Sheraton Selects New Zealand Launch Celebration

I was invited to this event by their social media team. Starwood likes to do small launch parties in their different markets and this one happened to be in Boston. The social media team sent my information to the Starwood corporate who were planning this event. The corporate team was looking for local members to attend this type of event. I was able to bring a guest but couldn’t find anyone that wanted a free dinner and my wife was on her way to China.

The launch celebration took place at the Sheraton Boston Hotel. The event was very small and intimate, which was very cool. There was a short cocktail hour before the dinner. It was pouring rain outside, the first day in a month, so this may have limited the attendance that evening. I met Chris Heuisler, who became Westin’s Run Concierge last year. He also represents Westin whenever they are the host hotel for the Rock n Roll Marathon series. It is very cool that he is local but he travels almost every week for various events and races. We talked about our upcoming races and I will be seeing him in Vegas in November and also in Phoenix in January.

Sheraton selected their menu to have a New Zealand focus. They also picked a New Zealand wine for their social hour as well, and a representative from Kim Crawford Wineries was present to introduce the wines.

After a short introduction, the representative from Kim Crawford Wineries introduced us to each of the wines and also talk about the complimenting dish.

Here is a picture tour of the four courses we were served. Pictures were from Instagram because of the Instragram contest they were running during the dinner. It was very clever way to promoting this event and menu.

First Course:

• Crispy Fried Island Creek Oyster
• Beech Mushroom Panna Cotta
• Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay, 2013

The fried oyster went well with the unoaked Chardonnay. The wine had a very crisp finish and complimented well with the buttery texture of the oyster.

Second course:

• Nantucket Lightship Sea Scallops
• Lemon Poached Artichoke, Grilled Kale, Chestnut Parsley Cream
• Kim Crawford, Sauvignon Blanc, 2013

The fruit notes in the Sauvignon Blanc went well with the fresh sea scallops and parsley cream.

Third Course:

• House Made Spiced Duck Sausage and Anise Glazed Pork Belly
• Ginger Gold Apple and Parsnip Puree, Brussels Sprouts and Potato Crisp
• Kim Crawford, Pinot Noir, 2013

This Pinot Noir reminds me of the ones I had in Los Olivios in Southern California. It was a full body wine but not dry. It was very smooth and it went well with the duck sausage and pork belly.

Fourth Course:

• Golden Beet Mousse
• Cinnamon Roasted Pear, Pomegranate
• Kim Crawford Fizz Methode Traditionnelle

The sweetness in the sparkling wine went well with the roasted pear for our last course.

Luckily, I did well in the Instagram contest and won a collection of comics! The three comics were drawn by the New Yorker to promote Sheraton’s Social Hour. They will be going up on my wall next to my liquor and wine collection. Also, all attendees were given a bottle of wine. I received the Kim Crawford Pinot Noir, the same one we had earlier that night.

 

 

This was an amazing event and I thank Starwood for inviting me. I hope there is another one of these events I can attend!