Romsey Wine & Dine Romsey Wine & Dine 3 Bramble Drive Romsey SO51 7RJ 01794 278634 07802 210481 paul@romseywineanddine.co.uk Please pass on to friends, family and colleagues 9 th September 2018 Bonjour. I hope you have enjoyed the summer weather. In this newsletter we have the latest information about the Lovitaly event previewed last time. 1. Apéritifs Apéros Aperitivi Aperitivos απεριτίφ 2. Italian regional food & wine pairing - Marche 3. Olive oil offer 4. Titbits 5. Romsey Wine & Dine website 6. After whom is the dish named? No 16 7. Oxymoron of the month 8. Herb of the month oregano 9. Recipe 10. Dates for your diary Dr Paul Dawkins Chef d Équipe Romsey Wine & Dine Apéritifs Apéros Aperitivi Aperitivos απεριτίφ We were about to have dinner in a local restaurant and thought that an apéritif would be a good idea. We were given an extensive and impressive menu of gin and tonics. This completely confused me and, although I like gin and tonic, I could not decide what to drink. At the time I was not sure why but it did get me thinking about apéritifs. Apéritif is a French word derived from the Latin verb aperire, which means "to open". Although we tend to think of apéritifs as something to do while we decide what to eat and while we wait for our order to be taken, they do have two important roles. The first is to stimulate the appetite and taste buds and the second is to get the party going. With that in mind, what are the best and worst drinks to have as an apéritif and what drinks are not suitable? Apéritifs can be sweet or dry, although in this country they tend to be on the drier side. They can be wine-strength or fortified wine-strength. What should be avoided are spirits hence my problem with the gin and tonic menu! At the end of the day, it depends on what you like, and whether you think the food that is going to follow is worth tasting. Best apéritif drinks Champagne Sparkling wine White wine dry and sweet Vermouth Sherry Madeira Kir Bitters (Campari) Made wines (Pineau des Charentes, Floc and Pommeau) Worst apéritif drinks Whisky Gin Vodka Brandy Not so good apéritif drinks that are traditionally drunk as apéritifs Pastis Ouzo Raki
Italian regional food & wine pairing - Marche at Lovitaly has been running regional food & wine pairing events for the past couple of years and having made their way all round Italy they have started again. They are normaly run on the first Thursday and Friday of the month and are usually fully booked. We have been to a number of the events and can vouch for the fact that they are extremely enjoyable and educational. The food is excellent and the wines interesting. Our Transport Manager has kindly agreed to arrange transport from Romsey to Ringwood and then back again. Lovitaly is an independent family owned café/restaurant based in Ringwood, just on the edge of the beautiful New Forest. Serving traditional homemade rustic Italian cuisine, all their dishes are made from the finest fresh ingredients, many of which are sourced from all over Italy and from local suppliers. From the heart of Italy directly to you, with friendly staff in a welcoming environment. The basics are: Location: Lovitaly, Ringwood Region being covered: Marche Five courses Five Wines Date: Wednesday 3 rd October Leave Romsey 6:30pm Return to Romsey Cost 50 per head + cost of the bus Optional extras (Prosecco, bottle water, coffee, grappa) will be paid by you to Lovitaly direct) We shall be taking payment in advance for the food & wine pairing If you would like to attend this event, please let me know by clicking here. Please indicate if you would like transport from Romsey. The cost will be about 15, Please book by: Sunday 23 rd September, indicating whether or not you require transport from Romsey Recommendation: We have attended 4 or 5 of these events and they are great. Informative, lovely food and wine and friendly service. Menu Olive Ascolane Fried green olives, stuffed with minced meat and spices Verdicchio Jesi dei Castelli di Jesi, Colonnara, 2017 Calamari e piselli Traditional peas and squid Tufico, Verdicchio classico superiore Colonnara, 2015 Maccheroncini di Campofilone al Ragu marchigiano Egg spaghetti like pasta, with a ragu Le Marche style Lacrima di Morro dalba Colonnara 2017 Marche is located in the Central area of Italy, bordered by Emilia-Romagna and the republic of San Marino to the north, Tuscany to the west, Umbria to the southwest, Abruzzo and Lazio to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. Except for river valleys and the often very narrow coastal strip, the land is hilly. The Marche region is home to great culinary traditions, like steamy fish soups and plump meat-stuffed olives. The regional wines include: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Sangiovese dei Colli Pesaresi. Bianchello del Metauro, Lacrima di Morro d'alba, Esino Bianco, Rosso Conero, Verdicchio di Matelica, Vernaccia di Serrapetrona. Tacchino all Ascolana Ascolana style Turkey,filled with olives, liver and spices Tornamagno Colonnara, 2015 Ciambellone alle pesehe con alchermes Traditional Marche cake with peaches and aichermes liqeuer Class dolce spumante metotodo Charmat, Colonnara
The Italian Olive Oil Company is kindly still offering Romsey Wine & Dine members discounts Olive Oil Offer You may well know The Italian Olive Oil Company. They supplied Heaton Wines with Italian olive oils for a number of years, they appeared at the Romsey Show with Heatons and they supported Heatons with an Olive Oil Wine Tasting Supper at Berties. In recognition of the loyalty shown by Heaton Wines s Customers to the Italian Olive Oil Company, they are offering Romsey Wine & Dine members a 20% discount on any orders over 30 placed on the Italian Olive Oil Company s website. All you need to do is go to: http://www.oliveoil4u.co.uk Order your favourite oils and input the promotion code: RWAD20 Single estate oils First stone cold pressed oil Extra virgin oils Flavoured oils Collections Gift packs The Italian Olive Oil Company was established at the turn of this century by Geoffrey and Richard Davies and his Partner Roberta. They realised that there was a lack of understanding and availability of fine, single estate, extra virgin Italian olive oils in Britain although they were readily available and somewhat taken for granted in Italy where Richard and Roberta live. Robert McGlew, a friend of theirs, has taken over the business. It is already established as a leader in fine Italian oils. Robert is a passionate cook. His love of using the best ingredients means that he already knows how and when to use these exclusive oils to enhance his cooking. Titbits Weird recipes I keep coming across weird and inappropriate recipes. These are usually produced by minor celebrity chefs (and, yes, that is meant to be an insult) who are paid (I assume) to produce recipes for leaflets and other promotional material. Two of many examples (1) A book produced by the European Commission promoting Burgundy (and a couple of other regions). The recipes for Burgundy include: Salmon sushi rolls, Tandoori chicken and Moroccan lamb tangine!!! (2) a leaflet promoting a very special breed of English beef has a recipe for chilli beef. When we can produce some of the best beef anywhere, the recipes should promote the flavour rather than destroy it! o O o People between 35 and 65 told by the NHS to abstain from drinking 2 days a week Pheww! I m over 65! How about having two days a week when we do not get nanny state scare stories from the NHS? o O o What has happened to McVitie s ginger nuts? Bought a packet recently and they appear to have forgotten to put in the ginger! Taste of coconut. Could this be because McVitie s is a brand of United Biscuits and they are owned by pladis, a Turkish(?) company. I think ownership should be displayed on the label / packet.
Romsey Wine & Dine website We now have a section for in season dishes. http://www.romseywineanddine.co.uk/recipes_head1_seasonal.htm After whom is the dish named No 16 Véron Louis-Désiré Véron (1798-1867) was a Parisian doctor, opera manager and publisher. He originally made his fortune from patent medicines but went on to found various magazines. He owes his place in the history of gastronomy to his lavish entertaining. His guests included many famous actresses but also Louis-Napoléon. The reputation of Véron s table depended heavily on the talents of his housekeeper, Sophie. Véron s name has been given to a Normande sauce with herbs mixed with a veal stock. This is served with breaded or grilled fish His diet is working well Oxymoron of the month What on earth can you do to a hot dog to turn it into a gourmet one? and whose home were they made in? Back to top Herb of the month - Oregano Oregano is a close relative of Marjoram, is sometimes called wild marjoram and is native to temperate Western and Southwestern Eurasia and the Mediterranean region. It is widely used in the Maditerranean region but is most reminiscent of Greek cookery. It is mostly used in a dried form to flavour meat, fish, vegetables and salads.
Recipe Chicken with cream and cheese sauce Chicken with cream and cheese sauce is an excellent dinner party dish. Not only does it taste delicious, but it can be prepared in advance leaving the final cooking for the last moment. Preparation Time: 15 Mins Cooking Time: 55 Mins Total Time: 70 Mins Ingredients For 4 servings Breadcrumbs - dried 340 gms Chicken - joints, cooked For the sauce 40 gms Butter 3½ tbs Cheese - Parmesan or Gruyère, grated 4 tbs Cream 2 tbs Flour 30 cl Milk Nutmeg Pepper Salt 4 tbs Stock - chicken Method Melt the butter in a thick saucepan, put in the flour, stir it vigorously, off the fire, until it forms a smooth paste; add a little of the milk, warmed. Return to the fire and stir while you add the rest of the milk. When the sauce is smooth and thick add the stock, cream and seasonings. It may then be necessary to add more stock. Put the saucepan into another large one containing water and let it cook in this bain-marie, stirring frequently, for a good 20 minutes. Add the cheese and stir again until it has amalgamated with the sauce. Cover the bottom of a shallow gratin dish with a thin layer of the sauce. Put in the chicken. Cover it completely with the rest of the sauce. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and grated cheese and cook for about 15 minutes in a moderate oven. Transfer it to the grill for a minute or two, and serve it when the top is just beginning to blister into golden bubbles. Wine recommendations Conventional Côte Chalonnaise blanc or rouge Interesting Beaujolais Villages Vouvray demi-sec Adventurous Gewurztraminer Dates for your diary Date Event Venue Tickets Request Info Wed 3 rd October 2018 Fri / Sat 19 th / 20 th October 2018 November Lovitaly Marche region wine and food pairing event La Forêt wine pairing dinner Farci or Stuff the diet wine pairing event Lovitaly, Ringwood 50 To book a place click here. The Palmerston Rooms, Romsey