I had the pleasure of going to an exclusive Gilt City event last Monday at Millesime, a brasserie attached to the Carlton Hotel in New York City. The restaurant is absolutely luxurious and beautiful. It is hard to miss the vibrant red banquettes and tiled floors, as well as the extremely high dome ceilings. Millesime is the perfect spot for drinks with friends or a romantic dinner.

photo courtesy of The Gothamist

After reaching the top of the staircase we were greeted by a very pervasive maitre d, Samy Kebbab. He later went on to joke about his last name after he told us he was from France. He was also our guide through the night’s festivities of oysters and wine.

The room was set up with long banquet tables and hundreds of shucked oysters ready to be devoured. The oysters included Peter’s Point oysters, Island Creek oysters, Fanny Bay oysters, and Kusshi oysters. My favorite were the Kusshi oysters. Kusshi comes from the Japanese word for “ultimate” and grown in the rich waters of Deep Bay, British Columbia. Since they are a suspended oyster they offer a ripe, creamy and sweet flavor. The Kusshi oyster was paired with a golden colored wine called Domaine Benoit Gautier 2008. This medium to full body wine balances its gentle acidity with apricot, pear, and honey notes.

All oysters were paired with wines from Loire Valley.

Although I am not a white wine drinker at all, I could appreciate the selection for the evening. Another wine that I grew a liking to was the Phillippe Raimbault Pouilly Fume 2008. This Sauvignon Blanc had flavors of citrus green apple and was much richer and thicker then the other wines and perhaps any white wine I have ever tried. It paired nicely with the Fanny Bay oysters which had a nutty, buttery flavor to the palate. Just like the complexity of the wine, the Fanny Bay oysters were also complex, hearty, and full and firm.

And to top it off we enjoyed delicious bread with a savory butter cut with red wine and shallots. I could have easily eaten an entire loaf of bread with this butter. It had  the texture of a creamy pate but the flavor of earthy red wine and sweet shallots.

The shallot butter was quite a stand out for the night.

This was a fantastic experience thanks to Gilt City and Millesime. Beautiful dining room, relaxed atmosphere, and a maitre d who not only educated us, but made the evening a real adventure!

Great oysters, wine, and company!

(212) 889-7100