Chateau de Montfaucon Winemaker Dinner Sunday, April 17

The dinner menu features foods from this area in France.  The wines will be presented by M. Rodolphede Pins, the winemaker of his family’s estate, Chateau de Montfaucon. The chateau, which is the oldest occupied castle in France at about nine hundred years old, sits across the Rhône River from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. M. de Pins is a graduate of the UC Davis school of Oenology and Viticulture and has made wine in Australia and in Chateauneuf-du-Pape at Vieux Telegraphe, one of the most prestigious wineries in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This will be a unique opportunity to taste the complex and elegant Rhône wines produced by Chateau du Montfaucon and to learn about them from the winemaker in person. How often do we have the opportunity to hear from a winemaker from France in Bend?

Patricia Green Winemaker Dinner Wednesday, March 30.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011, Willamette Valley star winemaker Patricia Green co-owner and winemaker for Patricia Green Cellars will be pouring current releases as well as library selections (some from magnums) at a five-course dinner prepared by Chef Timothy Garling.  Most people familiar with Patty Green wines say they are accessible when young, and age well in the cellar. At this dinner you will get chance to test this statement as she has included selections from the 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2009 vintages.

As Ken Wright said, “She so obviously loves what she is doing and she wears that enjoyment. She loves it right down to her soul.”  The cost for this special event is $90.  Reservations are required. For more information call the restaurant (541.318.8435) or e-mail the Jackalope Grill

10 Commandments of Ethical Eating

Alan Richman, GQ’s Food and Travel writer spent 30 days trying to dine ethically.  An article in the July GQ titled “Eat No Evil,” describes his quest.  I think that my favorite is “If you have to eat in airports, don’t.”  Another is “Transform your front lawn into a garden (be prepared for neighbors to consider you a fruitcake– or worse, a European).” (Ooops, here is a photo of our front lawn garden.) The article is not online but he has distilled some of his conclusions down to these ten commandments.