Last week, I had a fancy and fun time at the 14th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau festival held by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Française of Portland with their partners, the Heathman Hotel and the Heathman Restaurant & Bar. As I mentioned in my pre-event post, every third Friday of November, a red wine called Beaujolais Nouveau that is bottled only after a few weeks after harvest for immediate drinking is opened after a race to deliver it around the world and celebrated at parties and other festivities annually.
Naturally at the Beaujolais Nouveau event on November 20 at the Heathman, there was plenty of 2015 Beaujolais Nouveau fresh from France by Georges Duboeuf available – the wine company most commonly associated with Beaujolais Nouveau so much that they are called le roi du Beaujolais, aka the king of Beaujolais. Also available though were other Beaujolais Nouveau, as well as wine from local Oregon and Washington producers.
Here’s my pictorial Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 recap of the night.
The bountiful French themed buffet impressed, with the Heathman manning carving stations for Roast Leg of Beef and Slow Roasted Carlton Farms Pig;
Looking spectacular was a Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you
A long L shaped multi-table Charcuterie & Cheese Spread
A Foie Gras & Sweet Breads station where the Foie Gras was sliced and topped with honey for you and Sweetbread was accompanied by a rich and creamy cauliflower sauce
Passed Hors D’Oeuvres included Duck Breast and Mango Brochette with Coca Nibs, Smoked White Fish Mousse with Caviar, Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Strudel, Savory Leek Tarts, and more
A huge dessert room – with at least 3 tables worth of sweets- that included a station of fire and butter and firing Grand Marnier in making freshly made Crepes Suzette that made the whole room smell intoxicating – as well as a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more.
There was even more spectacular food I missed as I was with such great company that I couldn’t stop listening and chatting so I missed other great glimpses I saw only later on Instagram. Throughout the night the performances by the live musicians kept the vibrant atmosphere even more classy and just that je ne sais quoi to the ambiance, and a silent auction let you try your luck at winning.
It was an incredible event with hundreds toasting to France that night and really embodying the spirit and national motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity).
Although the event is over, you will still be able to find Beaujolais Nouveau at your stories, and the fact that it is a red that is bottled so young means it doesn’t absorb the usual red tannins, making it a great compromise between a white and a red. And, keep your eye out for this annual event next November. As you can see, the food and drinks were splendid. It also was great to have a fancy dress up event for a change, where you can pull out your little black dress to all out sequins and gowns that I saw among the guests.
Vive la France!
Disclosure: I was graciously provided a media pass for this event, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.
