Wine lovers in Jersey City will have the chance to explore the flavors of Spain and Portugal next month, as 87 Sussex prepares to host a Curated Wine Experience spotlighting Iberian producers.
The event, set for Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m., will pair a five-course, chef-inspired tasting menu with selections from Anselmo Mendes, Frontonio, Aphros, and Diego Magaña of Anza. The dinner will be led by Theo, the restaurant's wine director, who said the evening is meant to highlight both the wines and the winemakers behind them.
"This dinner is an opportunity to celebrate Iberian winemaking through an intimate and memorable dining experience," Theo said in a statement. "Each course has been created to bring out the personality of the wines and give guests a deeper appreciation for the producers behind them."
Executive Chef Brian Walter who hails from Fanwood / Scotch Plains, has built the menu around the pairings, starting with Bolinhos de Bacalhau — salt cod fritters with potato, parsley, and piri-piri aioli — followed by roasted Atlantic hake with littleneck clams, couve galega, potato, and coriander broth.
The third course brings quail with Jamón de Teruel, migas, Mission fig, and rosemary, while the main course features vine-grilled lamb loin served with patatas a la Riojana and piquillo pepper in a natural jus. The meal closes with an almond and olive oil cake finished with caramelized orange, Pedro Ximénez raisins, and crème fraîche.
Tickets are $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and reservations are required given limited seating. Guests can book through the restaurant or by calling (551) 256-7864 or emailing info@87sussex.com.
87 Sussex is located at 87 Sussex Street in Jersey City's Paulus Hook neighborhood, next door to sister restaurant Sátis Bistro. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 10 p.m., with brunch served Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Chef Walter, an honorary James Beard Foundation member, trained at New York's French Culinary Institute and has spent more than two decades cooking at restaurants including Le Cirque 2000, Lespinasse, Guastavino's, and Carmine's in Times Square. He has been named one of NJ Life Magazine's "Top 5 Chefs in NJ" and has appeared as a guest chef on Good Morning America, NBC, and FOX5's Good Day NY.
More information is available at www.87sussex.com or on Instagram @87sussex.
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