Restaurant Review: Dinner With A Difference Corporate Style
23rd August 2019
Author EditorPosted on Categories Lifestyle
In this month’s restaurant review, we see the return of Brian Lockie and the Dinner with a Difference experience.
Hosted at the amazing Railworks, SBT teamed up with Brian, Top Shelf Wines and Leon Jones, of Leon Jones Catering, for an intimate wine tasting with canapes for 10 guests.
The private dinning space, situated on the ground floor of the property, is fantastic – with its industrial-style décor and fully stocked kitchen. I’s the perfect venue for a variety of events, including corporate workshops, private dining and celebrations.
The evening started around 7pm with some bubbles and the delightful Camel Valley Brut. As always, Brian’s knowledge of each wine is second to none. It was a fresh and fruity fizz, perfect for all celebrations, with English hedgerow scents and a touch of honey and apple on the palate. This wine is a critic’s choice in The Mail magazine, 24th March 2018, generating comments such as ‘Commanding flavours, ultra-fine bubbles and stunning freshness’.
It is a popular favourite, served in Rick Stein’s world-famous Seafood Restaurant and Nathan Outlaw’s iconic two Michelin Star Restaurants.
After this, Leon served our first canape, gin and beetroot cured salmon croustades along with Parmesan and Black Onion seed shortbreads. These were simply a taste sensation and Brian had paired them with a Don Pedro Albarino, a rare gem from the region of Galicia in Northern Spain. Bright straw-yellow in colour with a touch of ripe lemon. Intense and elegant aromas with hints of fresh aromatic herbs and white flowers, as well as nuances of white stone fruits such as green apples, citric fruits and pears. The palate is rounded and full-bodied with a subtle and gentle saltiness that adds to its vivacious sense of freshness, and an impressive persistence on the finish.
Continuing with the whites, Brian introduced us to Some Young Punks Riesling, informing us that this would divide the room, which it did. This wine is sourced from two sites in the Clare Valley; Mocundunda and Milburn. All of the fruit is whole bunch pressed before fermentation which occurs in a mixture of stainless and neutral oak by a mixture of cultured and indigenous yeast. This is a ripping wine full of diesel and petrol aromas which are only just evident on the palate before giving way to a glorious fruity flavours with an off dry finish and a gentle hint of sweetness.
Brain then paired a Diamarine Provence Rose with Leon’s next canape, Aubergine Involtinis stuffed with Almond and Sultanas. The wine-making facilities are located close to the vineyards with a total of 19 wineries spread throughout the Provence. Well-known for its expertise in creating excellent Provencal wines, the winery located in Brignoles is the largest in Provence. Pale pink in colour, very expressive on the nose. With a deliciously tangy experience on the palate with fresh fruit and citrus peel aromas leading to a very elegant finish. Pair with fish, light salads, as an aperitif or on its own.
Brian and Leon had clearly worked closely to perfectly match the canapes and wine and their knowledge, experience and explanation accompanying was both informative and engaging throughout.
Moving on to the reds and prior to dessert we were then served with Smoked Duck Breast on Fig and Sultana Toast with English Cherry Compote. This was my personal favourite and truly devine. Leon’s presentation and attention to detail of each canape was fantastic, visually creating mouth watering food. This was paired with I Muri Primitivo The bouquet is full of red berry fruit and overtones of a sweet spice. In the glass this wine has a deep ruby red colour with a violet rim. The bouquet is full of red berry fruit and overtones of a sweet spice. The fruity notes carry through onto the palate, which is full-bodied and has ripe, firm tannins, giving this Primitivo great structure. A great price for a great wine!
We also had a Larrivet Haut Brion Bordeaux Very beautiful deep garnet-red colour with a complex, charming bouquet featuring roasted and toasty aromas as well as hints of black fruit and vanilla. Elegant, concentrated and powerful, which is well-balanced on the palate. Long aftertaste with remarkably smooth tannin. A great wine with fine ageing potential that will richly reward patience…”
For the grand finale, we had port and chocolate hazelnut crusted truffles – the description alone makes you just want to tuck straight in. Brian had paired this with a real gem, North Star Dessert Wine – the nearest we can get to an ice wine in England. Frozen immediately after picking and crushed while still frozen to preserve the very best of the juice. This wine is from Eglantine Vineyard in Nottinghamshire. North Star is a multi-international award-winning dessert wine, with a wonderful fruity bouquet, a smooth silky feel in the mouth and a superb, multi-faceted flavour, comprising elements of apricot, mango and marmalade. Judges at competition level particularly comment on the beautiful balance of acidity and sweetness, which makes this a truly exceptional wine. Makes a great concluding statement to a special meal.
This has now been our second Dinner with a Difference experience. A different type of event this time as we hosted a corporate wine tasting in the fantastic Railworks. Brian was once again fantastic, engaging, entertaining and informative throughout, and combined with Leon’s fantastic canapes it was a truly great evening. One of my guest have already booked the duo for another similar style event and we could not recommend them highly enough. Whether you are hosting a dinner party at home or a corporate event then get in touch with Dinner with a Difference.
Contact Top Shelf Wine Service, Brain Lockie,
Email: BLMGS@hotmail.com
Tel: 07787553262
Bouquet Ltd
Bouquet .winesltd@gmail.com
07528550574
Leon Jones Catering ltd, Leon Jones
07718334873