The Anthony Bourdain, All-Star Chef Ocean Liner Menu for #SOBEWFF is Pure Nostalgia Porn

The Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival takes place this weekend with a cavalcade of all-star chefs and culinary VIPs. One of the marquee events - a soigné, $1,500.00 per ticket Ocean Liner Dinner curated by Anthony Bourdain and culled from the annals of The Wolfsonian museum - will unite culinary sentimentalists Daniel Boulud, Andrew Carmellini, Francois Payard, Eric Ripert and the Montreal duo of Dave McMillan and Fred Morin in a nod to the bygone era of luxury maritime travel.

"We were thrilled when Wine & Food Festival founder Lee Schrager introduced Anthony Bourdain to The Wolfsonian during last year's festival," said Cathy Leff, The Wolfsonian's director, in January. "After touring the museum, Anthony said one of his dreams was to curate a meal based on the ocean liner menus in our collection. We were even more thrilled when Lee called to say it was going to happen."

As anyone in possession of a dog-eared copy of The Art of Living According to Joe Beef can attest, this kind of wistful homage is firmly in the McMillan and Morin wheelhouse. And, fittingly, the Montreal contingent's contribution to the sold-out event includes a "Caroline de foie gras et truffes" and "Oeuf en gelée, crème de jambon au céleri, truffes" (paired with a Krug Grande Cuvée MV, no less).

A statement Bourdain made about the event back in November — "None of the chefs would ever be able to get away with serving this kind of menu in their restaurants" — is partly on the money; there is something assuredly Joe Beef-like about the proceedings. And, needless to say, for the chef behind Maison Boulud Ritz-Carlton and the recently-published Daniel: My French Cuisine, the likes of oysters remoulade and halibut "Bonne Femme" must conjure up Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and stages in Lyon.

Bottom line: this menu is a fanciful blast from the past.

SOUTH BEACH WINE AND FOOD OCEAN LINER MENU - Friday, February 21

RECEPTION

Smoked Salmon Deviled Quail Egg
Eric Ripert
SS Ille deFrance
--
Caroline de foie gras et truffes
Frederic Morin, David McMillan
SS France
--
Crispy Blue point Oysters, Sauce Remoulade
Daniel Boulud
SS Argentina
--
Mushroom Truffle Macaroon
Andrew Carmellini
SS Normandie

DINNER MENU

Lobster Bisque
Mini Quenelles and Black Truffle
Eric Ripert
SS Ille deFrance
Newton Unfiltered Chardonnay 2011
--
Oeuf en gelée, crème de jambon au céleri, truffes
Frederic Morin, David McMillan
SS France
Krug Grande Cuvée MV
--
Slow Baked Halibut Bonne Femme with Sweet Maine Shrimp
--Daniel Boulud
SS Argentina
Cloudy Bay Te Koko 2010
--
Pithivier of Pheasant
Andrew Carmellini
SS Normandie
Cheval des Andes 2009
--
William Pear Belle Helene with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Francois Payard
SS Liberté
Château d'Yquem 1997
--Hennessy Paradis

· Food Network South Beach Wine and Food Festival [Official Site]
· Bourdain Co-Hosts Wolfsonian Dinner Inspired by Ocean Liner Materials [FIU News]
· All Joe Beef Coverage [-EMTL-]
· All Anthony Bourdain Coverage [-E-]