Prime Stamford’s Wednesday Wine Night

Photo above: Chef Julio Genao’s take on seared tuna with wasabi drizzle

With the roughest days of the week behind you, Wednesday nights should be a thing to celebrate. Lucky for those of us who aren’t chef-sommeliers, Prime restaurant in Stamford does all the hard work for you with their Wednesday night Wine Dinners, which pair three unique dishes with sumptuous wines. We chatted with the team at Prime about how they craft these special dining experiences and why you should treat yourself to some mid-week decadence.

“Our wine dinners give our talented culinary team an opportunity to be creative and showcase the depth of their food knowledge,” assistant manager Avrom R. Hill says of the team, led by Chef Julio Genao. “You will find original items prepared in innovative ways that give our guests an opportunity to try things they may not otherwise. Each menu is entirely unique and never repeated.”

Using the best seasonal ingredients, the three-course meals are then paired with wines for guests to savor the full interplay of flavors. These experiences cost $60 per person, or guests can opt to enjoy only the food for $45. Both options provide a decadent evening in a beautiful atmosphere that offers sweeping views of the Sound.

With over 20 years in the culinary world, it’s no surprise that Chef Genao began his career as an artist. His off-the-menu dishes are proof of the power of the dinner plate to showcase the artistry of flavor. Think tuna poke salad with hikiki, sesame and a savory-sweet honey-soy vinaigrette, or prosciutto-wrapped pork tenderloin with dreamy, soft polenta. The dishes sing with robust flavors and take you on international journeys without ever leaving Fairfield County.

Prime - An American Kitchen and Bar
A variation on the classic Cobb salad paired with a crisp Chardonnay

Often, guests don’t know which wines to pair with their dishes. Sommelier Paulo Villela takes the guesswork out of the experience by curating the best wines from Prime’s expansive cellar to showcase the alchemy of how food and wine interact.

“We use wine to complement or amplify the food it is being paired with,” says Sommelier Paulo Villela. “Using either congruent or complimentary pairings we can achieve two outcomes. A complementary pairing will create balance by contrasting tastes and flavors. For example, we could pair a wine high in acidity with a fatty fish as they contrast each other well. A congruent pairing creates balance by amplifying shared flavors. An example of this would be taking a dish with a creamy sauce and pairing it with a full-bodied Chardonnay that has creamy/buttery characteristics.”

Villela’s choices of wine also takes center stage during Prime’s wine tasting events called The Exclusive Sip, which take place on the first Friday of every month starting at 6 pm. These intimate gatherings let guests taste the finest treasures from Prime’s cellar as they mingle with other wine enthusiasts.

Prime - An American Kitchen and Bar
The modern elegance of the dining room

Much more than a quick meal, these ever-changing weekly Wine Dinners invite you to relax in the middle of a hectic week and enjoy a culinary escape. Let Prime help you reimagine your next Wednesday night as a special occasion to be savored and celebrated.


Prime – An American Kitchen and Bar

78 Southfield Avenue, Stamford, 203-817-0700; restaurantprime.com

To learn more or make a reservation go to: restaurantprime.com/stamford

Related Articles

A Gem in All Seasons

Ready for a luxurious retreat that’s just a car ride away? We sure are

The Connecticut Modern Driving Tour Shows Off the State’s Modern Marvels

Greenwich’s Bruce Museum organizes a driving tour to celebrate Connecticut’s rich history in modern architecture

Caring for Community

A New Mobile Food Pantry helps Filling in the Blanks bring fresh food to FAMILIES in need.