A Moroccan-Inspired Couscous Dinner with Wine Pairings for 8

THIS ITEM IS PART OF OUR LIVE AUCTION.

TUNE IN ON MAY 13 !

From the home of Chichi Steiner and Tom Rassieur, your group of 8 will be transported to North Africa for a night, with exotic flavors to awaken your taste buds.

Tom Rassieur, beloved curator of Prints and Drawings at Mia will welcome you in his role as the sommelier par excellence for the evening as Chichi Steiner and AFMSP Directrice Christina Selander Bouzouina serve you an extraordinary array of Moroccan specialties.

Your meal will begin with a traditional Moroccan salad medley, a composition of five unique vegetable preparations. The plat de resistance is a family recipe- couscous with lamb and five vegetables prepared in a mildly spicy ras-el-hanout sauce. Enjoy a refreshing orange salad with cinnamon for dessert, special almond cookies, followed by traditional mint tea.

Avez-vous de la chance? Try your luck in our raffle, and you might win a dinner for Six at Smack Shack in the North Loop of Minneapolis!

This fabulous dinner includes two bottles of Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc and two dozen oysters. The shucker's selection will be followed by each guest's choice of salad, and entrée choice of a lobster boil or ribeye.

$20 per chance ($850 estimated value)

We will draw our winner during the live auction, starting at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 13.

Buy in advance to assure your chance!

Everyone's a winner ! Wines range in value from $15 to $60.

When you purchase a $25 'ticket to play', we'll add you to the drawing. Everyone that buys a ticket gets a bottle of wine, but your luck will determine which bottle you get to take home.

These bottles are hand-picked by our Board of Directors and include all their French favorites such as: Béreche et Fils Brut Reserve Champagne; Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas, Rhone; and Domaine de Verquière Vacqueras, Rhone.

The drawing will take place on May 13 after our auctions. Since no one will be present, our Executive Director will act your proxy and you will be notified when the bottle is ready for pick-up.

Bring home 3 Bottles of French Rosé and a Rosé All Day Woven Bag!

Is there a more perfect pairing than summer and rosé? We think not! With summer approaching, we suggest that you jump-start your picnic-planning with this selection of rosé and a Rosé All Day woven bag. This selection from our Board of Directors includes rosés from Provence and the Rhone.

• Domaine du Père Caboche, Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, 2019 (rose)
• Chateau de l'escarelle, Coteaux varois en Provence, 2018 (rose)
• Pink Pégau, Rhone Valley Rosé , 2018

The bag is cloth lined, with rope handles, perfect for a small picnic, the beach, or toting around town... and it comes from La Boutique at AFMSP!

Enjoy lunch or dinner, and/or dessert at Café Latté with this $50 gift certificate.

Café Latte is renown for their indulgent and decadent desserts, as well as their award-winning salads and sandwiches that are made fresh right in front of you. Every day, the Café offers an ever-evolving menu of more than six different soups, a dozen sandwiches & five prepared salads. Grab a tray - you're in for a wonderful experience!

Dine in elegance at Cathedral Hill's W.A. Frost with this $50 gift certificate.

Located in St Paul's historic Dacotah building, WA Frost is an award-winning restaurant known for its warmly romantic ambiance. The bar and restaurant were founded in 1975 and have charmed patrons ever since. Proudly using local and sustainable ingredients, W.A. Frost focuses on serving an exquisite dining experience while providing a glamorous atmosphere perfect for a romantic date or a cozy evening between friends.

Enjoy a traditional Greek meal at Gardens of Salonica with these two $50 gift certificates.

Anna and Lazaros opened the Gardens of Salonica in 1991 and have since provided the Twin Cities with the best of traditional and modern Greek cuisine. Their delicious food is organic, wild-caught, and locally sourced as available.

Use this $100 gift certificate to explore Mexican cuisine at Colita!

Chef Daniel Del Prado's Colita, has created lots of buzz in South Minneapolis. He integrates the incredibly diverse flavors of Mexico with barbecue and smoking techniques from all over the world with a focus on the flavors & moles of Oaxaca.

Enjoy dinner or brunch in their bright, contemporary dining room. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Don't forget to take a peek at the whimsical cocktails!

Enjoy a Tasting Menu for Two at P.S. Steak !

As the name suggests, P.S. Steak was established to continue to the story of the historic space that was once the famed La Belle Vie. Chef Decamp spent 10 years at the former French restaurant; P.S. Steak is his homecoming.

This 5-course tasting menu is a comfortable yet exploratory journey of flavor, designed to evoke memorable and nostalgic culinary experiences in Minnesota. Reminisce on childhood memories and get cozy.

Sample Menu:

AMUSE
Warm Apple Cider with Aromatics of Curry

FIRST COURSE
Coconut Espuma
with Apple, Ginger, Peanuts and Lemongrass

SECOND COURSE
Smoked Sturgeon Rillette with Royal Osetra Caviar, Lingonberry and Lefse

THIRD COURSE
Roulade of Capon with Black Truffle, Chestnut Polenta and Lovage

FOURTH COURSE
Barley Koji Aged Zabuton with Pickled Dulse Seaweed, Crispy Mushrooms and
Bourbon Barrel Aged Worchestershire Sauce

DESSERT
Swedish Pancake with Flambéed Cherries and Cardamom Cream

Served Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Does not include drinks, though wine or cocktail pairing options are available. Gratuity of 20% will be added (gratuity and tax not included).

Savourez ce sirop d'érable ! Take home 2 bottles of homemade maple syrup this boxed set.

This maple syrup was handcrafted by Alliance Française Vice Chair and student, Karen Zentner Bacig, and her husband, Ed Bacig, in March 2020.

Starting in 2016, Karen and Ed decided to try their hand at tapping a few of their maple trees on the property at their cabin outside of Hayward, Wisconsin and making maple syrup. They tapped 20 maple trees and, over the course of a weekend, collected 40 gallons of sap, which yields about one gallon of delicious maple syrup. After that first year, they were hooked! Each year has brought more research, more learning, more equipment, more trees, and more syrup!

This year, Karen and Ed were able to make about 7 gallons of syrup. You could be the lucky person to take home two bottles of this delicious maple syrup. They believe that this year's syrup is particularly delicious and beautifully clear, and they wish the lucky winner bon appétit !

Value: Priceless!!

Savourez ce sirop d'érable ! Take home 2 bottles of homemade maple syrup this boxed set.

This maple syrup was handcrafted by Alliance Française Vice Chair and student, Karen Zentner Bacig, and her husband, Ed Bacig, in March 2020.

Starting in 2016, Karen and Ed decided to try their hand at tapping a few of their maple trees on the property at their cabin outside of Hayward, Wisconsin and making maple syrup. They tapped 20 maple trees and, over the course of a weekend, collected 40 gallons of sap, which yields about one gallon of delicious maple syrup. After that first year, they were hooked! Each year has brought more research, more learning, more equipment, more trees, and more syrup!

This year, Karen and Ed were able to make about 7 gallons of syrup. You could be the lucky person to take home two bottles of this delicious maple syrup. They believe that this year's syrup is particularly delicious and beautifully clear, and they wish the lucky winner bon appétit !

Value: Priceless!!

A $75 gift certificate to Eat Street Social OR Northeast Social

This hip south Minneapolis neighborhood fixture boasts refined bistro fare, craft cocktails, live music & a seasonal patio.

Sip on the ESS French martini or their beloved Old Fashioned Flight! Their whimsical cocktail list will please any palette, and they even have fun phosphate soda options for those preferring alcohol-free libations! Supplement your cocktail exploration with some tasty selections from their evolving menu. A perfect summer dining destination!

Dine luxuriously at Meritage of St Paul with $240 in gift certificates!

From the timeless dining room, to the buzzy oyster bar - Meritage transports you to France. The Terrace offers memorable summer evenings, a wonderful place to enjoy some moules frites and a glass of rosé. Use your certificates for a memorable dinner, or decadent brunch.

Enjoy local Thai with this $30 gift certificate to Sen Yai Sen Lek!

This Northeast Minneapolis restaurant features rice and noodle dishes, Isaan sticky rice and curry specials. Conveniently located at the intersection of Central & Lowry Avenues, Sen Yai Sen Lek is at the heart of the city's funky, arts-intensive neighborhood. This certificate is perfect for a relaxing afternoon or evening out: sample a bowl of noodles or our daily curry special, pick up some Thai take-out, or enjoy a local beer or glass of wine at the bar.

Take a culinary journey through Spain at home, or chez Pam! AFMSP Board Member Pappas Stanoch and her husband Joe Stanoch invite you to enjoy a traditional 5-course Spanish dinner for 8 people.

Start your evening sipping a traditional sangria. The feast begins with elegant salmon and asparagus tapas and Andalusian gazpacho. Be transported to Valencia with Joe's seafood paella, followed by a delicate spinach and orange salad. End the evening with Pam's Flan de Naranjas (Moorish Orange-scented Flan).

This dinner is available to be either served at Pam's home in St Louis Park, or dropped off to heat and enjoy at your own home.

You invite the guests, Pam and Joe will take care of everything else! Menu is flexible based on the preferences of the hosts.

Enjoy an Irish pub experience with this $100 certificate to McCormick's Pub and Restaurant!

Overlooking the shores of beautiful Lake Minnetonka in the heart of downtown Wayzata, McCormick's Pub and Restaurant features a cozy pub and adjoining elegant dining room, steeped in the Irish tradition of warm hospitality.

McCormick's is known for their Irish pub fare, as well as Continental and Nouveau American cuisine that is made entirely from scratch with fresh, locally sourced food and fish from the sea that's hand-butchered and never frozen.

Indulge with a Gateau St Honoré by Quince Catering, which serves 8-10.

You pick the date and time to pick up the cake at Quince's Minneapolis kitchen.

This style of gâteau was invented in 1847 at the Chiboust bakery on Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris. A classic French dessert, it has a circle of puff pastry at its base with a ring of pâte à choux piped on the outer edge. Small baked cream puffs are dipped in caramelized sugar and attached side by side on top of the circle of the pâte à choux.

Quince is a speciality catering and events company based in Minneapolis with a vision of exceptionally crafted food. Quince has catered for several Alliance Française events, such as the Fall Fashion Fundraiser that took place in September 2019. Their beautiful and delectable culinary creations never fail to please!

Enrich your Twin Cities dining experience with this $40 gift certificate to Saint Dinette.

Enjoy a brunch or dinner at Saint Dinette in St Paul's Lowertown! Their menu boasts a spread of Francophile and Anglophile foods, from Québec's pouding chômeur to Tennessee-style fried chicken.

Saint Dinette prides themself in being the neighborhood place with better food than you'd get at home, but not unlike the food you'd get at home. In their brightly-lit establishment, they take guests on an exploration of North American food with an emphasis on French roots. From beignets to octopus to steak and eggs, there is something for everyone at Saint Dinette!

Add this beautiful pearl-enameled Julia Knight 3-qt ice bucket with tongs to your bar.

This elegant ice bucket is in a Platinum-color palette, handmade, and is covered in crushed mother of pearl enamel.

Julia Knight is a Minneapolis-based luxury and decorative serving-ware designer. Each piece is a work of art, handmade of sand cast aluminum with our signature blend of enamel infused with crushed Mother-of-Pearl.

Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at French Meadow Café with these four $25 gift cards to French Meadow Café!

French Meadow Café has two convenient locations - Grand Ave, St Paul and Lyndale, Minneapolis. Gift cards can be used separately or together- you can even share them with your friends!

French Meadow's legacy was established with their famous organic bakery, founded by owner Lynn Gordon in 1985, the first organically-certified bakery in the country.

They maintain that tradition today, in their on-site bakery, where every day they bake the signature organic yeast-free breads and delicious desserts that are served in their restaurants. They even have indulgent gluten-free & vegan specialties!

Seize this opportunity to experience an in-home wine tasting for six with Baptiste Koch of Château Haût-Blanville, Languedoc.

During this priceless wine-tasting experience Baptiste will guide you and five friends through a tasting of four wines, while learning about the region of Languedoc, Blanville's terroir, history, and the winemaking process (in French, English or both!).

Your wines:

• Haut-Blanville Réserve Pinot Noir 2019
• Haut-Blanville Réserve Chardonnay 2019
• Haut-Blanville Horus rouge, AOP Languedoc red blend 2017
• Clos 1955 Single vineyard Syrah old vine 2014

This family-owned estate is located in the South of France, close to the city of Montpellier. The owners are recognized as pioneers of the Languedoc region, which is known for its diverse terroirs. Their estate includes five different AOP terroirs- and you will taste the differences!

In the vineyards, no pesticides or herbicides are used. Thanks to the winemakers' know-how and the Languedoc climate (hot, dry and windy), the vineyards remain healthy without the use of chemicals.

In-Person is Valid through mid-July 2020, until Baptiste goes to France, or after his return in 2021.

Take home a taste of French favorite in St Paul with a $30 certificate to Marc Heu Patisserie Paris and a $100 certificate to Meritage!

The Mission of Marc Heu Pâtisserie, Paris is to create a magical experience that will transport you to Paris with every delightful bite of their elegant and artistic French pastries. Chef Marc Heu was born in France and raised in French Guiana. Having studied under some of France's pastry masters, he creates contemporary masterpieces using traditional technique. His pasties are as delicious as they are beautiful.

After nearly 13 years of service, Meritage has become the established French grande dame of restaurants in the Twin Cities. They offer snacks and delectable fresh seafood in their oyster bar, as well as brunch and dinner.

Savor a tasty brunch with this $30 Certificate to Bon Vie Bistro!

This St Paul favorite on Selby offers up comforting breakfasts and lunches. Enjoy a taste of sweet and savory with the Toad in a Hole, made with sweet apple bread and eggs. Or maybe you fancy the Eiffel Tour, a pancake and sausage masterpiece. And don't forget to sample their croissants and other bakery items!

Dine in elegance with this $200 to Bellecour in Wayzata!

From the team behind Spoon and Stable comes Bellecour, a French bistro and bakery located in the heart of downtown Wayzata. Named after the bustling town center of Place Bellecour in Lyon, France, the restaurant borrows classic cuisine and charming design from the storied gastronomical capital of the Western world. Chef Gavin Kaysen's lifelong love of cooking is deeply tied to the food and people of Lyon. While most culinarians are privileged to call two of the town's most famed descendants, Daniel Boulud and Paul Bocuse, professional inspirations, Gavin also knows them as dear friends and mentors. Their stories are as much a part of Bellecour as Gavin's own.

A $40 certificate to Burch Restaurant

Whatever your fancy- Burch Restaurant will provide! Their menu boasts a selection of 16 different steaks, seafood, dumplings, pizza, delicious sides... and brunch !

Seated the entrance to the Lowry Hill neighborhood, James Beard award-winning Chef Isaac Becker's steakhouse quickly established itself as a Minneapolis institution.

An In-Home Burgundy Wine Tasting for 6

Join Kristin Watts, French Brand Manager for Small Lot Wine, for a tour of Bourgogne! Discover the distinct regions within one of France's most cherished wine growing areas, and hear about the stories of the people who make distinct wines in Chablis, Cotes de Beaune and Macon.

With her close relationships to the growers of the selected wines in France, Kristin looks forward to bringing you as close to the vineyard as we can be right now - and we may even have a special guest call in!

Kristin will guide you through the region while you taste:

• Domaine Paul Nicolle Chablis 'Vieilles Vignes' 2018
• Domaine Bader-Mimeur Bourgogne Rouge 'Dessous les Mues' 2017
• Domaine de la Saraziniere Macon-Bussieres 'Le Pavillon' 2018

Enhance your kitchen with this large pottery bowl and platter by Wayzata artist Denise McGee.

With a contemporary black and white glaze, these pieces are both practical and decorative.

Bowl is 13.5" diameter and 7" height

Platter is 14" x 14"

Selection of 3 Wines from Chateau de Pommard ... and plan a trip to Burgundy for a special a vineyard tour and tasting for two at Chateau de Pommard!

Bring home this box of exquisite wines from the Chateau de Pommard. You can't find these wines in the US! The boxed set consists of:

• Chateau de Pommard Nuits-Saint-Georges
• Chateau de Pommard Monopole Pommard
• Famille Carabello-Baum Meursault

This set also includes a special vineyard tour and tasting for two at the Chateau de Pommard itself! Next time you are in Burgundy, make use of this exceptional experience.