Black Barn Restaurant is one of my favorite places to dine in NYC! New Yorker’s are very spoiled because we now have Black Barn Cafe as well, but nothing beats the NoMad location. This stunning restaurant on Madison Avenue is the perfect spot when you want an amazing Chef’s Table Experience! I had the pleasure of trying Chef John Doherty’s World Leader Menu for President’s Day and it was phenomenal. This five-course meal was expertly paired with five wines and each dish we enjoyed was served to a President by Chef John himself!

The evening began with Consommé and Ravioli of Wild Mushrooms and Truffle paired with a 2011 orange wine from Slovenia. This dish was warm and comforting, not too heavy, and really worked well with the Slovenian wine. It was also served to His Excellency, Mikhail Gorbachev at a dinner President Ronald Regan and President-Elect George H. Bush hosted. After we were served Seared Maine Diver Sea Scallop with Potato Mousseline, Chive Emulsion, and Oscetra Caviar paired with a 2016 Ballard Canyon, CA Grenache Blanc. It was a dish that was served at a dinner celebrating Progressive Governance in the Twenty-First Century, hosted by President Bill Clinton.

What’s nice is that the Sommelier really thinks about the wines and pairings with the menu, and wanted to offer some really rare wines for this dinner. The 2016 Grenache Blanc is made by a former Sommelier who turned Winemaker. This wine sells out within minutes and only around 150 cases are produced per year; it was a real treat to try! 

For the third course, they brought out a Roasted Rack of Lamb with Rosemary Jus, Salsify, Lemon, and Eggplant Terrine. It was paired with a 2010 Brunello di Montalcino, which was out of this world! 2010 was one of the best vintages in Tuscany, and this Val di Suga, Vigna Spuntali is quite an iconic wine. Tuscan wines are a nice pairing with lamb, but this one, in particular, has no tannins, wood and earth notes, and really was made for this dish, which was served to Prime Minister John Major. After that lovely pairing, out came a cheese course which was served to the six leaders of the Free World during the 40th Anniversary of the United Nations in 1985. This dinner was hosted by Ronald Regan and is amazing. We were served Brillat Saverin Cheese with Fig Jam and Garden Salad, which was a nice break in between courses. The cheese is so soft and gooey, not too funky, and simply perfect.

The grand finale was a dessert and pairing to remember! Chocolate Caramel Tart with Gold Leaf and Raspberry Coulis paired with a 1970 Warre’s Vintage Port. This pairing was perfection, between the buttery tart crust, the sweet raspberry coulis, and deep rich chocolate that effortlessly went with a stunning vintage port.

If you want an experience like this, you should make a date to go to one of Black Barn’s Chef’s Table Dinners. It’s an experience you won’t forget and makes for the perfect date night and gift!