Staff Blog
Recap: Phiz Fest
posted by Kristen Humbert
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| Photo | Monica Simpson |
There is no alcoholic beverage that I enjoy more than champagne. But let’s get real, I usually just drink it — I know very little about the stuff other than the fact that it’s carbonated, and if it’s not from the region of Champagne, France, you have to call it “sparkling wine.” But last week’s Phiz Fest, at the Grand Ballroom at the Park Hyatt at the Bellevue, was just as much for the champagne connoisseur as it was for the novice — both received an education in pairing possibilities.
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| Photo | Monica Simpso |
My education began with the crispness of Taittinger Brut La Francaise. I then fell for the light and sweet Schramsberg Mirabelle Brut Rose, but my particular favorite of the night was the Kitaya Ai No Hime “Princess of Love” sparkling sake. Princess of Love (with a name like that, it better be good) is fermented in such a way that the result is not only fruity-forward, with flavors of mango and guava, but also pink. It was the most unique drink of the evening.
To accompany the bubbly, there were a variety of foods on which to feast. Who knew champagne went so well with pizza — specifically, the honey lime chicken pie from Peace A Pizza? World Café Live provided a smorgasbord of vegetables and a cold roast beef spread that my companion eloquently described as “ballin’.” To sweeten the deal, there was cake from Eliza’s Bakery topped with delicate champagne icing (I took three pieces).
Given the swanky Bellevue locale (and after observing a handful of attendees), there were moments when the fest seemed more like an excuse for people to simply get drunk and unknowingly audition for The Real Housewives of Philadelphia than to expand their palate. But it’s still an event I would recommend to anyone. Sixty bucks gets you all you can eat and drink and a fancy Phiz Fest tasting glass to go — serving as a classy reminder that you could very well pour yourself some bubbly the next time you get a pizza delivered.
