Edible
Skinny was lucky enough to get invited to Casa Herradura introduction to its
third Colección de la Casa offering: a Scotch Cask Finished Tequila Reposado hosted by Rubén Aceves, International Director for brand development, Brown Forman Tequila Mexico, Tequila Herradura at
Neal Fraser’s recently opened Redbird in DTLA last week! (And wow that was
quite the word filled sentence!)
Casa
Herradura started their Colección de la Casa legacy two years ago with the
successful launch of the inaugural “expression” Port Cask Finish Reposado. This was then followed up with their second
“expression” Cognac Cask Finish Reposado.
The third in this series is a Scotch Cask finished Reposado that
acquires its complex body and extraordinary smooth taste from resting in two different
types of oak casks. It’s everything
that’s great about Scotch, but now in Tequila form
Casa Herradura is one of Mexico’s most historic and renowned tequila producers. Founded by Ambrosio Rosales and Aurelio
Lopez, Casa Herradura has been hand-harvesting, handcrafting, and estate
bottling 100% agave tequila at the Hacienda San José del Refugio, since
1870. Herradura is credited with the
introduction of the world’s first-ever Reposado and extra-Añejo tequilas in
1974 and 1995, respectively. FYI Most
Mexicans consume there Tequila straight and we followed this tradition during
the entire event. They might mix it with
one mixer such as Coke, but they don’t follow the American standard of Tequila
in cocktail form!
And
let’s talk about the recently opened Redbird’s location!
One
of the few remaining 19th-century structures in Los Angeles, the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana was dedicated in 1876 and served as a religious landmark for more
than 100 years. After suffering damages
in the 1994 Northridge Quake, the historic building was eventually
decommissioned and transformed into a special events venue.
Owned
and operated by chef Neal Fraser (BLD, Fritzi Dog), his wife Amy Knoll Fraser,
and restaurateur Bill Chait (République, Bestia, Petty Cash Taqueria, etc.),
the rectory building adjacent to the cathedral was recently converted into
Redbird, the much-awaited follow-up to Fraser's last restaurant Grace (RIP).
FYI: the restaurant's name is a homage to the cardinal whose offices were once
located on this site!
For
our Colección de la Casa event we were sequestered away in one of the private
rooms off the rectory building that included a balcony, 12-person table, and an
exclusive kitchen where Neal Fraser personally cooked for us! Boom!
From
the Veggie sidelines I was able to document the delicate yet gamey (or at least
it looked that way) English Pea, Soybean, Black Truffle Soup, and Ancho
Sangrita, Avocado. The dish
was
paired with Herradura’s simple Blanco (aka Silver)
Blanco
(aka Silver) Tequila. Sweet in flavor
with a touch of oak the finish was crisp, clean, and smooth.
The
standard main course was equally as visually gamey (Bacon Wrapped Saddle of
Wild Boar with Spaetzle, Kale and Tequila Violet Mustard sauce) but Fraser was
kind enough to whip up a Tofu based dish for the Vegs of the group complete
with Spaetzle! Both paired fabulously
with Herradura’s Tequila (regular) Reposado smooth flavor profile of vanilla,
butter and dried fruit!
But
the most fabulous part of the evening was the most fascinating dessert I’ve had
in years!!! Created by Jashmine Corpuz,
Pastry Chef at Redbird, the Tequila Caramel Budino was composed of keffir lime
crumble, candied macadamia nuts, cilantro, cilantro syrup, pineapple &
vanilla salad, and jalapeño cilantro sherbert.
You haven’t really lived until you’ve tried jalapeño cilantro sherbert
with cilantro syrup!!! This was of
course paired with their featured Colección de la Casa Tequila Reposado where
its long-drawn out Scotch finish with a touch of sweetness complimented it
perfectly!
It
was a fabulous event at a fabulous location where I ended up with a fabulous
bottle of Herradura’s Colección de la Casa as I was walking out the door! And how did I end up finishing this fabulous
night? At home surrounded by my
fabulous roommates sipping everything that’s great about Scotch, but now in
Tequila form!
Salud!
But
we are so lucky we did end up at the Northern Trust Open because we were able
to experience the fun gastronomy of FILL R UP Gastroenterology Garage (along with an amazingly rockin' O.A.R. concert!). 
FILL
R UP concocts specialty gourmet sandwiches and desserts assembled On
Site By Skilled GASTRO MECHANICS. 
