T R A V E L
The Hard Rock Hotel at Universal’s General
Manager Carlton Hudson is proud of the
hotel and its innovative programs, such as its
Wine Riffs dinners.
Renowned Tampa Bay restauranteur Frank Chivas
and his wife Jayme attended this special dinner as
the guests of his cousin Carlton Hudson, the hotel’s
general manager.
connections with music and lighting that are created
when paired with food and wine. These quarterly
events present curated dinners, featuring carefully
selected wines paired with exquisite food and
then served with a soundtrack of various artists
and music to present a unique overall musical and
culinary evening.
The Wine Riff dinner that we attended featured
Justin Wines from Paso Robles, located near Hearst
Castle in California. This 35-year-old vineyard
is recognized as the pioneer of award-winning
Bordeaux-style wines. The vineyard’s owner, Justin
Baldwin, presented each wine served, as he told
stories about the wines and his inspiration to craft
them from grapes grown in the area’s rich limestone
soil.
The hotel’s chefs and culinary team served trendy,
leading-edge dishes, along with fresh local produce
that were special in both presentation and style. Each
course was introduced by an entertaining emcee
and served with its own lighting and soundtrack
that had been chosen by the disc jockey, who played
them to influence the flavors being served and to
add to the total sensory immersion of each of our
senses. Wine Riff was a spectacular event that could
only have happened at the Hard Rock.
9
Their complex Suckling Pig Porchetta, which consisted of a variety
of different preparations, was topped with a succulent sauce made
from a reduction of a Justin Cabernet, Isosceles.
The Wine Riffs’ fish course of Arctic Char was served with Israeli
Couscous and Beet Dusted Cauliflower, along with one of Justin
Vineyards’ finest wines, a 2012 Justification.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Hard Rock Hotel can be contacted
at (888) 832-7155. They offer special rates for Floridians.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 149