Perry’s Private Reserve Oak Brook – Steakhouse Wine Pairing
By Jessica Lewandowski
I was lucky enough to attend the First Pour Dinner at Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille in Oak Brook to sample the Perry’s Private Reserve wines. I attended the event with multiple other foodies and winos, and we started off the evening with a little tour. The restaurant is nestled amongst the shops of Oakbrook Center, minutes from downtown Chicago. The atmosphere of the dining room, bar, and patio make you feel as though you’re enjoying a meal in an expansive, private wine cellar. Even the open kitchen accentuates the feeling of a private dining experience. If you want your meal to be truly upscale, secluded dining areas are available for events, celebrations, and meetings.
Throughout the evening, we sampled (and sampled, and sampled, and sampled) two wines: the 2016 Private Reserve Chardonnay and the 2015 Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. I was surprised to thoroughly enjoy both wines, since neither Chardonnay nor cabernet sauvignon is my first choices for white and red wines. The Private Reserve Chardonnay featured a plethora of fruity notes, like Granny Smith apples, pineapple, mango, and lemon. The Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon was decadently smooth, with espresso, berry, and cedar aromas.
It was time for our appetizer! We were served Bacon Wrapped Scallops on a Grilled Crostini. Paired with the 2016 Chardonnay, the scallops tasted perfectly meaty and light. Who’s going to complain about bacon? Not me!
The first course, also paired with the Chardonnay, was a Tempura Fried Lobster Tail. These bite-sized nuggets were just as divine to sink our teeth into as the scallops were. Surprisingly, though, the best part of the dish was the side of Miso Dipping Sauce. Susi Zivanovic, the Corporate Sommelier and Beverage Director, had raved about this sauce, and it did not disappoint. It may not have the same “Rick and Morty” fandom, but you should definitely order this appetizer when you visit for the sauce!
It was time to move on to course number two and the Perry’s Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon! We all dined on tender, thick slices of Prime New York Strip Steak with a Truffle Merlot Glaze and Sherried Mushrooms. Obviously, Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille is going to serve some excellent steak. There was just the right amount of crust surrounding the juicy strips. I did my best to nibble on the plate and sip the Cabernet as slowly as I could because I literally wanted to savor every, single bite.
There was one last course to our tasting: dessert. Delivered was a Chocolate Crunch square, which was a Chocolate Shell filled with Peanut Butter Mousse Filling and crunchy Toffee pieces. We agreed at first, we thought the dessert was too small, but the decadent combination of salty, sweet, and chocolate was so satisfying. I would not change a thing about the dessert!
The two new wines from Perry’s Private Reserve are available now at Perry’s Steakhouse and Grille. They can pair with so many dishes, and a bottle of Private Reserve is an excellent way to celebrate an occasion. There are 14 locations total, but you can visit the Oak Brook location Monday-Thursday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9p.m. Cheers!