My motto has always been, “Eat dessert first.” At Cena Ristorante at Chateaux Deer Valley, not only can you eat dessert first, but they will pair their amazing sweet treats with an aperitif courtesy of Jeremy Ray, the front of house manager.
Ray, a longtime chef, was looking to transition into the front of house. After interviewing with Stein Eriksen Lodge he was so impressed, he took a job as a server at Glitretind Restaurant to learn the Forbes Five Star serving experience. Ray transferred to Cena to take the front of house manager position and fits right in. Ray makes all guests and diners feel welcome at Cena. We asked him to pair some after-dinner drinks with the house-made desserts served at Cena.
House-made Gelato and Sorbetto
Ray chose Da Luca prosecco from Veneto, Italy, with the three sorbettos we sampled: coconut, mango and frutti di basco. The Da Luca prosecco is crisp and light, and pairs well with the smooth sorbettos. The sorbetto sampling on the menu is $7, and the prosecco is $14 a glass.
Peach Crostada
The peach crostada, made with warm peach compote, flaky pastry crust, lavender honey and vanilla gelato is paired with St. Supery moscato. The sweet wine balances the stone fruit and pastry perfectly. The peach crostada is $8 on the menu, and the St. Supery moscato is $10 a glass.
Zuccotto
The zuccotto, a traditional Italian dessert made with hazelnut and chocolate mousse, flourless chocolate cake and sweet risotto, is paired with a glass of Castellare San Niccola vin santo from Tuscany made with Chianti grapes. This is a high residual sugar wine that is dry-aged, then barrel-aged to add a wood flavor. It is the perfect drink to balance the rich chocolate dessert. The Zuccotto is $8 on the menu and a glass of the vin santo is $18.
The best part about Cena is you can come for apres, appetizers, a pizza or a full dinner. Or, like me, come just for dessert and an expertly paired drink. Ray will take excellent care of you, and you won’t be disappointed by whatever you chose on the menu. With an extensive yet price-friendly wine list, you can have a delightful evening without breaking the bank.
Cena Ristorante at Chateaux, Deer Valley
Open Wednesday-Sunday
Apres at 3 p.m.
Dinner 5-10 p.m.
7815 Royal Street East
Park City, Utah | 84060
(435) 658-9500
Thank you to Stein Eriksen Lodge for providing the photography for this blog.
