The second in a series of three outstanding dinner presentations by the Privy Group in partnership with Chase, gathered admiring fans and elevated status as the foodie event of the season in New York City. The romantic, 1930’s Shanghai-inspired China Blue, tucked into the Tribeca neighborhood, served as the trendy backdrop. China Blue’s exquisite cuisine, delivered with expert wine pairings to an elite audience, made for a truly perfect evening. The icing on the cake was charming entertainment by the glamorous and talented songbird, none other than Nina Park
China Blue is a nice counterweight to the spicy Szechuan flavors of her Michelin-starred sister, China Café. Offering abundant seafood and subtle infusions more suited to Shanghai, Chef Zheng Li chose a brilliant menu to paint the evening with superlatives. James Beard Award Winner, and Beverage Director for Jean Georges, Sommelier Bernard Sun, CMS, hand selected appropriate wine pairings for each course, ensuring the combinations would sum more than their parts.
Important influential guests included On Air Report Channel 5’s Arthur Chien, Justmytype blogger Amy Chan, Hypebeast blogger Deborah Zee, Jingli blogger Li Jing, On Air Reporter for NY1 Michelle Park, LuckyRice co-founder Todd Leong, and New York Times Reporter Winne Hu.
An impressive list of community leaders included Taiwanese American Professionals National Chairman Bob Wu, China Daily News Blogger and Ninja Economics writer Cynthia Than, Asian American Federation of New York Board Member George Wang, Korean American Federation of New York Chairman Kyung Yoon, FF Chinese Fraternity Chairman Tian He, Asian American Bar Association of New York Executive Director Yang Chen, Chinatown Business Board Chairman Terry Chan, Whisper Promotions Partner Derrick Leon, Project by Project National Chairman Liliana Chen, Asian Meetup New York Organizer Richard Young, National Association of Asian American Professionals of New York Chairman Judy Lao, and Harvard Asian Alumni Club Board Member Ben Wei.
Notable business executives in attendance were joined by Hearst Corporation Head of Business Development Allen Duan, EVP Pimco’s Devin Chen, PerlinRock Hedge Fund’s Mike Eng, Decade Capital Management Hedge Portfolio Manager Keye Chow, Thrive Capital Partner Patrick Chun, New York Real Estate Partners’ Rich Shiu, and Xian Foods Owner Jason Wang.
The cocktail hour served as the doorway to a resplendent evening, filled with delicious surprises and new wine favorites. Chef Zheng created an elegant arrangement of Shanghai Spring Rolls and Radish Puffs, paired with Champagne from Georges Gardet, purposefully chosen by Mr. Sun. The Brut Tradition NV bubbles were a festive, fruity complement to the scrumptious appetizers.
The first course continued the crescendo with a Cold Appetizer Tasting Platter of Drunken Chicken, Marinated Duck, Kaofu, and Tossed Fava Beans. Paired by Mr. Sun with a 2013 Abbazia di Novacella from Kerner Vineyards in Alto Adige, Italy, the flavors melded perfectly. The apple and peach nose with lush mango on the palate presented a rich profile with brisk acidity, perfectly balanced for Chef Zheng’s course choices.
Continuing to showcase delectable seafood, Chef Zheng’s second course delivered a West Lake Fish Fillet with Snow Pea Shoots. Both delicate and delicious, the fish found its perfect pair, courtesy of Mr. Sun, in a 2012 Selbach Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken from Mosel, Germany. Bringing salt, smoke and slate on the nose, followed by a sharp mid-palate edge of fresh apple and lime, the wine held a subtle creaminess, then delivered crisp apple and slate on the finish.
True to Shanghainese culinary tradition, a savory Crabmeat and Port “Lion’s Head” Meatball starred in Chef Zheng’s third course, introduced with a 2013 Weingut Laurenz V. 'Laurenz und Sophie Singing' Gruner Veltliner, from Kremstal, Austria. Separate perfection, yet extremely compatible in the combination, this pairing may well have been the favorite of many a guest.
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