Greer's OC

Experience a special French culinary event that will leave Francophiles and foodies in a land of ooh-la-la. St. Regis Monarch Beach will be unveiling Beaujolais Nouveau, a special fermented wine, paired with a fine French feast created by Executive Chef Fredric Castan on Thursday, Nov. 17.

The reception starts at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Each year, grape growers in Beaujolais France honor the end of the harvest by making a celebratory wine fermented for only a short time.

Guests will convene on the sunset terrace of Motif and enjoy savory canapés and Beaujolais Nouveau, followed by Chef Castan’s four-course menu inspired by Georges DuBoeuf wines and Lyon, considered the gourmet epicenter of France. The dinner will be featuring traditional dishes such as quenelle de brochet and bavette marchand de vin.

At the reception enjoy saucisson sec and duck rillette on toasted baguette with purple mustard cervelles des canuts; and fresh cow cheese with herbs on toasted walnut baguette. There will also be beef bourguignon, crisp shallots in a spoon; adour smoked salmon gougère; and baby beets Napoleon, and truffles vinaigrette.

The dinner starts with salade Lyonnaise frisee and mache lettuces, pancetta crisp and quail egg brioche with warm bacon vinaigrette. The second course is a quenelle de brochet with Great Lake Pike mousseline, crawfish, morel and Pouilly Fuisse Veloute. Third course is a bavette marchand de vin with grilled marinated flap steak, Beaujolais and shallot jus; Lyonnaise potatoes with petit organic vegetables. Dessert with poire vigneronne, red wine poached French butter pear, filled with almond cream, sable breton, caramel sauce and vin chaud ice cream.

Tickets cost $80 and include all wine and food selections. Price exclusive of tax and gratuity. Space is limited. Tickets are available through Jacqueline Doti at 949.234.3405 or atjacqueline.doti@stregis.com.

Motif is at the St. Regis Monarch Beach at One Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point.