Wicked Wine Dinner at Butcher and Larder Last Night

Epicurean Exploits - Food and Recipes
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10 of the Chicago crew landed at The Butcher and Larder last night for a Chateauneuf focused debauchery. Rob Leavitt’s meal was extraordinary. Although primarily a whole animal butcher shop, Rob and crew do serve take-away sandwiches and other food stuffs, but does private dinners for groups on Saturday and Sunday nights. Rob is formerly from Mado (a Bucktown restaurant that closed soon after he and his wife left to establish B&L), and last night’s meal reminded my of his great talent in the kitchen that I’ve missed since he left Mado.

As for the menu:

Shaved Pig Head
Pâté Grande Mere
Smoked Ham

Duck Breast Carpaccio apples, celery, almonds

Roasted Oysters bone marrow butter, breadcrumbs

Sautéed Duck Liver Salad guanciale, sherry vinegar

Chestnut-Stuffed Short Ribs braised greens

Pear-Brown Butter Tart

All amazing. I’ll let others chime in on the wines, if they’d like. I think we had 23 or so bottles (including 3 mags) for 10 people, as well as a bottle of marc de bourgogne to end it. I remember what I liked, but did not take notes.

The purpose of this post - if you are looking for a location for a private dinner, can bring stems and don’t mind a very casual atmosphere (it is a butcher shop), it’s hard to beat B&L (unless you are a vegetarian)

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That sounds fantastic David!

I’ve gone there to buy meat, but didn’t realize that they also opened for private parties.

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Pretty sure my WOTN was the mag of 2000 Pegau. It was singing last night!

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Wish I had known about this.

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Bill - If we had room, you would have.

Mel - I knew that Pegau was on the mark when I pulled the cork. It is so fulfilling, given the misses that we all experience

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Did y’all organize this - e.g., were you the only people there? did you help set the menu / courses / price? Or did you take over an existing dinner Rob was already putting on?

Also- did he set up tables? or did you eat at the counter?

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It was organized b Phillip Cobb for us. Only we wine folks (10 of us) were there. We worked with Rob on price and menu (if I recall he had a $75 pp option and a $100 pp option (all inclusive). Rob is happy to do groups of 10 (maybe a couple less) - 15 on a private dinner basis, but I think he likes Sunday night for this.

He set up a couple of folding tables for the 10 of us at the front of the store. Paper/plastic table covers, paper napkins, pretty casual

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Thanks David. Sounds like a great option.

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Beef ribs cooking away…

tight spaces

a bit too tight for good photos (without really making a nuisance of one’s self…)

The first course

lots of wine for ten guys…

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I don’t see a couch for Whitehead.

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See that big butcher block behind the counter?

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I can confirm that Mr. Whitehead was awake for the entire dinner as well as post dinner beers and on the 45 minute ride home.

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The only thing you were missing was burgundy. Sounds great and it’s nice to know.

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Hey, Nick. We had one (a '99 Rion Vosne 1er (LBM?), if I recall (don’t trust me)). Also a couple of Italians (incl a '98 Conterno Cascina Francia), and a few old Cali pinots and cabs. Something for everyone.

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That was a great evening (other than trying to get in and out of the cabs)…

I think this is the complete list of wines …

2008 Cedric Bouchard Inflorescence Blanc des Noirs Champagne (my #2)
1996 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé
2003 Hirtzberger Riesling Hochwein Smaragd (my #1)
1994 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1.5L (my #3 tie)
2000 Pegau Reservee Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1.5L (my #3 tie)
2001 Usseglio Mon Aieul Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1.5L
2000 Mon Aieul
2001 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale Les Hautes Brusquières
2004 Marcoux VV Châteauneuf-du-Pape
1991 Sean Thackrey Sirius Petit Sirah
1997 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Vigna di Pianrosso
1998 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia Nebbiolo
1983 Hanzell Pinot Noir Pinot Noir
1998 Williams Selyem Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir (my #3 tie)
2004 Martinelli Blue Slide Ridge Pinot Noir
1999 Daniel Rion Vosne Romaneé Les Beaux Monts (did not taste)
1986 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace
1999 Ridge Monte Bello
1986 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Clos Haut Peyraguey Sauternes (my #3 tie)
1961 Marc de Bourgogne

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Didn’t we have a 2000 Mon Aieul (750) as well?

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I really like the 98 barolo’s right now.

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Yes and the Marcoux was 2004.

Great night, from what I can remember blush [cheers.gif]

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How can I forget. The Marcoux was in a very happy place

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List has been repaired… retrospectively, way too many bottles to give them the attention they deserved. Excess, in this case, was both fun, and wasteful.

Who am I, Victor?

pepsi