An Italian Wine Dinner with Monsieur Ed Thompkins
Thursday, August 14th, 2025 • 6:30pm
Cream of Corn Cappuccino, Comté Cheese Espuma
A purée of sweet corn with a Comté cheese foam, toasted corn nuts.
Franciacorta Brut “Cuvee Alma”, Bellavista, Lombardy, Italy, NV
Maine Lobster Zucchini Blossoms, Traditional Hollandaise Sauce
Sautéed Erie County zucchini blossoms filled with a Maine Lobster stuffing with hollandaise sauce.
Etna Bianco “Mocci di Ciumi”, Al Cantara Winery, Etna, Sicily, Italy, 2023
Marshall Island Yellowfin Tuna, Garbanzo Beans & Heirloom Tomato Salad
A cold lightly peppered seared premium yellowfin tuna from the Pacific Ocean, garbanzo beans and heirloom tomato salad, tossed with a Calamansi vinaigrette dressing, garnished with Pecorino Romano cheese.
Blanc de Pinot Noir “Impero”, 2023, Mancini, Marche, Italy, 2023
Pinot Noir “Pesasresi” 2021, Mancini, Marche, Italy, 2021
Braised Beef Cheeks Agnolotti, Glace de Viande
Piedmontese raviolis, filled with braised beef cheeks and root vegetables, finished with a red wine and root vegetable brunoise glace de viande.
Barolo di Barolo, Vite Colte, Piedmont, Italy, 2019
Barbera D Asti La Luna E Falo Vite Colte, Piedmont, Italy, 2021
Wild Boar Chop, Black Mission Fig & Orange Zest Syrah Reduction
Slowly Roasted wild boar chop, chestnut puree, shallots, black mission figs, sauced with a black mission fig and orange red wine reduction.
Brunello di Montalcino, Romitorio, Tuscany, Italy, 2020
Ancellotta “Blu”, Mancini, Marche, Italy, 2022
Marintaed Peaches & Apricots French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Marinated Quarry Hill Peaches and Sun-Dried Apricots served over French Vanilla Bean Ice Cream.
Grillo “Late Harvest”, Fina El Aziz , Sicily, Italy, NV
$165/Per Guest
Tax & Gratuity not included
All pricing reflects a cash payment. A 2.95% convenience fee is addedfor all credit card transactions.
Trip Advisor
Ed Thompkins
I have been in the wine business for 35 years. What started out as a fun, part-time job during college turned into a wine career that I could not have imagined then!
My first break in the wine business is when I was hired to be the assistant manager at Akron’s legendary West Point Market. In the late 1980’s West Point Market was the most famous specialty food store between New York and Chicago. It also had the largest wine department in Ohio. After only two months, the wine manager left for a job in California, and at the ripe, old age of 24, I was promoted to be the wine manager!
In 1991, I was hired by Heinen’s Fine Foods to launch a wine program that would be unique inthe grocery industry. By creating a ‘wine shop in a grocery store’ Heinen’s became known as oneof the best wine locations in Cleveland.
Earlier this year, I decided to finally pursue a position in the wine wholesale side of thebusiness, and started with Wines LLC. Our company is the largest direct-importer in Ohio and one of the largest in the US, specializing in wines from Italy and France from small, family-owned wineries.
I am WSET Level 3 certified and have taught numerous wine classes during my career. I believe that wine should be fun and approachable, and the classes I lead are as educational as they are enjoyable!