We’re now a number of days into Cider Week New York! Cider actions are highlighting what’s superior about my favourite beverage in each area of the state. Verify them out and hopefully you could find one close to you!
https://ciderweeknewyork.com/events-2/
And particularly, I’d like to focus on a free occasion I’m supporting on Tuesday October 4th: Tasting and Tomes at Mann Library! Go to us on Cornell’s campus to style apples and contemporary cider, discover our assortment of cider associated books new and outdated and find out about all issues cider occurring at Cornell! We’ll be round 11am-2pm.
Right here’s how I began my cider week. I wish to share my expertise at Moosewood’s pairing dinner with Black Diamond Cider. Our guides for the night have been Ian Merwin, founding father of Black Diamond Cider and Pomologist Emeritus at Cornell College, and Aron Kelly, Moosewood’s Common Supervisor. The format was a 4-course vegetarian dinner ready by Moosewood Chef Tim Mooney: every course paired with one thing particular from Black Diamond Cider.I used to be significantly excited to search out one thing vegetarian not as a substitution however by design and I’m a giant fan of Black Diamond Ciders.
And should you’re not conversant in Moosewood Restaurant, I like to recommend studying extra: https://www.moosewoodrestaurant.com/
My earlier critiques of Black Diamond Ciders are plentiful, they usually embody:
My #1 cider of 2021 Black is Gold (a collaboration with Redbyrd Orchard Cider): http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2021/11/cider-review-black-diamond-farm-and.html
Black Diamond Cider’s 2018 Rosé: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/09/cider-review-eden-ciders-peak-bloom-and.html
Shin Hole: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/08/cider-review-mountain-west-ciders-sweet.html
Jaywalker: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2020/03/cider-review-alpenfires-dungeness-and.html
Geneva Tremlett’s: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/03/cider-review-black-diamonds-geneva.html
Somerset Jersey: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2019/05/very-perry-may-with-vandermills-ice-ice.html
Slatestone: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2018/11/cider-reviews-big-hill-ciderworks.html
Hickster: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2016/12/cider-review-black-diamond-ciders.html
Porter’s Pommeau: https://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/09/finger-lakes-cider-week-and-birthday.html
Solstice: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2017/08/cider-review-black-diamonds-solstice.html
Rabblerouser: http://alongcameacider.blogspot.com/2015/09/cider-review-black-diamonds.html
I like to recommend visiting Black Diamond Cidery on-line right here to be taught extra about the entire ciders: https://www.blackdiamondcider.com/
We began with a Curried Pumpkin Soup with toasted pepitas and pickled mustard seeds. This was paired with Black Diamond’s 2008 Perry. Although it’s referred to as a Perry, it’s a pear-apple mix, making it a pear cider. Although I beloved the entire ciders of the night, the primary one was my favourite! perry is one thing to write down residence about, and this pear cider captures a lot of what could be nice in regards to the beverage. I beloved the energetic bubbles, grapefruit citrus notes, softness and excessive acid.
I had some trepidation due to the pickled mustard seeds. Sure, they sound intriguing, however right here’s a confession, I’m normally passionately unfond of pickled issues. It’s the uncommon exception that works for me. Miraculously, these have been good. The soup was heavy, creamy, and solely gently spiced. It wanted the pepitas and the salty acid chew of the pickled mustard seeds. Yum!
I knew we’d have a salad as a part of our meal simply because Moosewood makes such splendidly deluxe salads. This was a very seasonal providing: a Dinosaur Kale salad with gradual roasted plums, toasted walnuts, roasted Delicata squash, crumbled blue cheese, and a buttermilk French dressing. It was paired with the 2019 Rosé. For those who learn my evaluate of the 2018 Rose, I’ve to notice that this one is created fully otherwise. It makes use of plums as one of many parts to provide the cider its signature hue. I like the concept of plums as a degree of continuity for this pairing since they’re within the cider and the salad. It is a lightful straightforward cider, totally pleasant and acid pushed. The Rosé is semi-dry however so fruity.
Butternut Squash Lasagna made our entree. I anticipated a cream sauce based mostly lasagna as many autumnal lasagnas swap out a tomato sauce for a Roux-based sauce, however I used to be delighted by my wealthy and hearty crimson sauce vegetarian lasagna. It had caramelized fennel, Remembrance Farm child kale, smoked mozzarella, butternut squash ricotta, asiago, garlic, Cabernet tomato, basil, and Parigiano Reggiano. I’ll bear in mind the umami and satisfaction of that lasagna for years. It paired with Ian’s favourite of his ciders (at the least as he described it that night) the 2020 Golden Russet/Porter’s Perfection Varietal cider.
The Golden Russet/Porter’s Perfection upped the physique and alcohol with an ABV of 10%. I recognize that this cider has acidity, tannins, construction, and physique. It is dry by the numbers however it nonetheless provides off an essence of nectar or floral sweetness. Ian says that comes from the Golden Russet apples. It’s a really particular cider that simply tastes golden, mature, and mellow to me. I beloved it with the exceptionally concentrated tomato sauce of the lasagna. Cider and tomatoes could be so incredible collectively!
At this level, even after having half of my lasagna packed for later, I used to be stuffed! And but I wished to style the ultimate pairing.
It was a person apple bundt cake with lemon ricotta and drizzled with cider caramel. I knew it might be paired with Black Diamond’s Pommeau. The cake appeared in a decadent moat of sauces. It makes my mouth water to assume again on it. Pommeau was a delightfully applicable pairing due to its depth, sweetness, and better ABV. Most cider wouldn’t be capable of be tasted alongside such a wealthy and candy dessert, however pommeau is a mix of cider spirits, contemporary cider, and great construction from oak barrel getting older. All of those elements made it one thing additional particular with this creamy fabulous apple cake.
The entire meal was extraordinary due to the great meals preparation and excellent pairings from Black Diamond. What an effective way to begin my Cider Week New York!
