Pier W Wine Dinner

I was recently invited to attend the "Tour of Spain" Wine Dinner at Pier W. I had just attended the CLEDinnerClub outing there the previous month, and had enjoyed a fantastic four-course, wine-paired meal with that group. Of course, I was interested in going back for another special event. Were they always that good? The answer is, yes.

A unique and gorgeous setting of Lake Erie and the Downtown Cleveland skyline, expertly paired wines, fresh sustainable seafood, and attentive staff. Guests are in for a treat.

1st Course: Crispy Angel Hair Pasta, Forest Mushrooms, English Peas and Fumet, Prosciutto Wrapped Cuttlefish, and Manchego Cheese

The broth was poured over the dish tableside, which always makes a great impression on diners. It feels so fancy! It's like watching your food come to life.

2nd Course: Hake Ceviche, Avocado, Cilantro, Pickled Red Onion Dungeness Crab Salad, Saffron, Figs, Almonds and Wildflowers, Sherry Vinaigrette Spanish Olives Filled with Sardine, Crisp Fried, and Sweet Garlic Aioli

This dish had a lot of different flavors and textures going on, and it was fun to dissect.

3rd Course: Classic Paella Prepared Tableside with Striped Bass, Housemade Chorizo, Prawns and Mussels, and Saffron Rice

The main course was filled with different types of seafood (bass not pictured, it was forgotten during plating but soon arrived). A razor clam made an appearance, and launched a discussion at our table about "weird" food. Some didn't care for the texture of the razor clam. I think it looks like a tongue. The best part about this course was that they had been cooking it tableside while we were dining. Luckily, our table was parked right next to the station. It was fun to watch them prepare and plate this course.

4th Course: Milk Chocolate Panna Cotta, Salted Caramel, and Toasted Hazelnuts

The meal finished on a sweet note, but the salted caramel and light texture of the panna cotta made this dessert right up my alley. I was full, but somehow found room for this.

As I mentioned, the wines at both recent dinners that I've attended have been expertly paired. From bubbly to white to red, I've enjoyed them all. Some, I even want to hunt down on my own. At this dinner, a representative from the wine distributor was in attendance. She would stop by each table to talk to us about the wine pairing, and showed us pictures from the region where the Spanish wineries were located. She was very educated about the wineries and their varietals, so that added to the fun of this event.

Pier W hosts these wine dinners quarterly. The summer event is not scheduled yet, but you can follow them on social media (@pierwcleveland on Twitter, and "like" them on Facebook) to stay updated on upcoming events, or visit their website to check for the event posting.

We always enjoy Pier W for a special occasion dinner, or a splurge brunch visit (check out their Sunday brunch buffet!), but now I'm hooked on their wine dinners.

Disclosure: I was provided with two media passes to this event to review my experience and share it with my readers in this blog post. All opinions stated are 100% my own.

Pier W
12700 Lake Avenue
Lakewood, OH
216-228-2250