FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tess Baraquio
Phone: (808) 592 8881
Email: manager@viaggiohonolulu.com
Contact: Paul Skellon
The Harris Agency
Phone: (808) 946 4525
Email: pauls@harris-agency.com
| (Honolulu, Hawaii. June 6, 2019) – Attenzione! Viaggio Restaurant is presenting another outstanding taste sensation with their second in the series of summer wine pairing dinners – Quando L’Italia incontra La California! Executive Chef Rodney Uyehara has again created a unique and delicious, six-course wine-paired menu on which he collaborated and will present together with J.Wilkes winemaker Wes Hagen. Viaggio Restaurant General Manager, Gregg Fraser said, “We are excited to welcome and partner with J.Wilkes Wines for this next in our series of six-course, summer wine-pairing dinners which bring together delicious Italian-inspired cuisine with the distinct flavors of California’s Central Coast region Santa Maria Valley wines.” Limited to sixty guests, this one-night-only wine pairing, six-course dinner will feature delicacies such as a Polpi Amuse-bouche, a tasty braised grilled octopus salad with Tobiko Caviar and Olokai sea asparagus, paired with Ferrari Rose which has a delicate harmony between the elegance of Chardonnay and the structure of Pinot Nero. The refined bouquet of berries in this wine will set the palette up perfectly for the culinary delights to follow. The antipasta is a house-made Scaloppine al Burro Bianco, a succulent jumbo pan-seared scallop nestled on a bed of lightly-sauteed kale with heirloom tomatoes, drizzled with Asian Pear Italian Beurre Blanc sauce and paired with a 2017 J.Wilkes Pinot Blanc. This delicious white wine has round, ripe stone fruit on the attack, layered with stony minerals in the mid-palate and finishing with refreshing structure and mouth-watering acidity. Cioppino Frutti di Mare paired with 2017 J.Wilkes Chardonnay marks the halfway point of this sumptuous dinner. The seafood medley of Kauai prawns, calamari, lobster, clams and fresh fish are slow-simmered in Chef Rodney’s Signature saffron, tomato broth pairs perfectly with the Chardonnay’s hints of Granny Smith apple, wet chalk, savory French oak and browned butter. Red wine lovers get ready for this next course which pairs Italian Sausage and Canellini Bean Cassoulet, Chef Rodney’s special pork and bean stew, served au gratin, and J.Wilkes 2017 Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir. Watch out as red and blueberry fruit seemingly leap from the glass of this bright aromatic wine. The menu now moves on to a classic, but too rarely seen, succulent Veal Marsala served with mushrooms and Marsala wine sauce. It’s now time to bring out the big guns and this tender veal is paired with 2017 Wilkes Cabernet Sauvigon with integrated flavors of ripe blackberry, dark-roasted coffee and chocolate, integrated with fine tannins and a long, fruit-filled finish. The Gran Finale of this sumptuous dinner is none other than the historic wine of Ferrari Trento,Ferrari Brut Champagne accompanied by Dark Chocolate and Orange Wafer Cookies. Ebullient J.Wilkes winemaker, Wes Hagen said, “ You really know that life is treating you kindly when you get to come to Hawaii and pair the great wines of Central California with the exquisite flavors inspired by Italian cuisine” He added, “ I wish to thank Gregg, Chef Uyehara and all the Viaggio Restaurant team for their hospitality and this opportunity to showcase our J.Wikes wines.” To access a detailed description and eye-catching high res images of the wine-pairing menu click here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a1ny5r1hie5rdie/AAA1IzWRdfQBf-b5USkZcKRRa?dl=0 To secure an online reservation, please visit: http://bit.ly/2QN9r62 To learn more about this wine-pairing dinner, please visit: http://bit.ly/2QSo7AL ### |
| ABOUT VIAGGIO From the depths of Italy’s southern waters with its world-famous seafood to the rich, indulgent risottos by the culinary maestros of the north, award-winning Chef Rodney Uyehara has traveled through the multifaceted legacy of Italian cuisine, infusing these tastes with a flourish of local Hawaiian flavors to craft a menu as alluring as the country to which it pays homage. Located in Velocity Restaurant, 888 Kapiolani Blvd, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96813 Keiki friendly. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available. Complimentary valet parking. Hours: Monday-Sunday (seven days a week) Happy Hour: 4:00pm- 6:00pm Dinner: 5:00pm- 9:00pm Live Entertainment (Friday-Saturday): 8:00pm-10:00pm Special on-site events for up to 400 guest and outside catering also available. To learn more about all our menus and activities, visit: https://viaggiohonolulu.com/ ABOUT J.WILKES Jeff Wilkes was a winegrower and wine grape salesman at Bien Nacido and Solomon Hills Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, as well as French Camp Vineyard in the Paso Robles Highlands for twenty years (1981-2001). After a long and rewarding career, with the support of his long time employer and friend, he launched his own wine in 2001. After his untimely death in 2010 his label was re-launched as a tribute to his unwavering love of the Santa Maria Valley and his commitment to value and quality. ABOUT WES HAGEN In 2013, Michael Cervin, of the Wall Street Journal, Decanter, rated Wes as one of the 100 most influential winemakers in The United States. Wes worked as Vineyard Manager and Winemaker at Clos Pepe Vineyard and Estate Wines in the Sta. Rita Hills for 21 years and is considered an industry leader in Santa Barbara wines. Wes taught the Food and Wine Pairing program at Allan Hancock College for four years and has lectured in the History of Wine and Santa Barbara Wine, at Cornell University, Cal Tech and many other prestigious institutions. Wes has been called one of the most charismatic, entertaining and eloquent speakers, delivering profound wisdom, and insight with an energetic, mesmerizing style and wit. Wes Hagen is today the Winemaker and Ambassador for J. Wilkes Wines. |