Oceanique in Evanston to Host Marimar Estate Wine Dinner, January 31

Oceanique restaurant in Evanston, Ill. (505 Main Street; telephone 847-864-3435; website: www.oceanique.com) will host a special six-course Wine Dinner Friday, January 31, 2014, featuring the award winning wines of Marimar Estate in Sonoma County. The special guest for the evening is Marimar Torres from Marimar Estate. The price is $120 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. For the Marimar Estate Wine Dinner, Oceanique's Chef de Cuisine and owner, Mark Grosz, has prepared an exceptional six course menu. The first course features Lightly Smoked Salmon with Horseradish Crème Fraîche Cucumber Mint Tarragon. The first course is paired with 2012 "Acereo" Chardonnay, from Marimar's Don Miguel Vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The second course presents Manila Clams Pork Belly with Piquillo Peppers and Spanish Onion, paired with 2010 "La Masia" Chardonnay from Don Miguel Vineyard. The third course is Oeufs Meurette, paired with 2009 "La Masia" Pinot Noir from Don Miguel Vineyard. For the fourth course, Chef Grosz will prepare Roasted Squab with Foie Gras Renee's Cabbage, paired with 2008 "Cristina" Pinot Noir, from Don Miguel Vineyard. The fifth course is a cheese course of Burgundy Cheeses with Fig Compote and Plum Mostarda, paired with a 2009 "Mas Cavalls" Pinot Noir from Marimar's Doña Margarita Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. The final course is the dessert finale, Litchi & Apple Sorbet with Cape Gooseberries and Dragon Fruit, paired with a 2012 "Acero" Kir. About Mirimar Torres Marimar Torres has been involved in the wine business all her life. Born in 1945 in Barcelona, Spain, she is fluent in six languages and holds a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Barcelona. She is also a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program, and studied Enology and Viticulture for a year at the University of California in Davis. At Marimar Estate, she directs the activities at the winery and its two vineyards: Don Miguel, named for her late father, in Sonoma County's Russian River/Green Valley; and Doña Margarita, after her mother, in the Sonoma Coast Appellation. For more information about Marimar Estate Vineyards & Winery, please visit their website atwww.marimarestate.com. About Oceanique Oceanique, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014, is one of the Chicago area's finest and most acclaimed restaurants, serving contemporary French-American cuisine in a beautiful, new dining room.  Oceanique's Pastry Chef is Abel Garcia and the Wine Director is Philippe André. The bar area has been expanded and features a new small plates menu to accompany the fine selection of wines, craft beers and artisan cocktails. Guests are encouraged to enjoy a casual meal in the bar area or enjoy the full à la carte and dégustation menus in the dining room. The bar even includes a communal table to encourage single dining or groups. The restaurant is owned by Chef Mark Grosz and his wife, Renée André. Chef Grosz worked under the tutelage of renowned chef Jean Banchet from the acclaimed Le Français in Wheeling, Illinois. He further refined his skills in France and Hong Kong.  Oceanique serves dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. Valet parking is available and all major cards are accepted. A private room is available for group events. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Oceanique at 847-864-3435 or visit the website atwww.oceanique.com. # # #

Oceanique To Host Dourthe Bordeaux Wine Dinner, September 30

Oceanique Restaurant, 505 Main Street, Evanston, Illinois (847-864-3435), will host a special wine dinner at 7:30 p.m., Monday, September 30, 2013, featuring the wines of the highly acclaimed Vins & Vignobles Dourthe from Bordeaux, France. Patrick Jestin, President of Dourth, will be the special host, discussing the history of the winery and the uniqueness and quality of the wines. The dinner will feature a 6-course menu prepared by chef/owner Mark Grosz. The price is $195 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

Dourthe was founded in 1840 and is considered by many to be one of the finest in the Bordeaux region of France. The winery was honored in 2007 as Best Producer of French wine by the international competition of Wine & Spirits. With vineyards in the Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Pessac-Léognan and Saint-Emilion areas of Bordeaux, Dourthe produces distinctive wines using sustainable methods, with the goal of being standard bearers of the appellation.

"This is going to be an exciting and unique experience," said Oceanique’s wine director, Philippe André. "Dourthe is a very special Bordeaux winemaker in that they own vineyards in several areas of Bordeaux, unlike most Bordeaux vintners who have only one vineyard. Because the Dourthe team is so familiar with the variances in soil and climate of the entire Bordeaux region, they are able to bring subtle knowledge to the process of blending. The result is a collection of wines that are the ultimate expression of Bordeaux."

Dourthe Wine Dinner Menu

Reception

Heirloom Tomato Amuse

Wine: N.V. Thienot Brut  

First Course

Wild Maine Lobster      Buffalo Mozzarella        Basil      AvocadoWine Pairing: 2011 Dourthe La Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc

Second Course Wild Maine Day Boat Scallops    Lobster-Soy Broth    Kimchi      Cilantro

     Wine Pairing: 2010 Château La Garde Blanc – Pessac-Léognan  

Third Course

Organic Faroe Islands    Salmon Butternut Squash Tumeric Leeks    

Port Essence

Wine Pairings: 2010 Château La Garde Rouge – Pessac-Léognan & 2010 Château Belgrave – Haut-Médoc  

Fourth Course

Litchi Sorbet   Fifth Course Prime Filet Mignon Belgian Endive Spinach    Chanterelles

Wine Pairings: 2005 Essence de Dourthe & 2008 Essence de Dourthe  

Sixth Course

Warm Raspberry Tarte Lemon Balm Ice Cream    

About Oceanique

Oceanique, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2014 (February 5, 2014), is one of the Chicago area’s finest and most acclaimed restaurants, serving contemporary French-American cuisine in a beautiful, new dining room. The restaurant is owned by Chef Mark Grosz and his wife, Renée André. The Pastry Chef is Abel Garcia and the Wine Director is Philippe André. The bar area has been expanded and features a new small plates menu to accompany the fine selection of wines, craft beers and artisan cocktails. Guests are encouraged to enjoy a casual meal in the bar area or enjoy the full à la carte and dégustation menus in the dining room. The bar even includes a communal table to encourage single dining or groups.  

Oceanique serves dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. Valet parking is available and all major cards are accepted. A private room is available for group events. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Oceanique at 847-864-3435 or visit the website at www.oceanique.com.

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Oceanique Celebrates Julia Child’s 101th Birthday with a Lobster Dish that Julia Would Have Been Proud to Serve

Oceanique Restaurant in Evanston, Illinois (505 Main Street, Evanston, IL; 847-864-3435) will be participating in the 2013 Julia Child Bash sponsored by Chicago Originals ( www.chicagooriginals.com), from August 15-31, celebrating the 101th birthday of the famed French cookbook author and television icon. During this celebration, Oceanique is honoring the memory of Julia Child with their Wild Maine Lobster entrée (with tropea onion, basil potatoes, and yuzu-saffron), priced at $24.

"Julia Child was very fond of lobsters," says Chef Mark Grosz. "On her TV show, The French Chef , she described them as 'unique and beautiful, with a marvelous taste and really just like nothing else.' She also said that lobster was a 'special gastronomic experience.' We consider Julia to be marvelous and like no one else, a person who made French gastronomy a special experience for millions of Americans. That's why lobster is the cornerstone of our Julia Child 101th birthday celebration. We call our lobster entrée, simply, 'Wild Maine Lobster.' The dish includes tropea onion, basil potatoes and yuzu-saffron, and is priced at $24. We think Julia would have been very pleased with our lobster rendition."  

With roots in classic French culinary technique, Oceanique has evolved into a Contemporary Global restaurant. "It's an evolution of which we believe Julia, as a food adventurer, would have heartily approved," said Grosz. "We continue to use the freshest, locally available ingredients, clearly in the French tradition, and we use classic French techniques to bring out the wonderful flavor of the ingredients. What has changed at Oceanique, over the years, is our introduction of lighter ingredients into the menu and our greater use of fresh herbs, both of which reflect today's contemporary preferences. We've also been inspired by our global culinary travels and so you'll find ingredients from around the world."  

The highly acclaimed Oceanique has been voted the best seafood restaurant in the Chicago area by the Zagat Guide since 1993 and has earned the prestigious "Best Of" Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator every year since 1994. Wine Spectator has declared Oceanique as having one of the top 750 wine lists in the world.  

Oceanique recently celebrated its 25th anniversary by undergoing a complete re-design. The new, contemporary look is light, airy and comfortable, with new lighting that brings out the beauty of Chef Grosz's superb cuisine. Oceanique's ambiance remains relaxed and hospitable, making it the perfect setting for food and wine lovers. Additional changes include a new bar and lounge menu featuring shareable small plates.  

Oceanique, located at 505 Main Street in Evanston, Illinois, serves dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The restaurant is closed on Sundays. For more information or to make reservations, please contact Oceanique at 847-864-3435 or visit the website at www.oceanique.com.