Joel’s Place brought guests on a culinary journey last March 21, 2024, through Cocina de Chile, a captivating evening of Chilean food and wine. The event featured a vibrant four-course dinner expertly paired with wines from Vina Montes winery, curated by the knowledgeable Mr. Juan Yanez.
The four-course meal started with an enticing opener: Passionfruit Tuna Ceviche, delicately infused with a refreshing agua fresca—a popular beverage in Latin American regions. This appetizer is made with fresh bluefin tuna blended with the tangy essence of Curumba passionfruit and a hint of chili, delivering a burst of flavor in every bite. Paired with Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Chardonnay, it set the stage for an evening of epicurean delights.
Guests were next introduced to Valdiviano, a time-honored traditional Chilean food that transcends generations. This vegetable soup features charki (beef jerky), elevated with the warmth and spice of merken, a smoked aji pepper and coriander blend. The hearty soup was well complemented by the Kaiken Ultra Malbec 2019, which made guests savor the richness of Chilean flavors.
The star of the Chilean food journey, was the main course of the night—Lomo a la Pobre. This dish is Chile’s flavorful twist on classic steak frites with grilled beef onglet dish. Tender beef is accompanied by twice-cooked fries, caramelized onions, runny eggs, and a zesty chimichurri sauce—all paired with the Montes Purple Angel Carmenere Petit Verdot 2020 and Montes Wings 2020.
As the evening drew to a close, guests were served a decadent dessert: Flan Casero, the classic Crema Catalana with a Latin American Flair. It had a velvety tocino del cielo base, accompanied by a luscious dulce de leche mousse and a hazelnut crunch infused with aromatic spices of cinnamon and cloves. The unique dessert, with a flavor profile reminiscent of mulled wine, matched perfectly with the Montes 2022 Outer Limits Syrah and left a lasting impression on guests’ palates as the Chilean dinner came to an end.
At Joel’s Place, we celebrate the diverse culinary heritage of the world and share unforgettable food experiences through our special events. Join us at our next events and subscribe to our newsletter, The List, for the latest event updates and exclusive offerings.
