Wine

Wine

Dine and Dance The Night Away at Barbarella

by Chelsea Girl on November 21, 2012

“Food is music to the body, music is food to the heart.”

- Gregory David Roberts

Barbarella’s relaunch party was such a blast that I was keen to return, to try the restaurant as soon as I could. So I headed back down there a few days later.

I had all sorts of imaginings on how the night would play out. With tables and banquets around the dance floor, Carlito’s Way did cross my mind. But a gangster’s den, Barbarella certainly is not.

Sitting at our table, there were a couple of large birthday parties as well as smaller tables of more intimate groups around us. One set seemed to have turned up for just the food whilst everyone else was there for the whole night.

When you arrive at the start of the evening, the tables are laid out and presented very tastefully: the glamorous dining experience is underpinned by an understated chicness.

Official Press Photo

And when you first look at the food menu, it is so easy to wonder about the quality of the dishes. After all, first and foremost, Barbarella’s first impression is clearly a nightclub. And from experience, late-night dining isn’t always the best – with a few rare gems scattered around London

But as soon as I tasted my first bite of the starter, any such musings had quickly dissipated. The prawn and lobster cocktail was too good to allow any further doubt to seep in. The wonderful 70s-esque presentation aside (and you know how I love most things served in a martini glass) – the ingredients were fresh and tasty. The prawn and lobster were juicy and the sauce was spot on.

For my main, I had the seared tuna loin with caramelised onions. Admittedly, I had relished most of it by the time I remembered to take a photo. So unfortunately, there is no photographic evidence of another well-presented dish. As for the tuna, it was cooked exactly how I like it. It’s so easy to overcook tuna. That’s why I hardly choose it when eating out. But in this circumstance, my request was translated eloquently onto my plate and my tuna was perfectly pink – and not a dull grey – in the middle.

For my dessert, I ordered the tiramisu which was heavenly! You know when you’re in a public place and the last thing you try to do is scrape every last bit of your pudding, off your plate? Well, that.

There was a custardy topping that increased its moreish appeal. I know, I know, tiramisu doesn’t have custard. But trust me when I say, this really works!

After dessert, the bf and I didn’t want to leave. The place was getting busier as more people were turning up for the club. So we decided to order another bottle of wine and stay longer. And after some time later and another empty bottle, it was time to stretch our legs and head to the bar.

Official Press Photo

As we paid the food bill and stood up, we headed around the corner to find that the bar was already quite packed out. Leaving the restaurant vibe and stepping into a bar, without having to leave the building was pretty awesome – especially as you felt like you’d walked into somewhere new.

In the meantime, the table cloths and cutlery were being taken away as diners finished their meals. And as we continued our circular tour of the venue, past the booths and onto the dance floor, it was time to burn off the yummy pudding until the early hours of the morning.

Am so going back! x

Barbarella’s website.

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A Cosy Evening of Good Food and Wine at The Builders Arms

by Chelsea Girl on November 19, 2012

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

  Edith Sitwell

The Builders Arms is one of my favourite pubs in Chelsea. It sits on one side of St. Luke’s Gardens whilst my first school sits on the other side. And for me, it is the perfect wintry pub in London. Nestled on a back street behind the King’s Road, this pub feels like a home away from home. It’s cosy and serves up good hearty meals as well as fine wines.

Last week’s bloggers’ food and wine matching evening was a celebration of what works so well for The Builders Arms. With the wine being selected by Ellis of Richmond and the menu carefully prepared by the pub’s fabulous chef, I was finally ready to settle into the mood of winter feasting.

The menu included …

Quail “Hindle Wake” matched with Roaring Meg Pinot Gris 2011, Central Otago, NZ

Brandade of Salt Cod & Potato matched with Gavi di Gavi’ Ca do Bosio Single Vineyard’ 2011 Piedmont, Italy

Roast Saddle of Mutton Stuffed with Sweets Breads, Seared Giroles, Dripping Scones & Pan Gravy Watercress Salad matched with Tinto Roble Tempranillo, Bodega Vina Vilano 2011 Ribera del Duero, Spain and Sangiovese Cabernet, Ripa delle Mandorle 2011, Tuscany, Italy

And finally …

Eccles Cake, Shorrocks Lancashire Bomb matched with Muscat Beaumes de Venise, Vidal Fleury, France

Who would have thought that you could match an Eccles cake with a slice of cheese but it does absolutely work. Admittedly, it crossed my mind that a large slice of ice cream was on the plate instead of the Lancashire Bomb but I discovered soon enough that Eccles cake and cheese was in fact a delightful pairing – and quite moreish! 

Whilst we were sipping, scoffing and chatting away that night, Geronimo Inns also won Pub Company of the Year at the R200 Awards. *Cheers guys and congratulations!*

Another great excuse to pop into The Builders Arms is to take time out from shopping on the King’s Road. I, for one, love escaping there – as much as I love the hibernating feeling of being holed up in a pub with a glass of red and some good pub grub on a winter’s evening. True winter bliss!

13 Britten Street, Chelsea, London SW3 3TY. 020 7349 9040.

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Monthly Wine Tasting at The Henry Root

by Chelsea Girl on March 7, 2012

The Henry Root runs a wine tasting night every month and I have been invited to join their next event on Monday 12th March 2012.

I can’t wait and not because of the six different Italian wines which we will be tasting as well as the accompanying antipasti that has been prepared specially by their chefs. But also because I do like The Henry Root. It’s a great local restaurant that does everything well – and they’re also very friendly.

 

 

If you fancy coming along on Monday night, tickets are £10 each you can book yours by clicking here.  Maybe see you then!

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Wine Tasting Course at La Brasserie

by Chelsea Girl on January 19, 2012

Starting on Monday 6th February, La Brasserie will be running weekly wine tasting courses throughout February, in association with wine merchant Roberson Wine.

Each week will have a different focus:

On Monday 6th February, the tastings will focus on the ‘What’ of wine. Six wines will be tasted. The first will be to help hone your wine tasting technique. Then there will be two whites, followed by two reds to help you identify the major varieties. Finally there will be a ‘blind’ test to see if you can spot the key characteristics of a particular variety.

The ‘Where’ of wine will take place on Monday 13th February. Again, you will have a chance to carry out six tastings with a blind tasting at the end of the course.

Monday 20th February will involve the ‘Who’ of wine. Whilst looking at the most important wine regions with  an emphasis on the modern vs. tradtional, two wines made in the same place from the same grapes – but made by very different winemakers – will be tasted. One will be a commercial wine and one from an artisanal grower. Then you will taste two wines from the same place and grapes, but one aged with oak barrels and one without. Finally you will taste two wines from Rioja to illustrate just how different modern and traditional techniques can make wines taste very different.

The ‘When’ of wine will be the focus of the final course on Monday 27th February. This evening will focus on the impact that vintage conditions and maturity have on the development of a wine and when the best time is to drink up. Why do some wines age and others don’t? Why do people obsess about 2005 but not 2004? All of this will be discussed, in addition to how you should store wine and what to look out for when selecting mature bottles.

So, if your new year’s resolution is to embark on a wine tasting course and to learn more about wine, here’s your chance. Each course will last for one and a half hours and will cost £45. Guests who join in on the wine tasting will receive a 10% discount for a post tasting dinner at La Brasserie.

Enjoy! x

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Wine to go!

by Chelsea Girl on February 6, 2011

Sometimes there are those nights when you just want to stay in with a bottle of wine and find a good film on TV. That was Friday night. The film was Brokeback Mountain, which the boyfriend had yet to see, and the choice of wine was Fairhills.

Fairhills is a Fairtrade label and whilst nowadays I avoid brands such as Gap and Primark as well as fast food chains (unless I’m picking up a straw for a mini bottle of Moet), the fact is I have never drunk a Martini and wondered about its contribution to world peace.

But as we opened up the wine on Friday night, I realised that it was possible to indulge and do some good. The wine was delicious and at the same time, we were giving back to the South African community that was responsible for it.

The Colombard Sauvignon Blanc 2010 had an inviting fruity fragrance. Its taste was crisp whilst its delicious flavours lingered at the back of the palette. This was a complex white wine that had a zesty bite.

As for the red, which I sneaked in at lunchtime, the Shiraz Pinotage had more oakiness to its fragrance and depth of taste. This was another safe bet.

So where does this all fit in with the Chelsea scene? The answer is Waitrose on the King’s Road where you can buy Fairhills from. I’ve been going there since they had the slopey thing instead of the snacks shelving opposite the sandwiches. I used to slide down it repeatedly as I waited for my mother to shop, after she picked me up from primary school. This Waitrose branch means a lot to me. So, it is great to think that there is a supermarket chain that is conscientious about the farmers in both this country and around the world. And in the meantime, we don’t have to compromise our tastebuds to have a good time (at an affordable price). Win!

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