Sunday evening- what a rubbish time; ‘the weekend is over!’ you think as you sit and worry about Monday morning. My advice: go to a wine pairing evening. The feeling goes away in a instant.
Yes lucky me got invited by TABL to a little place in Clapham Old Town called- 22 North Street.
Now Tabl has just come into my life after I met Tazz, very hip chick who introduced me to it. Tabl is a new food event/supper club site which has different foodie events happening every week. It’s a very hipster/fun way of eating and drinking…Like this Sunday evening wine pairing!
So far in my twenties I have come to realise a degree means nothing, you are an intelligent, sophisticated person if you know how to order wine. So wine pairings is a great way to build that knowledge, so by the time you are 30 you will know what a ‘woody aroma’ actually is.
So the evening began by walking into a little rustic, candlelit restaurant, I was greeted by Maud from Tabl who was joining me to get drunk..learn.
It was 7 course meal which kicked off by some orange stuffed olives paired with Castillo Perelada, Cava!
Ian, our chef and also wine teacher for the evening said some clever things about the pairing . I thought “This guy knows what he is doing” as I stuffed my stuffed olive and slurped my Cava.
Our next plate was a salted tomato, burratina and balsamic jelly dish with 2014 Albariono . No they are not large boiled eggs, it’s a mozzarella but with 50% more cream- so so bad but was slightly heavenly.
“The grapes grew by the coast, the sea water air gives the wine more depth.” Note to self It’s quotes like that you need to remember for future dinner parties.
Mackerel and avocado pate (mmm) followed with Rueda Blanco 2014.
“You should be getting a pineapple scent” Ian said. Everyone smells, nods and agrees no matter if they did or didn’t. Mackerel and avocado pate was delicious
A basket of soft home made bread came out with olive oil (probably needed by this point to be fair)
Award winning Numberine winery arts wintae, 2011 came out with a ‘dead pig’/chacuterie and anchovy board.
Next up: Seleccion, Rioja, 2011 and ….vegetarians look away now.
mm Spanish lamb chops… brought out the cave men in us… some more then others.
I’ve written Barack Obama on my wine notes- not sure why at this stage I think it was his favourite wine…. let’s go with that.
Now this was our favourite wine Rioja Reserva, ‘Oscar’ So good I got them to hold it for a camera shot apparently….
It was paired with a saffron risotto, chicken tagine. The rice was creamy I wish I didn’t have share it with Chris and Maud.
By now we have drank 6 different wines, probably not making much sense to anyone so it was good the last drink was a sherry. Unfortunately I don’t like sherry.
But I do like Brownies and Ice cream so that did me nicely to finish.
Now to worry about Monday…
That Bloody Mary 