Max Lunch Club 2019 Season Dates

“One of the best value food and wine events around, period.”

I am very pleased to announce the dates for our upcoming season of Max Lunch Club events at Max’s Oyster Bar, in West Hartford Center.

For years, we have been presenting great offerings of wine and food combinations in essentially what is a trimmed down wine dinner, but delivered at lunch (and always on a Friday). I try and make sure that we are visited by winery and industry processionals that have an interesting perspective on the topic at hand, and can give our Lunch Club guests some great insight to the wines we are featuring. All of this paired with Chef Bob Peterson’s creations make for a great way to enjoy an afternoon, and a civilized luncheon.

Additionally, I take a lot of professional pleasure and pride in making these selections and pouring the wines that I have hand-selected for each event. Bringing the various guest speakers to our market and introducing them to the Lunch Club members is such a great way to work with wine that I have discovered and enjoy – I hope you agree.

Here is the list of dates that will be filled for the 2019 season, and while all topics have not been filled in quite yet – I am working to get these topics filled shortly, and will be updating as I gets commitments.

As always we ask our guest to arrive at 12:45, and generally plan to start the event at 1pm. We will also be continuing our partnership with the Wise Old Dog wine shop in West Hartford on all of these events.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or comments.

Cheers!

Brian Mitchell, Director of Wine and Beverages for the Max Restaurant Group

January 25th – Rhone Wines through the lens of the Famille Perrin

For this date we venture to the Rhone Valley and taste selections from the Perrin family, owners of Chateau de Beaucastel, perhaps considered to be the premier Chateauneuf-du-Pape estate. The Perrins have been a long-standing favorite of mine, and they continue to develop new wines and regions to show the diversity of the wine regions of southern France. Paul Nerz of Vineyard Brands, the import company responsible for the Perrin wines in the US, will be on hand to present.

Click here to see the full menu.

February 22 – Thom Horsey of Ste. Michelle Estates

Wine Educator Thom Horsey of Ste Michelle Estates pays us a visit and will be presenting wines from the larger portfolio of this top producer. Stay tuned for the specif wines and menu.

March 25 – TBD

April 12th – Matteo Bolla from Valdo Winery – a Perspective on Prosecco

Prosecco is about the hottest wine category going over the past ten years, only surpassed perhaps by Rose (who would have thought?). The Bolla family has been making exceptional Sparkling wines north of Venice since the 1930s, and the current generation has been working hard to make it event better. Matteo Bolla is an exceptional ambassador for the family winery and the region as a whole. See why Prosecco is not just a note wine, but a diverse region with complex wines.

May 17th – TBD

June 14th – TBD

July 12th – Loire Valley from Sancerre to Saumur

This past year I had the pleasure to travel to the Loire and experience some phenomenal wines from regions that are familiar to some, but less well-known to others. For this lunch I will be presenting a selection of wines from top producers I met on my travels.

August 9th – TBD

September 13th – TBD

October 4th – TBD

October 25th – TBD

November 22nd – 6TH Annual Beaujolais Luncheon

This has become an annual favorite, and a lunch that I personally really enjoy. Each year I present a Beaujolais Nouveau from the current release, which is allowed to be released just the day before to the world. This is followed by a selection of top wines from smaller producers that have contributed to the absolute turn-around in everyone’s view of the Beaujolais region. The leader in authentic and pure wines, this is the new frontier of exceptional value and food-friendly wines from France. Chef usually pairs with some classic French dishes, making this all the better for foodies!

2016-11-18-lc-beaujolais

Beaujolais in the Modern Era

The Max Lunch Club
Featuring Wines from Beaujolais Region of Southern Burgundy

With Guest Speaker Brian Mitchell
Beverage Director, Max Restaurant Group

Friday, November 18
12:45 arrival | 1:00pm seating

Beaujolais is a wine and a region that has seen a tremendous resurgence over the past few years. Recognized for the high quality wines the region can and does produce, mainly by the many smaller domaines that for years have been over-shadowed by larger negociant firms. For this edition of The Friday Lunch Club, Brian Mitchell guides you through selections from Village and Cru level, including the first wines from the new harvest – Beaujolais Nouveau 2016.

Cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Hunter Morton

From the Chef – “Fernand Point has always been one of my true cooking inspirations. From learning about him in school in gastronomy he immediately sparked my interest, I wrote a paper on him, studied his cuisine. His restaurant La Pyramide located in Vienne, an old Roman town south of Lyon was highly regarded as one the best. He was considered the father of Modern French Cuisine, turning out legendary chefs such as Paul Bocuse. Point was a chef and philosopher, who embraced the dining room as much as the kitchen, inviting all walks into his restaurant. One of the greatest gifts he gave was his book Ma Gastronome.
Today’s menu is in honor of this great chef.”

A M U S E-B O U C H E
Domaine des Terres Dorées by Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais Nouveau, 2016
Brochettes D’Huitres
skewered Copps Island oysters and bacon

1 S T  C O U R S E
Domaine Dupeuble Beaujolais Villages, 2015
Bisque d’Ecrevisses
crawfish bisque | truffles

2 N D   C O U R S E
Jean Paul Brun Beaujolais L’Ancien, 2015
Filets de Soles Georges Pleynet
poached sole | mushrooms | tomatoes | noodles | sovereign sauce

3 R D   C O U R S E

Domaine Diochin Moulin-a-Vent Vieille Vigne, 2015
Volaille Pyramide
roast chicken | truffles | carrots | puff pastry | creamed spinach

S O M E T H I N G   S W E E T
Marjolaine
La Pyramides Famous Cake

$42.00 per person
(not including tax or gratuity)

Please call for reservations
860.236.6299