It’s that time of year to celebrate the harvest season of the most iconic fruit, the grape. José Andrés and his team at award-winning mezze restaurant Zaytinya, led by Head Chef Michael Costa, commemorate this event with a two-week festival, which runs from September 22rd – October 5th. This is third consecutive year that Zaytinya is raising glasses to the most cherished fruit of Mediterranean cuisine with many variations of this respected harvest through wine tasting events, dinners, a grape-inspired menu, and a handcrafted specialty cocktail.
To kick off the festivities, on September 22rd, guests are invited to celebrate with an exceptional wine dinner crafted by head chef Michael Costa highlighting wines from the famed producer Ktima Pavlidis from the Drama region of northern Greece. On Monday, September 30th, the “Zaytinya Road Trips 2013” dinner will be led by ThinkFoodGroup’s Wine Director Lucas Payá and Zaytinya’s Beverage Manager Daniella Senior, who will feature highlights of their most remarkable wine experiences from their recent travels through Greece.
The Grape Festival provides a great opportunity to taste and learn about the diversity and complexity of talented Mediterranean winemakers through a series of complimentary wine tastings on Wednesday, September 25th (Lebanon) and Thursday the 26th (Turkey) and the following week on Wednesday, October 2nd (Greek) and Thursday the 3rd (distilled spirits from grapes) from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Additionally delightful, a limited Agiorgitiko offering in magnum size, Skouras Megas Oenos, Peloponnese, Greece 2003, will be available by the glass for guests to experience throughout the festival. Cocktail enthusiasts can look forward to the distinct libation, There’s More Than One Way to Skinos a Grape, created by ThinkFoodGroup’s Cocktail Innovator Juan Coronado. This is a delicious combination of Skinos, Verjus, Dolin Blanc, Fee Bros old-fashioned bitter, a lemon twist and garnished with frozen peeled grape.
To finalize the festivities, Zaytinya will host a Greek Harvest Patio Party on Saturday, October 5th from 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Guests are invited to stomp on grapes, kick up their heels and dance to live music with a complimentary glass of wine or grape juice, and delectable snacks.
