Ruth's Chris in Tarrytown to Host "Veuve Clicquot" Champagne-Paired Dinners

Ruth’s Chris Steak House in Tarrytown, NY will host two “Veuve Clicquot” prix-fixe dinners on consecutive evenings, Wednesday-Thursday, March 30-31, 2016. Each of the five courses to be served at these dinners will be beverage-paired.

The restaurant will also introduce “Wine-Down-Monday,” a wine tasting event priced at $45 per person, on April 18, 2016.

One seating time for each of the two “Veuve Clicquot” dinners is scheduled, at 6:30 p.m. The cost to participate is $120 per person plus tax and gratuity.

The main course on Executive Chef KC Rothbart’s menu will be filet mignon with Roquefort cheese and port butter accompanied by Veuve Clicquot brut champagne, vintage 2004.

Veuve Clicquot is a very old and famous champagne house in Reims, France (about 80 miles north of Paris); it was headed for much of the nineteenth century by a woman named Barbe-Nicole Clicquot who married a wealthy banker/trader and wine producer named François Clicquot in 1798. She was 27 when he died six years later (although his cause of death is unknown, it is believed to be from typhoid fever).

Following her husband’s death and with the backing of her father-in-law, Barbe-Nicole assumed control of the family businesses -- one of which was a winery. At that time, it was unprecedented for a woman to run businesses of any kind.

She discovered and introduced revolutionary ways to produce champagne -- the techniques she developed remain in use today. She would come to be known as Madame “Veuve Clicquot” (Widow Clicquot) and after achieving world-wide fame, she was called the "Grande Dame of Champagne." She died in 1866 at the age of 89.

Five-course menu

• First course. Rolled salmon sashimi. Bermuda onion, daikon and cucumber salad, and Yuca chips
• Second course. Lobster and corn chowder. Fresh chive oil
• Third course. Sunchoke and endive salad. Aged parmesan, radish, goat cheese dressing and balsamic reduction
• Entrée. Filet mignon. With roquefort cheese and port butter. Spaghetti squash and Brussels sprouts with garlic mashed potatoes
• Dessert. Lemon curd and french meringue tart. Fresh raspberries and raspberry coulis

Beverages to be paired

• First course. Raspberry peach bellini
• Second course. Brut Yellow Label
• Third course. Rose
• Entrée. Brut champagne, vintage 2004
• Dessert. Demi sec

Chef Rothbart received a degree in Culinary Arts and Chef Training from The Culinary Institute of America in 2006.

Securing a reservation for one of the “Veuve Clicquot” dinners will require a credit card number. If a reservation is not cancelled 24 hours in advance of the event, a $50 fee will be charged. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Private Dining and Catering Manager Jennifer D’Errico at 914-631-3311.

“Wine-Down-Monday,” to take place on April 18, 2016, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., will include wine-tasting stations with wine from California, France, Italy and other countries available for sampling. Hors d’oeuvres, such as seared ahi tuna and mini-steak skewers, will be passed. The cost is $45 per person. To obtain more information or make a reservation, contact Jennifer D’Errico, Private Dining and Catering Manager, at 914-631-3311.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House is located in The Westchester Marriott, 670 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY 10591, 914-631-3311.

Photo: Executive Chef KC Rothbart