Last night Cha Bella hosted its first ever Wine Dinner. Cha Bella with Lambert Bridge wines, presented an amazing five course menu of five star dishes accompanied by wines du jour. A cocktail hour preceeded the excitement filled dinner that started with a glass of 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (Dry Creek Valley), a Walker Farms celery and potato puree along with a Duck rillette and potato tuile, followed by 2006 Chardonnay (Sonoma County) with Maine Lobster gnocchi, baby Vidailia, grilled lettuce and an exquisite meyer lemon butter sauce.

The third course presented a 2007 Viognier (Sonoma County) accompanied by a local organic citrus salad with gorgonzola dolce and tangerine balsamic. The fourth course ushered in a 2005 Limited Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Sonoma County) with North Carolina scallops, pastured pork belly, king trumpet mushrooms and roasted local carrots.

However, they saved the best for last. For desert they served the best chocolate torte I’ve ever had, along with a 2007 Maple Vineyards Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley). The dark chocolate wasabi torte and Ginger-hamlin orange marmalade complimented the flavor sensors of my palate. Each wine delicately accented each course. Executive Chef Bryant Loeffer was among the many members of the Cha Bella staff that made the event successful. Owner Matthew Roher and manager Steve Howard offered a night of unadulterated excellence.

A number of people came out to share in the evening, including Thrive Café owner and chef Wendy Armstrong, Lambert Bridge wines partner Andy Wilcox, and Reid and Caroline Archer of the Bethesda Home for Boys; whom in addition to the boys, manage and farm an organic garden from which Cha Bella and a few other local restaurants purchase and recycle their produce. Cha Bella owners, staff, and Andy Wilcox maintained an exciting and inviting atmosphere as well as presented a scene for congregating with new and old acquaintances.

If you missed this grand event, you can always stop by Cha Bella and enjoy the wines, atmosphere and good eats during normal business hours.

By: Shade’ Summers