GWS Holiday Dinner at the Cosmos Club – Saturday December 18th, 2021

Ho, Ho, Ho, German Wine Society Members and Friends of German Wines, it’s nearly time to hang the stockings and dream of delicious German wine!  While we had a fun holiday gathering on Zoom last year choosing our own wines and stayed safe during the pandemic, at last we can gather in person again in Washington, D.C. and partake of the same wines together amidst all the elegance of Embassy Row, with the same policies we have used for our other in-person events this past summer and fall.  

So, please plan to attend the GWS Holiday paired dinner at the Cosmos Club, Saturday, December 18, 2021 starting at 7 pm, with registration and service of welcoming sekt and hors d’oeuvres beginning at 6:30 pm.  We are very fortunate to have access to this elegant and festive venue again this year, marking our return after our last event there in December 2019.   This has become possible because the Cosmos Club is now requiring vaccination against covid-19 for all staff, members and guests in the mansion.

The paired dinner includes a variety of eight wines (mainly German, with one Austrian), among them high-prädikat selections, and a three-course meal preceded by hors d’oeuvres.   In addition, there will be entertainment – holiday piano music, and an opportunity to sing some German and other traditional songs together!   This year, we are offering a choice of four different entrees with different prices, more options than ever before – be sure to register for the one you want, and if there are multiple people on your order, register separately for each different entree choice.

Location:  The address for our holiday dinner is 2021 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, just a few blocks from Dupont Circle.   Metro is near (Dupont Circle Red Line) and parking is available to the rear of the club.   The stunning venue is, as in past years, the wood-paneled Members Dining Room on the 2nd floor in this landmark building.  Perfect for a special holiday wine event with family and friends!

Safety Precautions:  Please remember that we, like the Cosmos Club, require all members and guests to be fully vaccinated against covid-19, and  we also require proof of vaccination (CDC card or other official document), either when checking in for the event or beforehand by providing an email photo to carl.willner1@verizon.net.   NO EXCEPTIONS.   We have followed this policy successfully at our other in-person events this fall, allowing all members and guests to enjoy the event safely.   Please also wear masks when arriving, moving through the club and checking in, though you can of course remove masks during the dinner. 

Menu:  The paired menu will be as follows:

Welcome and hors d’oeuvres

Belgian Endive with Pickled Cranberry-Chevre Mousse, Charred Broccoli

Salmon Rilette with Lemon Pepper Caviar, Buckwheat Blini

Barbecue Spice Grilled Steak Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce

nv Dr. Loosen “Dr. L” Sparkling (Sekt) Riesling

Salad appetizer

Kabocha Squash (Caramelized Squash, Spiced Pecans, Spinach, Pomegranate-ginger Vinaigrette)

Popover Bread

2017 Dr. Heyden Silvaner Old Vines Trocken Rheinhessen

2015 Dr. Nagler Rüdesheim Bischofsberg Riesling Kabinett Rheingau

Entree (choose one dish when registering)

Porcini Rubbed Beef Tenderloin (Roasted Root Vegetable Medley, Haricots Vert, Veal Glaze, Sherried Arugula Salad)

Roasted Duck Breast (Kale Saute, Turnip Puree, Pickled Red Onion, Dried Cherry Jus)

Seared Atlantic Halibut (Artichokes, Plum and Tomato Stew)

Seitan and Chickpea Stuffed Eggplant (Eggplant, Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Pickled Shallots )(vegetarian option)

2016 Dr. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb Mosel

2012 Spritzer Oestricher Lenchen 303 Riesling Spätlese Rheingau

2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Rotwein Trocken Mosel

Dessert

Chocolate Pot au Creme (Dried Meringue, Fresh Berries)

2016 Heinz Eifel Mainzer Domherr Silvaner Eiswein Rheinhessen

2015 Steindorfer Cuvée Klaus (70% Ottonel/30% Sauvignon Blanc) Beerenauslese Burgenland Austria

Coffee and Tea Service

Parking:  Club parking is off Florida Avenue behind the club.  There is a small white sign showing the parking entrance.  Parking is included in the event price and there is no tipping at the club including the valet parking.  Parking is limited and club members have preference.  It is highly advisable not to arrive late in case there are other functions going on at the club that evening.

Dress Code:  The dress code for the Cosmos Club is strict – jackets and ties for men, comparable business or evening attire for women.  No jeans or tennis shoes

Prices:  The dinner price, varying by entree selected, is:  

Porcini Rubbed Beef Tenderloin $176 members/$186 non-members

Seared Atlantic Halibut $165 members/$175 non-members

Roasted Duck Breast $163 members/$173 non-members

Seitan and Chickpea Stuffed Eggplant (Vegetarian) $150 members/$160 non-members

If you are not sure of your current membership status, please contact the Chapter President and Secretary, Carl Willner, at carl.willner1@verizon.net before ordering to confirm.

When and How to Register:  The deadline for reservations is Sunday, December 12 so that we may provide the chef with an accurate count of total guests as well as the entrees chosen for each guest, and allow time for place cards for each guest to be made.   No late reservations can be allowed for this event due to these club requirements.   This promises to be a wonderful event so please make your reservations right away and don’t miss out!

There are two ways to join in the fun.   You can register and pay online for the event using PayPal.  There are separate buttons to choose each entree menu option. 

An email message to the Secretary  at carl.willner1@verizon.net to let us know who is having each entree option would be appreciated, if there are multiple guests on the reservation with different entree preferences – otherwise, we will need to reach out to you.  Or, you can submit a check for the event to our Chapter President and Secretary, Carl Willner, payable to the German Wine Society, at the following address and using the form below, and making sure to note your entree preference for each guest.  Any member dues that may be owed can also be paid online or by check.  Please include names, number of guests, email and phone number.

Carl Willner

1014 Reserve Champion Drive

Rockville, MD 20850  

Tours:  The Cosmos Club has advised us that tours of the historic club mansion for interested guests are once again possible, as in past years, as long as guests wear masks while moving about the building.  Availability of tours will depend on willingness of members who are also Cosmos Club members to conduct them.  If you would like to participate in a tour, please reply to this message and let us know of your interest, and you will be advised at a later date if the tours are being offered by one of our members and when to arrive for them.

Questions about Event:  The event organizer is Carl Willner, who can be reached by email at carl.willner1@verizon.net, or at 202-674-9044.   Please contact him with any questions, including current membership status, or correspondence in response to this email.  

All Society Members and guests are reminded that drinking alcohol can lead to intoxication, and therefore Society members and their guests are expected to drink in moderation at Society events.  It is advisable to provide designated drivers or other alternative modes of transit to driving where available, or mostly to taste rather than fully consume alcohol where such drivers or alternative modes of transit are not available.  

If you no longer wish to receive our announcements, please reply to this email to our Secretary, Carl Willner.

If registering by mail, please cut and return the reservation form portion of the notice below – do not mail the entire notice.

______________________________________________________________________________

Reservation form for GERMAN WINE SOCIETY HOLIDAY DINNER AT THE COSMOS CLUB, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021, 7 pm – 10 pm (with registration and welcome beginning at 6:30 pm)

Member Name(s) ______________________________________________________________

Guest Names(s) ______________________________________________________________

Total Enclosed ________________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone Number _______________________________________________________

Entrees and number of each chosen:  Beef Tenderloin _____ Halibut _____Duck _____ Vegetarian _____

Please indicate who is having each entree, if multiple guests are on the reservation.