood restaurant in the French-American style. Since 1993, the prestigious Zagat Guide has ranked Oceanique as the number one seafood restaurant in the Chicago metropolitan area. A disciple of Jean Banchet at Le Français in Wheeling, Chef Mark Grosz offers A Chef’s Five Course Dinner for Two at Oceanique. 225. Benoit, New York City Inspired by bistro classics, Alain Ducasse’s Manhattan restaurant evokes the charm and pleasure of Benoit in Paris. Dine on traditional French cuisine alongside seasonal ingredients with your Gift Certificate for $150 to Benoit in New York City. 226. Alinea: Oenophilia Selections One of the defining aspects of dining at Alinea is the amazing marriage of food and wine. Joe Catterson, sommelier, has a passion for discovering unique, delicious, quirky wines, often from small, less ubiquitous wineries. Your Six Bottles of Wine From the Alinea: Oenophilia Quarterly Wine Subscription Selections With Accompanying Chef’s Notes and Tasting Notes provide you with true “insider” wines selected by Joe and his team of expert sommeliers for your enjoyment at home. 227. Fine Wine Storage, I Kent Cellars is the only above ground Chicago wine storage facility, therefore you're assured that your wine will never be flooded. Wines are kept safely at the perfect temperature of 55 degrees. Store your wine in One Single Locker (holds up to 16 cases of wine) For One Year at Kent Wine Cellars in Chicago. When you’re done arranging the bottles, sit down and have a glass of wine with your $50 Gift Certificate to 3rd Coast Café & Wine Bar, an off the beaten track treasure in the heart of the Gold Coast, full of ambiance, good old-fashioned food and cocktails. 228. Fine Wine Storage, II Kent Cellars is the only above ground Chicago wine storage facility, therefore you're assured that your wine will never be flooded. Wines are kept safely at the perfect temperature of 55 degrees. Store your wine in One Single Locker (holds up to 16 cases of wine) For One Year at Kent Wine Cellars in Chicago. When you’re done arranging the bottles, sit down and have a glass of wine with your $50 Gift Certificate to La Sardine Restaurant, one of the region's finest French bistros, located in the West Loop. 229. Tools of the (Chef’s) Trade You will make delectable French meals with these Two Julia Child Cookbooks, a DVD of the movie “Julie and Julia”, and A Personalized, Signed Copy of Chef Joho (Everest Restaurant)’s Cookbook, “The Eiffel Tower Restaurant Cookbook: Capturing the Magic of Paris”, and Two Patricia Wells Cookbooks, “Vegetable Harvest” and “Simply French”. Bon Appétit ! 230. French Pastry Experience The French Pastry School is a premier international institution of pastry arts, offering classes in an intimate setting. This item of Four Certificates for The French Pastry Experience at The French Pastry School includes a complete tour of the facilities along with a 2-hour demonstration by a world-renowned chef instructor. 231. Chocolate Lover’s Delight All around the globe, The Chocolate Academies are teaching and training centers for artisans and professionals who want to improve their working skills in chocolate and learn about new trends, techniques and recipes. You can partake in A Complimentary Consumer Class for Two People at The Chocolate Academy in Chicago. Prepare for class with this Basket of Cacao Barry Products. Cacao Barry is renowned for its vision of the chocolate-maker’s craft as an art form. Producing and selling the finest-grade chocolate in the world, Cacao Barry has a wide product range that’s a real favorite among the leading chocolate professionals. 232. Learn French Cooking in Chicago Chef Vincent Colombet’s approach to learning to cook is all about being relaxed and having fun together. You can participate in the experience with An Evening Cooking Class for Two at Cook-au-Vin Cooking School on Elston Avenue in Chicago. The class begins at 7:30 with an aperitif and everyone is encouraged to bring 1-2 bottles of wine. Freshly baked baguettes, French butter, and imported cheese and charcuterie tray will be provided as a little snack before cooking. Finish the evening by enjoying the meal you prepared. 233. La Cuisine et L’Art de Vivre à Paris Since 1975, Marie-Blanche de Broglie, founder of La Cuisine de Marie-Blanche, has been offering food-lovers from the world-over the opportunity to discover French gastronomy and the art of entertaining à la Française in a traditional way that is adapted to modern living. A very lucky bidder will receive A One-Week Course on Cooking and l’Art de Vivre for Two at La Cuisine de Marie-Blanche in Paris! The class generally consists of 6-8 students and the week includes: five morning cooking classes, each featuring a complete menu including three recipes with ingredients selected according to the season and a seated luncheon; one afternoon of French pastry lessons; and four afternoons of L’Art de Vivre classes—History of Dining, Floral Arrangements, Table Presentation, Beverage Service and French Manners. |
