26.11.11

Food and Wine Marriage [exotic]

                                          Brief Introduction
What is Food Wine matching? In order to answer that, I allow my self to quote the definition of Wikipedia 
"Wine and food matching is the process of paring food dishes with wine to enhace the dining experience.'

In other words, a dish could be more delicious if we match it with a well selected wine. Vice-versa, a glass of wine might appear more fruity and complex thanks to the contrast with a dish.
Food matching is an art and also a science. It takes time to experience and practice in order to master the art.  There are some elements are important in food wine matching. If you want to learn more. (Click me)



Today’s question: could we combine Chinese food with French wine?

 
  People say that Chinese food and western wine just don’t get alone with each other. As a Chinese wine lover, I will not share this point of view. When people mention ‘Chinese food’; we think is just an oriental cuisine. In fact, the Chinese gastronomies are diversified. In total, there are 8 major styles of cooking. Each one presents completely different characteristic gustation. So we should match the right wine with the right cuisine.

2011/11/25

Cantonese Steamed Fish&La Poussie,Sancerre,2009,France
Roger ZHUANG's Notes 
Sauvignon Blanc
Deep lemon. A bouquet of lemon, citrus, lime flavors with mineral and intense grass. Palate performance, dry, medium (+) acidity and medium (+) body, the sweet-finish is the most spectacular thing that attracts you and with a silky texture. Medium(+) aftertaste with intense mineral had been enough to activate the food‘s freshness, the mouthfeel of fish would never just so simple. The fish itself, the source, the wine, and the chef, usually need a perfect combination, then booming.
It was a great moment with you and me. Let’s keep burning………… 

I know some of you love cooking , so I've prepared my recipe for you by showing all cooking steps:)
 
Recipe of Cantonese steamed Fish
Ingredients:
Sesame oil- 3 spoons
Soy sauce-       3 spoons
Water- 2 spoons
Salt- 2 g
Sugar- 2 g

Green onion- several pieces
Ginger- several small pieces

Fish- 500 g (we’ve selected Wrasse because of little fishbone)

 
1. Sauce
Put Sesame oil- 3 spoons of sesame oil, 3 spoons of soy sauce, two spoons of water, 2 grams of salt and 2 grams of sugar in to a small vessel.
2. Preparation
Cut green onion and ginger into several pieces and put them inside the fish’s stomach. (So that during the steaming, the fish will absorb the aromas)

4 Steaming
- Put water in to a deep wok and boil the water.
- Put a shelf in to the wok to separate boiled water and the fish.
- Put the Fish on the shelf and cover it. (Only if the water boiled)
 
5. Pouring sauce over the fish
- 20 minutes steaming 
-  Then pour sauce over the fish.

 Yummy?
Bon appétit.
 Yeah, it was too good to describe in words...
 Maybe you should try ..


To anwser the previous question:could we combine Chinese food with French wine? Absolutely yes!

To conclude, it was a purely pleasant sharing evening with friends. Thanks guys.
Here are some photos and descriptions to record these special moments:

Bottles from Portugal,Italy and France.
Roger's Tasting notes:
Dao Portugal.QUINTA DA PELLADA 2006 RESERVA,13%

  Touriga Nacional 60% Tinta Roriza 20 %,Vinhas Vehas 20%
Deep ruby, gentle tears, pronounced black fruit, especially cassis, blackberry, intense black-raspberry, developing condition. Palate  performance, dry, medium(-) acidity, high tannin but fine-grained, medium(+) body, has a cassis-jam bomb, oak flavor, black pepper, plum and a beautiful aftertaste, such long..long..long..around 10 Seconds, can be aged more than 10 years. Outstanding, balanced and complex for saturation,94 points

Langhe Rosso Quartetto 2003 Poderi Aldo Conterno(Italy),14%
  Pale Garnet, red fruits contains raspberry, concentrated cherry, and intense flower, rose, still developing. Palate performance, dry, medium acidity, coarse tannin, medium body, intense red-cherry, flower, and medium(+) aftertaste. The only thing not quite perfect is the tannin because Nebbiolo should be showed as a kind of delicated and stratified tannin. Neverthless, it is also a great combination with Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot.92 points.

Taiwanese special cuisine : 3 glasses chicken




Sichuan cuisine, Porc

Special thanks to our photographer Peter, great pictures even though lack of light.

Special thanks to Miss Rachel MA who has provided us several wonderful wallpapers for today's topic.
Rachel MA
Branding and Broadcasting Director
YI ZHOU STUDIO
Coproduction with Nicola Formichetti ( Lady GAGA's personal faishon designer)
Chargé de Communication with Italian Royal Familly


                      Thank you all!

20.11.11

Prestigious Bubbles

For those of you who couldn't make it to come to the 2011/11/17 Champagne tasting.
We might help you to make it come true again...





Oh yes, wait a minute, before you go in this door, you should know that:

1,Champagne and other sparkling wines are truly a category of wine and they are typically derived from a blend of grapes such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Pinot Meunier.

2, Only the sparkling wines made in Champagne can be called " Champagne" otherwise, it's called "sparkling wine".


3,Where do the bubbles come form? by addition of a few grams of sugar and yeast, the wine can occurs a second fermentation in the bottle. This yeast and sugar convert to carbon dioxide (bubbles) and, of course alcohol.

4, Only a good vintage year can be indicated with "millesime". otherwise, you won't see the produced year on the bottle which means a bottle millesime is always a great one!

5, Touch me if you want to lear more

Are you ready? let's follow me if you are prepared!!

Right beside the entrance, we could find: Moet Chandon




A personal point of view, i did not quit enjoy it.
is not bad for the taste, but each bottle tastes almost the same--- too much human influence during the production of the wine?
And I think they must spended much more money on the marketing and the desin of the bottle rather than the wine itself.
yea, what a pity!

Second bottle: Ruinart Rose

One of the favor of the night, incredibly creamy, fresh, apple,longevity...


Delamotte



Fruits are present: apple,pear,citrus...wonderful!


Grand Siecl Laurant Perrier





Dom Perignon



Excellent,cream and vanilla ,nutty flavors,“fresh baked bread”. Isn't that magical?

Jacquesson



Personally speaking, best of the best at the night.no addition of sugar neither yeast. Only 1% of Champagne are made in this methode.
We feel the "terroir": the soil, the rain, the smell of the vineyard,the sun shine.....the wild!
We feel the fruits: apple, pear, lemon,nuts...
We feel mineral particles
flowers...

really enjoyed it!

Voila, it was a wonderful night..hope you like the visit as well, see you soon.
By the way, leave us some comments and suggestions. We will write things you are interested.

Jiakai and Roger 2011 11 17

Penfolds Chooses Shanghai For First " Bin 620 "

                                                        WINEMAKER Peter Gago

Today,will be the second time in this famous winery "Penfolds", which owns 167-year history, launch the rare extraodinarily "Bin 620"(A special label only be used in excellent vintage) .
Since 1996,the label of "Bin 620"never be used again,however,Bin 620 2008 will be debuted in May 2012,choosing Shanghai,China as the outside of Native Australia market for this special Bin wine



51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 49% Shiraz

Only 1000 cases of the special bin have been made, bottled in July last year after a year in barrels, 2008 is a great vintage when the earlier-ripening Shiraz could be blended with the later-ripening Cabernet to highlight the best of both varieties, and their synergistic union.


Let's looking forward to the appearance of Bin 620,exceptional year,2008.