I began my Valentine’s Weekend journey on Thursday night with wines and chocolates at Binny’s in River Grove. First, I sampled the “manager’s selection.” Jerry Izzo offered me the smooth South African Mulderbosch Cabernet Rose, followed by the exquisite Emilio Moro Tinto Ribera del Duero, made with 100 percent Tempranillo grapes found in northeastern Spain. I also had Gramona Grand Cuvee Cava, a sparkler from the same region and Pazo Senorans Albarino, a benchmark Spanish red. I rinsed my palate with Joseph Perrier Brut Cuvee Royale champagne and a chocolate. Ooh la la!
The next stop was Unity Temple Restoration Foundation’s wine and chocolate fundraiser. Foundation spokesperson Emily Roth explained “this fundraising helps more people learn about the urgent need to restore this cultural treasure.” She then took me over to meet the delightful Sue Jang from the Marion Street Cheese Market who started me off with Stella Rosa Sparkling Red from Italy’s Piedmont region and paired it with Katherine Anne Champagne and Raspberry Chocolate. I’m not too thrilled about raspberry, which I could definitely taste, but to be honest, I understood why the two were paired. I most definitely understood why the working-class wonder of Gran Sarao Cava Brut, an affordable sparkler, was coupled with Katherine Anne’s Citrus Truffle. The lemon, orange and lime mixed well with the grapes and the semisweet chocolate.
What could top this off but, of course, a trip to House Red in Forest Park? While the chocolate did not compare to Unity Temple’s, the wines were superb, particularly Duval Leroy French champagne, a dry, yeasty, fruity, flavorful drink that made me forget I was practically the only guy in this crowded event.
On Saturday, I went to Kemmy and Tom’s annual Oak Park-based private Valentine’s Day party. Her sons, dressed in black and white, took a break from “Call of Duty” video games to be butlers for the night. Their house was decorated with reds and pinks. Desserts were plentiful, as were the red bubbly concoctions Kemmy mixed to help my wife and I celebrate our sons’ admissions to the colleges of their choice.
The only thing that could top this off was a lecture, entirely in French, by author Muriel Bloch at Alliance Francaise in Chicago. According to this premiere French cultural conduit in the Midwest, Bloch, “France’s best storyteller,” wove tales of Saint Valentin, Conte D’amour. I drank a toast to love with Gruet Rose.