Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn (Greater Baltimore Area) with Chef Dan Wecker

At the suggestion of Roland Young, we went to The Elkridge Furnace Inn and Garden House in the Greater Baltimore area for a Loire Wine Dinner. In contrast to other events, there was no winemaker present nor an importer or distributor presenting his portfolio. The wines were the personal choices of Chef Dan Wecker, who also presented the wines along with the food. While it took us more than 2 hours to go there (and only 45 minutes to go back home), it was a most enjoyable and memorable evening. We will be back. 

Invitation

Welcome to the Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn! 

Join us for an evening of exquisite wines from the Loire Valley paired with a delectable multi-course meal. Indulge in the flavors of this renowned wine region while enjoying the charming ambiance of our historic venue. This themed, chef-curated dinner promises to be a memorable experience for wine enthusiasts and food lovers alike. Award-winning Chef, Dan Wecker has quite a following! Reserve your spot now for a delightful evening of fine dining and exceptional wines...

Elkridge Furnace Inn offers upscale farm-to-table dining on a seasonal menu including daily specials highlighting on-site gardens. Lots of garden dining under our climate controlled tented space as well as limited indoor dining in an historic setting.

Washington Post: The Elkridge Furnace Inn is a Shocker

Within a stone's throw of afternoon gridlock at Route 1 and Interstate 195, this is a proper early American estate, complete with a three-story manor house, sweeping views of the Patapsco River, huge trees and meandering brick paths. Step inside and it's oh, so soothing. There are tasteful bronze and crystal chandeliers, upholstered gilt chairs, long and lush tablecloths, cheery fireplaces and a real conversation-level ambience.

The inn is the dream and passion of owner-chef Dan Wecker, who bought the property in 1988 and spent six years restoring its 23 rooms, supporting himself with catering jobs and work as a commercial printer.

Half the inn serves as a popular location for storybook weddings. The restaurant, on the first and second floors, is a respite for diners and for Wecker.

He bubbled as he talked about the work that goes into changing everything on the menu every month and about how the process involves everyone in the kitchen and on the service staff. (The only standards that always are on the menu are the French onion soup, the Caesar salad and the house salad.)

The inn is a collaborative effort, and it shows, from the kitchen to the dining room.

At a recent lunch, soothed by the mellifluous voice of our waiter and his calming approach, my dining companion opined that the whole experience was like taking Prozac. And it was. An hour or so at table here made it easier to take on the world outside.

Wecker traces his interest in cooking to the Boy Scouts. He started cooking professionally as a teenager, and rather than the culinary school route of many young chefs today, he learned the old-fashioned way, climbing up the traditional French kitchen's apprentice ranks. That's one reason you'll find endless variations of classic French sauces in dishes on the menu.

Although the French food has earned the inn a reputation as a destination or special-event restaurant -- and it is that, too -- there is nothing pretentious about the menu. Wecker said he doesn't want diners to be intimidated or even to think they have to get really dressed up to dine there. The menu is in French and English, with an explanation of the preparations. 

Loire Wine Dinner at The Elkridge Furnace Inn 

Arriving

 

Loire Wine Dinner

 

Reception

 

First Course

 

Salad

Main

Dessert

Kitchen and Service Team

The Wines

Bye-bye

Happy Birthday John

LOIRE VALLEY: Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024 

 

Annette Schiller: What comes to your mind when you hear ‘Loire Valley’? Of course images of glorious Châteaux pop up in your mind. Yes that is true and we will visit some iconic château and dig deep into France’s history. However, during this wine tour we also discover a magnificent, but often overlooked French wine region and one of the most exciting best kept secrets of excellent, high quality wines at very reasonable prices. The Loire Valley wine region is a vast area and consists of several distinct wine regions, each with its own characteristic grapes, appellations, and wine style. We take you on a journey from the Atlantic Ocean to the Auvergne mountains to explore this unique region. We learn to appreciate “Sancerre”, "Pouilly-Fumé", “Vouvray", “Chinon”, as well as many other not so familiar appellations.

See: Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024) 

  

   

 

Postings on Schiller-wine Related to the Upcoming 2024 Loire Trip by ombiasy WineTours

 

This is the 20th in a series of postings on Schiller-wine related to the 2024 Loire Valley Trip by ombiasy WineTours in June.

 

A Journey Through The Loire Valley - Seminar at the 2023 American Wine Society National Conference in St. Louis/ Missouri/ USA led by Annette Schiller

Plateau des Fruits de Mer and a Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie at Historic Brasserie Cigale in Nantes, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Announcement: Loire Valley 2024 by ombiasy WineTours (Sunday, June 09 - Thursday June 20, 2024)

 

Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers in the Loire Valley and elsewhere in France and Europe - in February in Angers and Samour, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Dinner at the Kitchen Counter of Les Petits Prés, Angers, Loire Valley, France, with Star Chef Samuel Albert (February 2024)

 

Announcement: "The Wines of the Loire Valley" presented by Annette Schiller at the American Wine Society/ Northern Virginia Chapter on March 8, 2024

 

Visiting Natural Wine Producer Liv Vincendeau - Domäne Vincendeau in Rochefort sur Loire/ Anjou (February 2024) 

 

Menu Dégustation at La Dariole (Bib Gourmand Michelin) in Orléans with Chef Nicolas Hervé and Domaine Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Pinot Noir (February 2024)

 

Dinner at L' Alchemiste in Saumur at Michelin-star Level with Chef François Deplagne (February 2024)

 

Moon - Monks - Michelin: Overnight stay and 1-star Michelin Dinner at the Abbaye Royale de Fontevraud, with Chef Thibaut Ruggeri (February 2024)

 

Fine de Claire, #3 Oysters from Cancale, the Oyster Capital of Brittany, and a 2022 Domaine Henry Pellé, Menetou-Salon, Saugnon-Blanc in Tours, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

At Château de Pray, a Loire Château from the 12th Century and a Michelin Star: Overnight Stay and High-end Dinner in an Historic Setting (February 2024)

 

A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the American Wine Society (Northern Virginia Chapter), led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Château de Chambord - Not only a Famous Loire Palace, but also an AOC Cheverny Wine Producer

 

Meeting Jean-Marie Bourgeois and Jean-Christoph Bourgeois of Domaine Henri Bourgeois at their Domaine in Chavignol/ Sancerre, Loire Valley, France 

 

Dinner at Au P'tit Goûter - a Friendly Little Bistro right in the Middle of Chavignol, Sancerre, Loire Valley - with Front-of-the-house Jérémy, Chef Jérôme Germain and Tuscany (February 2024)

 

Announcement: A Journey through the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, Washington DC, led by Annette Schiller, Tuesday, March 26 at 7.45 pm

 

A Journey through the Vineyards of the Loire Valley - Tasting at the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar, led by Annette Schiller (March 2024)

 

Announcement: Wines from the Loire Valley - Tasting at the NoLoCo (Northern Loudoun County) Chapter of the American Wine Society on April 14, 2024, led by Annette Schiller

 

Wine and Goat Cheese in the Loire Valley: Crottin de Chavignol (Cheese), Sancerre (Wine) and Pouilly-Fumé (Wine)

 

German and Austria Winemakers (Clemens Busch, Kühn, Meinklang, Frank John) at the Salons des Vins - all with a Focus on Natural, Organic, Biodynamic and Low-intervention Producers - in February in Angers and Saumur, Loire Valley, France (February 2024)

 

Loire Winemaker Dinner with Clément Berthier, Sancerre, at Bastille Brasserie in Alexandria, Virginia, USA