Courtesy of: Aruba Daily
Palm Beach — Castello Banfi’s Michela Dominici, Sommelier and Key Ambassador to the World for Banfi Estate hosted an exceptional Wine Pairing Dinner at the elegant AAA 4-diamond rated Sunset Grille, Radisson Aruba Resort Casino & Spa recently, with many locals and visitors in attendance. Dominici also hosted a series of wine seminars in collaboration with Raymond Rivera, Banfi’s Export Manager and Clive Faustin the resident Wine Artist of Romar Trading, the local purveyor of fine wines and spirits.
The Radisson’s culinary experts, inspired by Castello Banfi delivered a marvelous evening, taking diners on a tasting voyage of the most wonderful wines chased by a delectable five-course menu.
The Italian-accented dinner took off with a Trio of Tomato, Chicken and Prosciutto Bruschetta, followed by hearty Shrimp Fra Diavolo. The third course, a traditional Veal Parmigiana, was pursued by a Grilled Top Sirloin with Cremini mushrooms, on a bed of Fettuccini Primavera. For dessert, a Pistachio Brittle Cheesecake was served with a mixed berry sauce.
Dominici, enchanted by the food and the service at the restaurant shared that she started at the legendary winery fifteen years ago, fresh from a Florence university, where she graduated in the English, French and German languages, not knowing anything about wine, but as the castle was conveniently close to her home, she was hired by the wine shop, where she became an expert on the castle’s products, evolving into the global ambassador of the brand. As she loves travelling for the company, she crisscrossed Italy and Europe and just ventured into the Caribbean for the first time for a twelve day training trip to Aruba and Puerto Rico.
According to Dominici the wait staff she encountered on the island is very well trained and professional and she was totally impressed by the Radisson’s executive chef Kien Fat Lie Kwie and by owner-chef Vittorio, of Hostaria da Vittorio, with whom she collaborated on special winery events.
