I feel like reciting the Wham song ‘Last Christmas’ when I talk about Taste of Christmas. Maybe I should explain. We went last year to the taste of Gordon, sorry Christmas. Excitedly setting off for what we thought would be a great day out and a world of culinary treats. It started well, queuing up with fake snow falling on us, so it starts…….’Last Christmas I gave you my heart’. We fell in love with the even there and then, such a fantastic entrance and you were filled with that warm Christmas feeling. So the next line ‘But the very next day you gave it away’. It was more like the same day. While there were some great moments; meeting Jason Atherton and talking about duck, seeing Sarge (Chef Mark Sargeant) flying across the crowd like a ungamely fairy, the event just didn’t fully deliver. Main comments, it was too crowded, not nearly enough restaurants or food stalls and, as much as I like Gordon Ramsey, it was all about him.
So it would be no surprise to hear that we had decided not to go this year, initially anyway. We go to the Taste of London also so up ops the newsletter in my inbox and I have a read. Sounds quite good but we still decided we weren’t going. We arrange for the Mother-in-law to visit before Christmas and what to do what to do? Let’s look again att heat Taste event. Oh no, Bentley’s are going to be there, Benares are there, Olly Smith (someone I hope I can now call a friend) is going to be there. Even better, up pops a special offer for VIP tickets. So minds changed and off we pop.
There we were at the front of the queue (again). We waited excitedly for the doors to open as we knew Olly would be singing for us. Now you will all know that Mr Keith Floyd passed away this year, a sad moment of 2009. Olly sang a tribute to Keith and it was very in keeping with Keith’s nature and humour. We salute you Mr Floyd and Olly done you proud.
We are released and I thought. Coats handed in, and we’re off. Ginger beer tasting first, well why not. Thank you Crabbies, it’s lovely and I love the fact it is actual beer so has alcohol. A few more tastings (all on an empty stomach) and food is on my mind. We head to the nearest row of restaurants and Bentley’s is there so no guessing where I go. Breakfast became Oysters Rockefeller. Silky smooth oysters flavoured with Pernod and a few other things (I really must start carrying a note-book around with me). A very good start and we wander up tot he next few restaurants as Roast is calling with Devils on Horseback. Not for me though, my dad and mum-in-law had those. Now a good tip for anyone going to roast, wear an Arsenal top as Lawrence Keogh is a fan. My Dad, ready to go to the match after Taste was handed a free dish by the man himself. Now I’m usually the blagger in the family so shows where I must get it from.
My wife headed over to The Modern Pantry for Roast Duke of Berkshire Pork belly with sweet potato & fenugreek mash. I tried a bit of this, never having had Fenugreek before. The pork was tender, crackling was smashing and the mash light, creamy and fresh. I’ve just looked up fenugreek on google, I’m hoping my man breasts do not grow. Look it up and you’ll know why I say that. Meanwhile, I went over to Benares for Masala fish, spiced sea bash and warm potato salad. Lightly spiced and again fresh with coriander coming through, The sea bass perfect with a lovely crispy skin and so lightly spice you keep the flavour fo the fish.
We decided drinks were in order next so off we went for some vodka and wine tasting with a quick stop at the Mersea Island Vineyard & Brewery for beer and more oysters for me. A light beer and even from a plastic glass it tasted good. The Mersea oysters were good, getting a mix of rock and wild oysters. Bentley’s should think about these as well as the Maldon & Colchester ones (big up the local oysters).
Drinks tasters went down well, spending some time around the Italian and French stands. Having just had a big delivery of wine we didn’t really need any so I just got a bottle of Domaine de Barroubia Muscat De St-Jean de Minervois. A light desert wine, not as sweet as some and actually went down well after I had just drunk that beer. A unsual match there.
So onto the rest of the food. We went to Club Gascon, a place I have never really considered to go to but maybe because it has never been on my radar than a conscious effort to avoid it. They win my award for best total menu on the day. It was close though as Bentley’s and Benares were excellent too, however I have eaten at those two restaurants so I knew some of the food already. We had everything from Club Gascon. Sautéed foie gras popcorn which you have to try sometime as it’s an amazing combination, winning over the pop corn hater that is my wife. Then roast duck hen, pumpkin & papaya puree with stuffing. The duck was quite rare, so tender, a plastic knife easily slicing through it. Finishing there with the Gascon mess, cream (amazing cream), meringue and prunes steeped in brandy, truly a mouthgasm.
I later went back to Benares for the Tandoori lamb chop with feta salad. I kept delaying this choice, thinking “feta? with indian food?” Atul, you’re a genius. The light salad complemented the spices in the lamb so well. Now has anyone noticed that I seem to be doing most of the eating here. Well I did and I;m not ashamed to admit that. Three more dishes to go and everyone else stopped at this point. Next on my agenda was to try something from Waitrose’s Menu and so I went for the Venison mince-pie and the Jury (the Simon Jury – get it?) is still out on that. The venison was nice, the pastry was nice, the idea of the parsnip and chocolate whip and then currants, I’m just not sure. I ate it all but it was maybe just too alien to me.
So we went to the VIP enclosure for some more bubbly and beer on the house, Kastyle Premier Cure. To be honest I wouldn’t drink the beer unless it was free. It’s just not got enough depth of flavour and I won’t be mean and compare it to a British ale. Even compared to something like Amstel, San Miguel or any other quality lager, it just doesn’t stand up to them. On the way we stopped off at the British Cassis stand and picked up some blackcurrant cassis for adding to the sparkling wine on Christmas morning.
We checked our crowns and I still had enough for two more dishes so off I plodded to St Pancras Grand for the Grand Lobster and seafood cocktail. I’m sure there was crab and crayfish in there with it, ingredients tasted so fresh and the cocktail sauce was exquisite. I finished off with more oysters, fresh from Bentleys this time, Maldon oysters with Bentleys vinegar & shallot dressing. The perfect way to finish my feast for the day.
We bumped into Olly Smith a few times and I have to give him another shout out. The man is a great presenter at these shows and so hard-working. So friendly and always a real gent. Many a glass has been raised to Mr Smith whether it be a wine glass, champagne glass or pint mug. So we picked up some bacon and cheese, some lovely crystal glasses and decanter, Oval Vodka (amazing stuff, the only Vodka I could drink neat) and finally some Green & Blacks chocolate before we headed home.A great day, great company again and some fo the best food. Taste – you learnt from last year and improved so much. You once again have my heart and this time you can keep it.
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Sounds like you had a great time!
Must try Oval Vodka, I will have to try and get a bottle when I come back to the UK for Christmas 😉
Oval vodka have just been taken off the Selfrdiges list and they’re going to see them I think this week to find out why. Their website is http://www.oval-vodka.com they have a unqique bottle as well. A stylish as well as great tasting product.
Great descriptions, almost makes me wish we’d made the journey down the A1! Maybe next year.
this show really turned a corner – i had an amazing time at taste of christmas – well done guys!