During the lowest parts of isolation that Covid brought us, Avid Vines created a series of virtual tastings that combined local chefs, local musicians, sommeliers, and the winemaker himself, Julien Tixier, into an hour of cuisine, culture, and champagne. As one participant described the monthly experience we did 7 times, “This is my therapy!”
After the pandemic receded and life returned to a new normal, there’s been a return to restaurants, mainly in the Atlanta area, where André Tixier gets poured. Restaurants are thrilled to be back at serving and hosting patrons. People are eager to catch up with friends and share new stories. It would be near impossible to recreate the same experiences we did during the pandemic, wouldn’t it? We decided to give it a try in the form of organizing in-person, private dinners. Our first one was earlier this month on February 9th in Dallas, Texas at the private dining room of our retail partner, Roots and Water, and our amazing host, AJ McClellan. Our invited chef was Justin Box, whose culinary training owes much to the legendary Chef Stephan Pyles.
Here was the menu:
Chef Justin Box’s menu
You’ll notice special attention given to the location of several ingredients. Expressing in-season, local produce, and bringing it to the plate with plenty of intentional and lite intervention, is a hallmark of Chef Justin Box’s fine cuisine. It also happens to be the same approach as Julien Tixier. The Premier Cru champagne grapes that go into every bottle are picked by hand by Julien’s team – there’s not a single grape purchased from anyone else – in the Premier Cru designated vineyards, much less anywhere else in the Champagne region. In one evening attendees got to experience a focus on locality of ingredients. That’s terroir, my friends. On the fork and in the glass.
Here are three of the certified sustainable, organic André Tixier & Fils Premier Cru Brut Champagnes we included as pairings. The prices listed gave attendees the option to purchase bottles after the meal. There’s also an invitation to reserve an allocation of the champagnes via the Avid Vines Wine Club.
Champagne Pairings from André Tixier & Fils
The private dinner experience was different from a restaurant reservation. The invitation delivered what’s become a rarity since our return from the pandemic: an occasion where dinner IS the evening. No rushed service, no shouting over the din of a filled dining room, and other than specific consideration for food allergies, no exhaustive list of choices and options. Chef Justin Box was the artist in residence and delivered a menu he wanted to share with those who were willing to let him be their Guide.
I wish I had taken more pictures of the dishes – they were incredible!
This incredible team of talent came together for the first time but delivered an experience so finely dialed in, it looked like old hands who had done this a thousand times.
This was the first time we did this collaboration, but it will not be the last. Private dinners with talented chefs, paired with incredible food-friendly champagnes, break barriers and learn first-hand how the meal comes together and how the pairings enhance key flavors. I love the open minds that these fortunate participants brought with them and the fulfillment they enjoyed when it was time to say goodbye! Be on the lookout for future private dinners in Atlanta and various cities. If you subscribe to the newsletter, you’ll see the invite in your inbox. If you are not yet subscribed, please do it!
Santé and with deep gratitude,
David
