MIAMI BEACH, FL (February 25, 2009)―Food, wine, art and the fine art of fundraising converged this past weekend at The Wolfsonian–Florida International University when two intimate dinners for just 90 guests each were among the highlights of the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival. World-renowned chef Daniel Boulud flew to Miami Beach just to prepare the two dinners – the first on Saturday, February 21 and the second on Sunday, February 22 – each of which was paired with the extraordinary wines from Château Mouton Rothschild, one of just five Bordeaux premier cru classé. The evenings began with a private tour of “Mouton Rothschild–Paintings for the Labels,” hosted by Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, the current owner of the Château, and ended with an auction of some of the best Mouton Rothschild wines. The Baroness charmed everyone who had the privilege of meeting her.

Both dinners started off on the 7th floor, which houses the extraordinary exhibition of original paintings commissioned to illustrate the labels of vintages of the famed Château Mouton Rothschild. The exhibition, which opened on February 19th and will run through March 8th, features over 60 works of art that adorned the labels from 1924 to 2006, including works by important artists such as Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, Robert Motherwell, Keith Haring, and Balthus. Lucian Freud, the newest artist to join this illustrious group, designed the 2006 label, which was unveiled for the first time at the museum. An aperitif of the 2006 vintage was served, marking the first time that wine has ever been served in the galleries of The Wolfsonian.

Guests then descended for dinner, which was served in the lobby of The Wolfsonian-FIU, one of the most beautiful architectural settings in Miami. There is something to go agog over in every nook and cranny—including the Art Deco fountain façade, the rest rooms and the elevators. (Next time you are there make sure to check them out.)

Saturday’s dinner began with an appetizer of Maine peekytoe crab with Fuji apples, celery crème fraiche and hearts of palms, paired with Aile d’Argent 2004, a very rare white wine made by Château Mouton Rothchild. The entrée that followed was a filet de veau rissolé aux girolles, served with a pousse d’ epinard, pommes fondante, shallot soubise, and black truffles, paired with Château Clerc Milon 1990. Château Mouton Rothschild 1982 – considered one of the greatest wines of the century – was served with a course of ripe French cheeses, and finally, for dessert, a confit de pomme, with crème diplomate Napoléon and caramel ice cream was paired with Château Coutet Cuvée Madame 1989, a premier cru classé dessert wine produced only in exceptional years.

Sunday’s dinner menu featured the same wines, this time paired with an appetizer of homard du Maine, Buddha hand lemon, leek royale topped with chive; a duo of beef consisting of red wine braised short ribs with celery root purée and a roasted rib eye with glazed root vegetables; the cheese course and a dessert of millefeuille de speculoos aux fraises, fromage blanc sorbet, and orange zest confit.

Just when you thought the evening couldn’t get any more glamorous, a wine auction was conducted by Jamie Ritchie, senior vice president of wine at Sotheby’s. It featured large format bottles of Mouton from a variety of vintages. All proceeds earned from the dinner and the auction on Sunday, February 22nd, completely underwritten by Château Mouton Rothschild, went to The Wolfsonian’s exhibitions and public programs. Proceeds from the Saturday, Feb. 21st event were shared equally by The Wolfsonian and the FIU School of Hospitality and Tourism.

Baroness Philippine de Rothschild was Honorary Gala Chair; Co-Chairs were: Marisa Cisneros and Marco Rizzon, Stephen Mandy, Sandra Seligman and Gil Glassberg, Patricia and Milton Wallace and Gary L. Wasserman. Other notable attendees at the dinners included Alberto and Susanna Ibarguen; Wolfsonian Chair, Finlay Matheson and his wife Joanie; Wolfsonian Vice Chair, Phil Scaturro; Aspen Institute President, Walter Isaacson; Nan Bush and Bruce Weber; Thomas Harris and Pace Barnes; Paul and Trudy Cejas; Steve and Sandy Muss; Iran Issa Khan; Wolfsonian Board member, Gonzalo Acevedo; FIU Trustee, Kirk Landon and Pamela Garrison; James and Valerie Judd; Charlie Stiefel; Rita and Gus Hauser, Mel Dick and Harvey Chaplin from Southern Wine & Spirits, who along with the Food Network’s South Beach Wine & Food Festival were co-sponsors of the Saturday night event.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian–FIU is a museum and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, political, and technological changes that have transformed the world. The approximately 120,000 artifacts that comprise The Wolfsonian collection range from fine art, graphic design, and political propaganda to furniture, rare books, and ephemeral materials such as postcards and travel brochures. Since opening to the public just ten years ago, The Wolfsonian has developed and disseminated critically acclaimed exhibitions, publications, and educational programs that highlight the impact of design in shaping the modern world. Its vast patrimony of primary source materials provides unparalleled opportunities for scholarship and appreciation, making it a unique resource for local, national, and international audiences.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Fla. Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors, students, and children six-12; free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, children under six, and Miami Beach residents with ID. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org.

The Wolfsonian receives ongoing support from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council; the National Endowment for the Arts; the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; the City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; William J. and Tina Rosenberg Foundation; Continental Airlines, the Official Airline of The Wolfsonian-FIU; The Miami Herald; Miami.com; Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.; Robert Mondavi Winery; and Pistils & Petals.

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