Mateo Granados and Burt Williams
A lot of people who love wine and food know legendary Sonoma County winemaker, Burt Williams. Many of the same people also know chef Mateo Granados, owner of Mateo’s Cocina Latina in Healdsburg.
Yet how many of us know that Williams has been Granados’ culinary mentor for more than 25 years, and is the reason Mateo came to Sonoma County, when he arrived in 1994 to learn from Williams how to make wine?
It’s true. Burt is the extraordinary winemaker who played a major role in putting Sonoma County Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the map with his bottlings from Williams Seylem, and his artful style so intrigued Granados that he helped form a Sonoma group called the Moonlighter’s Society. That’s where “wine scientists” gathered after hours at different vineyards – including Williams’ plots – to experiment with their unique visions.
On April 22, the duo is joining together for a one-of-a-kind reunion, offering an artfully imagined dinner that shares their deep love for Sonoma County food and wine. Granados will strive to outdo himself cooking in tribute to his dear friend and inspiration, Williams, while Williams will share a stunning selection of his private cellar picks.
The 6 p.m. gathering is sure to be as much a celebration of story telling as it is fine dining and drinking. Williams and Granados know all the secrets of the Sonoma County food and wine industry, and are sure to concoct some tall tales, too.
Here is the mouthwatering menu:
Bocadillos
- Local Dungeness Crab Tacones
- Wild Steelhead Roe Progressive Pasture Beef Tartar
Primer Curso
- Seasonal Salad
- Preston Farm Braised Baby Artichoke, La Bona Terr3 Burnt Spring Garlic & Grilled Little Yam, Laguna Farm Asparagus, Meridas Wild Garden Lettuce
- Whitcraft Reisling, Santa Barbara
Segundo Curso
- New Family Farm Pork Belly Slow Braised in Octopus Ink, Laguna Farm Yukon Gold Potatoes Saffron Foam
- Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir Alexander Valley ’08
- Morning Dew Ranch Jan’s Cuvee Pinot Nior ‘09
- Sonoma Hills Ranch Spring Goat in Ancho Chili Sauce, Bernier Fava Beans Puree, La Bonne Terra Braised Spring Onion
- Zinfandel ‘92 Martinelli Ranch
Dessert
- House Made Candy Cap Ice Cream Float
Tickets are $150 per person, with reservations required.
Details: Mateo’s Cocina Latina, 214 Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg, 707-433-1520, mateoscocinalatina.com.
Tip: Why not make the tribute dinner an outing for lots of your friends? Rent a Pure Luxury limo or even a private shuttle bus, and bring everyone together. Then, enjoy as much wine tasting as you like, with your own Pure Luxury dedicated driver.
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