The music of the Washington Strings, a favorite at White House dinners, set the stage for the gala 80th birthday party for one of the world's best-known vintners, Robert Mondavi.
Believe it or not, the celebration took place at the Baltimore National Aquarium, where Mr. Mondavi and his daughter, Marcie, joined members of the newly founded Maryland Chapter of the American Institute of Wine and Food for a delightful evening. Mondavi and his friend Julia Child are the founders of this international organization.
Guests enjoyed tasty hors d'oeuvres and a 1992 Vichon Chevrignon as Shirley Polikoff, head of catered events for the aquarium, and Bob Schindler, owner of Pinehurst Liquors, introduced the guests of honor, who were decked out in evening attire and Wellington boots. Both were nice enough to respond to the invite to "pet" a dolphin; however, Marcie wisely declined to handle the dead fish being fed to the dolphins.
Chefs Barry Fleischman, Jerry Edwards, Vito Piazza, Michael Rork, Nancy Longo, Justin Wagner, Tom Powers and David Fusting prepared a seven-course meal -- accompanied by Mondavi wines, of course.
Among those tasting the food and wine were aquarium director Nick Brown; Anne Grieves; Martha Royall; Harriet Dopkin; Bud Finkelstein; Bill Jordan; Karen Marinelli; Paul Suss; Nick Tauraso; Dr. Lou Miller and his wife, Joyce; Pat Barrett; Dr. Hank Sabatier and his wife, Kathy; Dr. Doug Strouse and his wife, Sharon; Liz and Doug Trotter; Dulaney Noble; Jay Block; Mike Vince; and Kathy and Joel Sher.
Guests sat at long banquet tables that were fit for a king and covered with white table cloths, elaborate candelabra and flowers. I am told Tom Hardie entertained one and all with a story about a dinner party he and his wife, Dee, once had for a Nigerian king. The king asked if he could bring a few friends, who turned out to be five go-go girls from the Block, who ended up stripping to bikini nothings. The evening appropriately horrified the ladies present, but the king had a wonderful time.
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