American Country Blast

La Chaine des Rotisseurs held its fellowship dinner with Michel and Amparito Lhuillier, National and Local President, hosting the event at their residenceat the La Vista, Ma. Luisa Banilad.

The necessary requisite to recreate the theme of an "American Country" such as country music, square dancing, grilling stations, free flowing wines and spirits, and American cuisine were present that night for all guest to savor and enjoy. And even the heavens cooperated with a clear night sky for this garden buffet.

Your favorite food columnist once wrote an article about American cuisine to mark the occasion of the Stars and Stripes: An American Food Festival held at the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort & Spa last July 2009. My beloved readers do remember about the classification of American food into regions and the ingredients and dishes found in such regions.

Very simple country foods from the USA were served during the dinner such as Waldorf salad, Fruit salad, Pork & Beans with Bacon Casserole, Sautéed Spinach with Corn, Texan Baby Back Ribs, and U.S. Prime Roast Beef with Gravy. Carbohydrates came from the Pumpkin Bread and Corn Bread Muffins while desserts served were the Pecan Pie and Carrot Cake.

Waldorf salad had its beginnings in Waldorf Hotel in New York City in 1896 and the original recipe had apples, celery and mayonnaise. Later, chopped walnuts were added and it became so popular that it became an integral dish in country fairs.

The Texan Baby Back Ribs comes from the sides of the pork carcass and what makes the dish worthy to be served to a gourmet society is the choice of Chef Brando Perez and Pino Restaurant GM Joel del Prado of the variety of the pig; it has to come from the Kurobuta or Japanese Black Pig. Not all pigs are created equal and anything less, excuse me, is good only for the carenderias and cafeterias!

Pork and beans is often considered as "cowboy food" and the original recipe has only three ingredients: beans, salt pork and pepper. Later, stewed tomatoes were added by Gilbert Van Camp who sold the dish to the US Army in the American Civil War. The La Chaine version had whole sliced bacon toppings in the casserole.

These dishes were more than enough to be considered a proper meal and they were my favorites that night. But this is a gourmet society; more dishes were available such as the Sautéed Spinach with Corn and U.S. Prime Roast Beef with Gravy. A perfect close to this wonderful dinner with friends was the Pecan pie.

In keeping to the theme about the American Country, beer like San Mig Light draft beer and Californian wines were served. But the membership of La Chaine is international so other wines were also available like the Champagne Lhuillier Brut and some collectibles from Michel's private wine cellar, the Chateau Mouton Roschild Paullac 750 ML 2004 which retail at a mere US$282.63 and the Pavillon Rouge 1995 du Château Margaux available at a cheaper price of US$ 147.44.

As I have said before, the wines I desire I could no longer afford but when it is available from very generous friends, I am guided by the adage, “Life is too short to drink bad wine!”