Thornhill Club's Inaugural Wine Dinner: A Night of
Culinary Elegance
By Don Schram, The Thornhill Club
The Thornhill Club hosted its highly anticipated first-ever Wine Dinner, a sold-out event that delighted members with a perfectly curated pairing of gourmet dishes and exquisite wines. Held in our intimate Sunflake Grill, the night was a celebration of culinary creativity, with each course showcasing the masterful blend of flavours and textures, complemented by hand-selected wines from around the world.
The evening began with a trio of sophisticated bites: Burrata
Crostini with Dried Heirloom Tomato, Tuna Poke with Yuzu Aioli, and Duck
Croquette. These delectable hors d’oeuvres were paired with the crisp and refreshing 13th Street Blanc de Blanc Sparkling Wine (Niagara Chardonnay). Its pale straw hue and delicate bubbles set the tone for the luxurious dinner ahead.
Next was the Bitter Greens & Bourbon-Roasted Pear
Salad, featuring pomegranate, Stilton cheese, figs, candied walnuts, and a walnut vinaigrette, paired beautifully with Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve
Chenin Blanc (South Africa). The bone-dry wine’s floral richness and zesty acidity elevated the dish, offering a dynamic contrast to the salad's earthy and sweet flavours.
The First Course was a showstopper: a Butter-Poached
Canadian Lobster Tail on Crispy Shrimp Toast with spicy guacamole and lime crème fraîche. The Bouchard Père & Fils Pouilly-Fuissé (Burgundy Chardonnay) served alongside it featured savoury fruit notes with a flinty minerality, perfectly balancing the richness of the lobster.
For the Second Course, guests enjoyed a tender and flavourful Cornish Hen Ballotine, stuffed with Rougié foie gras and wild mushrooms, served with butternut squash purée and spiced baby carrots. Paired with the elegant Diora La Petite Grace Pinot Noir (Monterey, California), this dish highlighted the wine's brisk acidity and smoky red fruit notes, creating a harmony of bold yet refined tastes.
The Third Course brought a taste of indulgence with a succulent Australian Rack of Lamb, accompanied by charred eggplant purée, smoked tomato couscous, asparagus, and lamb jus. The robust Quercecchio
Brunello di Montalcino (Tuscany, Italy), with its cedar and red fruit notes, enhanced the smoky, savoury elements of the lamb dish, providing a rich, satisfying pairing.
The evening concluded on a sweet note with The Fall
Colours, a beautiful dessert featuring Chocolate Soil & Apple
Compote Platter, Olive Oil Sponge Cake with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting, and Apple Cinnamon Caviar, drizzled with Dulce de Leche. Paired with the decadent Anselmann Riesling Auslese (Pfalz, Germany), with its honeyed and fruity profile, the dessert was a delightful conclusion to an unforgettable culinary journey.
The Thornhill Club’s first Wine Dinner was a resounding success, offering members a unique opportunity to experience a marriage of fine dining and exceptional wine in an exclusive setting. Plans are already in motion for future events, promising even more unforgettable evenings to come.
Guest Reviews:
“Just wanted to tell you what an outstanding evening we
had on Wednesday. Many, many thanks to Tina’s team and Chef Stephan’s team for
putting together a wonderful menu and itinerary. Everything was perfect: the
room layout, the service, the menu, and of course the wines! Special thanks to
Guy for hosting with great information and an engaging, amusing style. What a
great night! Please pass along our thanks to all concerned.”
— Jill Anderson
“Great service yesterday. Felt very special. And the food
was uber delicious and unique.”
— Monika Jambrovic
“Thank you for the fantastic dinner and evening. The menu
was imaginative and well-executed. Service was impeccable, and the food was
delicious! We enjoyed all the courses – you outdid yourself. We hope you will
have many more evenings like this for us to enjoy. Kudos to all your team – you
should be very proud.”
— Claire Lemieux-Lamarche