From Chile to Cebu: A wine dinner to relish

April 16, 2017April 17, 2017 admin 0 Comments

Text: N. S. Villaflor

A LOVELY night with Escudo Rojo it was, thanks to Radisson Blu Cebu and Titania Wines, as the most special of guests partook in a five-course wine dinner specially prepared by Executive Chef Roberto Kunitz.

Each meticulously created dish, from the appetizer to the dessert, was thoughtfully paired with Escudo Rojo Wines from Chile. Spanish for “Rote Schild” or “red shield,” Escudo Rojo is Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s wine venture in the Maipo Valley of Chile.

Great-tasting wine flowed freely on the elegant tables inside the hotel’s San Martin room, but one of the reds that piqued much interest was the Carmenere, as it is made from a variety of grapes that used to be abundant in Bordeaux, France but now thrives in Chile’s fertile vineyards.

The room was suffused with spirited conversations and laughter as the five-course dinner unfolded, in between a hush of deep appreciation for good food and drink.

For Appetizers, tender, evenly sliced fried pork belly in brown lentil salad with speck foam was paired with welcoming Chardonnay (2014).

Pumpkin soup with duck was then served, followed by a succulent square of Lapulapu encrusted with bone marrow and topped with chorizo foam, a lovely Middle Course drowned smoothly with Sauvignon Blanc (2014).

For the Main Course, Tandoori lamb stew with red wine sauce, corn potato pancake, broccoli purée with all its subtle flavors was a classic match with Cabernet Sauvignon (2014).

The warm crimson of Carmenere (2014) brought out the jovial qualities of Corn bread with Manchego cheese and Date jam.