Francesco Torre at Hartford Family Winery

This Labor Day Weekend, I had the pleasure of photographing an amazing dinner event which was a part of the 2012 Sonoma Wine Country Weekend.  Chef Francesco Torre, who will soon be opening his own restaurant in Forestville, created the fantastic five course line-up.  Each course was paired with wine from the Hartford Family Winery.

It was a gorgeous evening in Sonoma.

Francesco preparing a tray of appetizers: cigar smoked wild king salmon, albacore, and monkey face eel.

Sous chef Dave and cigar smoked monkey face eel appetizer with amaranth.

Liver bruschetta with butter & housemade orange marmalade.

Lamb tongue with salsa verde and amaranth.

Chilled cantaloupe soup with Tsar Nicoulai caviar.  Amazing.

Sous chefs Casey & Dave.

Rabbit waiting to be plated & various herbs.

Francesco Torre and Don Hartford.

First course: Borage soup with crispy pork jowl, salmon roe, amaranth & borage flower.

Second course: Squab, cippolini onions, cacao nibs, orange, orange reduction & hand woven puff pastry with black sesame.

Third course: Marjoram ravioli with quail egg, bohemian creamery cheese, & pancetta.

Fourth course: Tarragon stuffed rabbit with caul fat, baby green beans, potatoes, braised fennel, kalamata olives, & apricot bread.

And finally, dessert: Meringue cookies with whipped cream, bohemian creamery goat cheese mousse, chocolate, saffron and chilled peach mint soup.

Winemaker, Jeff Stewart.

I think it is safe to say everyone enjoyed themselves.  Incredible food and wine, beautifully plated in a beautiful setting.  So happy I had this opportunity & there may just be more work like this as Francesco's Italian roadhouse opens in the coming month or two.