The Hermann-Grima/Gallier Historic Houses hosted its Amazing Grapes Wine Auction and Dinner on May 8. This annual event gives guests the opportunity to enjoy a variety of wines and delectable cuisine in a picturesque setting. The evening hosted 45 items in their silent auction and 20 items up for live auction. Edie Darragh served as Amazing Grapes chairwoman.
At the event, Bella Luna provided a three-course meal and passed hors d’oeuvres by Chef Horst Pfeifer such as petite crab cakes with smoked jalapeño remoulade, smoked duck and poblaño quesadillas, pecan crusted oysters with wasabi aioli and spinach gruyere and mushroom quiche. The three-course meal began with a salad of marinated asparagus and tomatoes in goat cheese crostini topped with shaved parmesano-reggiano, cracked black pepper and fresh basil, followed by grilled beef tenderloin medallion topped with Bella Luna Barbeque Shrimp and finished with a duo of crème brulee with gourmet Tahitan vanilla bean and double fudge chocolate brownie garnished with whipped cream and berries served with coffee.
Many of the items for auction were wines to keep with the theme, but there were also a wine tasting for four at The Wine Institute of New Orleans, an original Andrew Bucci watercolor on paper and two tickets to Rita Benson LeBlanc’s suite for a Saints home game. Some “priceless” items were up for auction including a dinner for six with New Orleans’ own food critic Tom Fitzmorris and a party for 20 in the Hermann-Grima House courtyard.