With Haifa’s CEO Stewart Corwin
and President Desmond Keogh as our hosts, all were treated
to a special evening of dining, wine tasting and auctioning
which was preceded by their unveiling of New York’s
first antique Corton limestone wine cellar, which was
etched with the names of the regional Grand Crus.
This beautifully designed wine
cellar left me wondering where was that million
I'd stashed away. I could've used it last night
to coax these company heads into redesigning my
home! Alas, I really didn't have a million so
this task would have to wait another 10 or 100
years.
Haifa History
Throughout the world designers are turning to Haifa’s
limestones for new projects and for remodeling assignments.
The 1980’s aesthetic of marble is now considered cold,
aloof and passé. Fueled by the desire for something
new, people are becoming enamored with limestone’s European
essence and historic feel. There’s a yearning to add
more character and depth to the personality of one’s
abode, while enhancing the comforting ambiance that makes
the place we live, a home. Limestone offers that aesthetic
to the kitchen, family room, wine room, patio, etc., and is
also exceedingly durable and easily maintained.
There are quite a number of well known celebrities, politicians
and others from Celine Dion, Tom Clancy and Bob and Elizabeth
Dole to even NYC's Donald Trump who've made use of Haifa's
services. Most recently, Haifa has even been selected to supply
Corton and Jerusalem Limestone for the kitchen restoration
of the Blair House, Washington DC's guest quarters for our
very own President. Impressive I say. Very.
But enough about those celebs who partake in Haifa's offerings.
How about some fact and say "possible myth"? Well,
Haifa's Corton limestone is derived from a subterranean quarry
below the renowned Corton vineyards of France. All who see
the stone's distinctive burgundy-colored veins are immediately
transfixed by its beauty. It is believed that rainwater, mixed
with fallen grapes, seeps below the ground, coloring the magnificent
stone. That's certainly something I'll buy into.
The Evening of
Dining
This evening we were treated to superb wine tasting, accompanied
by a delectable four course meal which left us all wishing
there were no end to the celebration...and well, there wasn't.
It continued on with the auctioning off of two great photographs
taken by Michael Joseph, an artist/photographer. Following
this was the auctioning off of wine bottles of which one gained
a bid of well over a thousand dollars. One of the jokes passed
along by the auctioneer at hand was how it was a bid worthy
of a suit. Hmmmm, maybe when I find where I stashed that million
of mine that'll be true. Until then, I'll need to stick with
my Gap purchases. Buyers of both photographs and wine went
home with quite a smile on their faces. Now that's an evening!
This scholarship dinner benefiting the Architectural Department
of the Parson's School of Design was catered by New York's
renowned French restaurant, Daniel, and owner Chef Daniel
Boulud made an appearance. Grand Cru wines from the Corton
vineyards were flown in from France to compliment each of
the four courses being served.
My personal thanks go out to Adrienne Mazzone of Transmedia
Group as well as Haifa Inc. for their having shared this special
evening.
Haifa President, Desmond Keogh stands besides the folks from Money Magazine.
My heartfelt thanks go out to them for being so gosh darn friendly and
to Desmond and Stewart for throwing such an entertaining bash.
Haifa CEO, Stewart Corwin and
the lovely Randi Rahm, one of NYC's top fashion designers, allowed me to
take their photo during the evening. Thank you Stewart.
The beautiful wine cellar at
this presentation has such a charm which can only be seen to be truly appreciated.
Samples of their stonework aligned
the walls of our dining area.
The preparation was
awesome as was the wine...or as another put it, "divine and sumptuous"
(not the sorts of words I use, but right on target!)
The names of the
wines of the region can be read off the outer walls of the wine cellar.
Michael Joseph's
Masterpieces which were auctioned off at this benefit dinner.
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