Not Quite Mardi Gras Cajun Food & Wine Night

Join us for a fun night of Cajun food in Tribeca at Filé Gumbo Bar. They are located at 275 Church Street, across from the Roxy Hotel.

Now before you start worrying about how that type of food will be in NYC, hear this: I’m one of those regional food people who try to only eat tacos in SoCal or Mexico and used to only eat Cajun food in New Orleans. But, anyone who’s experienced Cajun food at Filé Gumbo Bar has been surprised & delighted at how authentic and delicious their food is. Menu items cover many NOLA favorites like crawfish bread, pimento cheese, fried seafood, bbq shrimp, gumbo and the best étouffée I’ve had outside of my own (from Paul Prudhomme’s recipe). They even have beignets for dessert! See the full menu here.

We will enjoy 5 bottles of wine—1 Champagne, 1 white, 1 rosé and 2 reds—for 8 people at a cost of $40 per person including corkage. Note: The Champagne starter is an homage to New Orleans’ French roots.

Just a reminder of our usual rules:

** The cost of this event is $40 and is for the cost of the wines and corkage only.
NOTE: Meetup has started charging a "Partner Fee" that is above and in addition to the listed price of the event. It comes to approximately $4 more for each RSVP. You will see this charge when you complete your rsvp and pay for the event. Sorry! Meetup+ members are exempt from this charge.

You will also have to pay the cost of your food (plus 33% for tax and tip). Please order at least two courses (i.e. a main dish and either appetizer or dessert) for your dinner. There are very few restaurants that allow us to bring our own wine for a Zero corkage fee. We must be good guests to encourage the restaurant to continue to be generous to us.

Please read and understand the group's cancellation policy. If you take spot, then cancel, and no one else takes the spot, you will not receive a refund or credit. No refunds or credits will be given for no-shows or late cancellations (unless someone else takes your spot). All cancellations are subject to a $6 service fee.

Please use public transportation - NO DRINKING AND DRIVING!

The Wines:

1. Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cuis 1er Cru Brut Blanc de Blanc, Champagne, NV $75 – WS 91, RP 90
   What better starter for a Cajun dinner than French Champagne! Per Flatiron: “This grower Champagne is a pristine and vibrant expression of Chardonnay from the premier cru vineyards of Cuis in the Côte des Blancs. This non-vintage cuvée delivers a delicate and nuanced profile, beginning with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, and white peach, accented by floral hints of acacia and subtle notes of toasted almond and chalky minerality. On the palate, it is precise and energetic, offering flavors of citrus, crisp pear, and a touch of brioche, supported by a fine mousse and lively acidity. The finish is long, refreshing, and mineral-driven, showcasing the elegance of its terroir. Cuis 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs pairs beautifully with seafood dishes such as oysters or seared scallops, as well as light poultry or creamy cheeses.” For Cajun food, this will pair well with fried catfish or fried chicken, jambalaya and crawfish étouffée.
2. 2023 Elena Walch Gewürztraminer, Alto Adige, 14% ABV $32
   I’ve been a fan of Elena Walch ever since trying their Schiava years ago on the UWS. On a recent trip to Northern Italy it was a pleasure to see the full spectrum of offerings from Elena Walch on shelves, and in Bologna I tried (and loved) her Gewurtraminer 2022. In NYC now they’re selling the 2023 and that’s the one I got for this dinner: “The 2022 vintage was marked by high temperatures, producing a rich and powerful wine, while the cooler 2023 vintage resulted in a fresher, more elegant, and complex style.” The vineyard says: “We are delighted with an interesting 2023 vintage! Even though we’ve experienced a challenging growing season…we’ve had a fantastic harvest season. Our Gewürztraminer, with its typical dry Alto Adige charm and personality, gleams in intense straw yellow with hints of gold reflections. Classic Gewürztraminer notes are mirrored in the bouquet – intensively aromatic notes of rose petals, flowers and spices. The wine presents itself rich in finesse on the palate, with fresh fullness, harmonic elegance and a long finish.” WS 89 Points, "Lychee, apricot, ground cardamom, tea rose and broom notes are enlivened by baked grapefruit peel acidity in this dry and zesty white, with a lingering finish of spice and mineral details."
3. 2024 Borell-Diehl Saint Laurent Rosé Trocken, Pfalz 1L 12.5%ABV $16
   This refreshing German dry rosé surprises people for many reasons: it’s drinkability, dryness, and price for what you get: $16 for a liter!. It’s a light, fresh, medium-pale rosé from the dark-skinned, dark-juiced Saint Laurent grape, sustainably dry-farmed with no herbicides or pesticides. Cool Vines said about the 2022: We get strawberries, cherries, and minerals on this staff & customer favorite. There is a vibrant acidity and freshness that makes it taste "just bottled."
4. 2021 Comando G La Bruja, 100% Grenache, Vinos de Madrid 14.5% ABV $25 – CT 89.7
   Brought by Stephen who says while he doesn’t agree with WA's 95 point review, here it is: "The 2021 La Bruja de Rozas is their edgiest and most austere mineral and soil-driven version of their entry-level red. It's herbal, with no concession for fruit, and it has electricity and grip. It's a good preview of what's to come from 2021. It has a lot of 2018 and 2016 characteristics, a cool summer, a year with rain and even some during harvest that complicated matters and made them lose some grapes, but there's more grip, more minerality, more depth, layers and subtleness. It needs time in the glass, and my guess is that at age eight it's going to reach an outstanding level. A grown-up Bruja, it’s more for soil fanatics than the general public, and it’s one to lay down in your cellar (by the case) while you drink your 2020s. There were 55,184 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2022. (drink 2024-2030).”
5. 2022 SAS Jean-Claude Lapalu Brouilly $35