| Northwest Wine Fan Visits "The Herbfarm" |
| The Herbfarm staff busily preparing the evening's bounty. |
| The Herbfarm Restaurant 14590 NE 145th Street Woodinville, Wa 98072 425-485-5300 www.theherbfarm.com Proprietors Ron Zimmerman & Carrie Van Dyck Cuisine Seasonal Pacific Northwest Days Open Thursday to Sunday for Dinner Reservations Required Dress Dressy Casual |
| Talk to the Cellarmasters: Tim & Carolyn Sinniger northwestwinefan@msn.com |
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| If great food, impeccable service, spot on wine pairings and a truly memorable dining experience are your idea of a perfect evening, then you must put The Herbfarm as one of your top restaurants to visit! Join us as we attend a dinner celebration of Dr. Ernst Loosen (world renowned Riesling maker) and Chateau Ste Michelle titled "Vision for the Vine - 10th Anniversary Eroica Dinner" |
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| Your evening starts out with a tour of the herb garden with host Carrie Van Dyck. Many of the fresh from the garden ingredients for dinner are sourced right here. |
| The cellar at the Herbfarm is considered one of the best in the country by most critics, with over 25,000 bottles and 4,200 selections. Before dinner you are allowed to walk about the cellar and visit with Ron Zimmerman. |
| Dr. Ernst Loosen (pictured right) arrives! The evening started off with a glass of Saint M Riesling while guests visited with Dr. Loosen and Chateau Ste Michelle luminaries in the foyer. |
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| Located just across the street from Chateau Ste Michelle and adjacent to the Willows Lodge, The Herbfarm is convenient to most attractions in Woodinville. |
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| There are many great restaurants in the world and right here in the Northwest we are lucky to have "The Herbfarm" as one of our country's great dining experiences. Located in Woodinville Washington, The Herbfarm has but one seating a night and reservations are always necessary. Your culinary experience is built around themes such as "Truffle Treasure" and "The Hunter's Table." Your evening consists of a garden tour, 9 course meal matched with wine, wine talk and romantic guitar music. With dinner clocking in at 4-5 hours it is hard to conceive a more pleasurable and hedonistic dining experience. Every detail is planned and executed to perfection. |
| Carolyn's favorite plate of the evening "Foie Gras Short Stack" started right here hours before the dinner. |
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| The menu for "A Vision of the Vine" 10th Anniversary Eroica Dinner |
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| James Beard Award winner and The Herbfarm Executive Chef, Keith Luce |
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| Proprietor of The Herbfarm Carrie Van Dyck |
| Proprietor of The Herbfarm Ron Zimmerman |
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| Your evening consists of 9 small plate courses like the one to your right. Don't let the size fool you, this is some of the best food we have ever experienced! |
Our evening started with a glass of Saint M Riesling and canapes were served as we conversed and mingled in the foyer. This took the place of the usual tour of the herb garden due to inclement weather. Ron Zimmerman manages the wine cellar and acquisitions. Before dinner he opens the cellar and is there to answer questions. As I walked in, two patrons were taking in the aroma from an empty decanter. Upon asking I learned that a couple of nights earlier a customer had ordered a bottle of Madeira, a 1795 Compania Vinicola do Madeira Terrantez. It was the oldest bottle in The Herbfarm Cellar and cost $10,000. Instead of washing the decanter afterwards Ron put the glass stopper back in the decanter. As I put my nose to the decanter...Oh what a heavenly 200 year old aroma. Thanks Ron! The dinner was a celebration of the 10 year partnership of Dr. Ernst Loosen and Chateau Ste Michelle's Eroica Riesling. A dizzying array of Rieslings were served, but perhaps the best was the rare 1999 Eroica Single Berry Select Riesling poured from magnum (1 of 3 produced). Served with Carolyn's favorite dish of the evening Foie Gras "Short Stack" which consisted of Apricot-Vanilla-Stuffed Brioche Pain Perdue with Seared Foie Gras, Alaskan Sea Salt and Caramel-British Columbia Big Leaf Maple Blossom Syrup, the combination was ethereal. It wowed the entire room! The service is seamless. When a botlle of wine was not showing well, staff quietly wisked away the glasses, new ones appeared and new wine was poured. A word never had to be spoken...they just know! This was our second dining experience at The Herbfarm and it was simply magnificent, just as our first visit was. When making a reservation we recommend you ask to sit at one of the "European" styled tables where you can enjoy your experience and make new friends. Follow the link here to find out more about The Herbfarm Experience |
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| The Willows Lodge 14580 NE 145th Street Woodinville, WA 98072 425-424-3900 877-424-3930 (Toll Free) www.willowslodge.com |
| If you are going to dinner at the Herbfarm we highly recommend the added experience of staying at The Willows Lodge. Located in the same enclave as The Herbfarm and Barking Frog restaurants (pictured right) it is a walk of less than 100 feet to get to either. The Willows is luxurious with a Northwest theme. All rooms come with a fireplace and the nicest bathing area we have ever seen in a hotel. Digital controlled showers and a steeping tub that is open to your room adds a romantic quality to your visit. |
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