Thursday March 6, 2008

Flights to catch a connoisseur's fancy

By ESTHER CHANDRAN

Scrumptious: The Wine Flight with a plate of Smoked Pepper Duck Breast Salad.

HAVE you ever been to a restaurant that had a good range of beverages, looked over their wine list and wished you could have more than just a variety or two that night?

Most of us, especially if the party is no more than three, would have a bottle or maybe two before bringing the pleasant evening to a close.

So, the Wine Flight concept was interesting, especially as one could try a variety of wines in glass for a fee, then decide if one wanted to have more from the taste one had just had.

At the Tasting Room, one can experience an adventure of tastes by globetrotting the world of wines, beer or even whisky.

The Wine Flight menu is not too long but offers a choice of three to five glasses of wine – each of a different variety – for a wine lover to ponder .

Take the Oz Trilogy (RM32), for example. This Australian combination offers three glasses of wine, comprising an uncommon Verdelho, Pinot Noir and Australia's well-known Shiraz.

If you take to reds, the blend of five reds might be your thing as the menu has 2002 Crianza, Prado Rey (Spain), 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva, Bodega Lurton (Argentina), 2005 Carmenere, Hacienda Araucano (Chile), 2005 Malbec Reserva, Bodega Lurton (Argentina) and 2005 Los Arbolitos Cabernet Sauvignon, Hacienda Araucano (Chile).

The much-favoured Sauvignon Blanc is also available at RM23 for a flight with the 2004 “Apple Tree Flat”, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Logan (Australia), 2006 Sauvignon Blanc, Hacienda Araucano (Chile) and 2005 Cape White, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc & Colombar, Wild Rush (South Africa) all in a row.

On a recent visit, outlet manager James Kennedy served us the Globe Trotter flight – five glasses of wine, priced at RM45.

Nice for a snack: Smoked Salmon Bruschetta.

The Australian 2004 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc “Apple Tree Flat”, Mudgee, Logan was accompanied by another white 2005 Petit Bourgeois, Henri Bourgeois (France), but adding contrast to the table setting were the 2006 Hermanos Lurton Rouge, Tempranillo, J&F Lurton (Spain), 2005 Malbec Reserva, Bodega Lurton (Argentina) and 2005 Los Arbolitos Cabernet Sauvignon, Hacienda Araucano (Chile).

Apparently, customers who patronise the outlet for the flight experience often order appetisers to eat, as their focus is on enjoying the palatable wines offered on the menu.

Thin, long triangular-shaped crispy tortilla bread slices served with a choice of wasabi, cili padi, blue cheese, pesto or mushroom & garlic butter might be a good idea, if one is looking for a light snack.

Otherwise, silky, stretchy mozzarella sticks (Deep Fried Mozzarella Sticks) in breadcrumb coating with jalapeno dip or Smoked Salmon Bruschetta might be nice for something slightly more substantial.

The Smoked Pepper Duck Breast Salad – tender meat slices served over crisp mixed leaves with strawberry pieces and dressed with a white wine sauce – with its summer shades is another scrumptious option.

Ordering a variety of food and consuming a variety of wines, puts one in a position to pair wines and decide which flavour goes well with meat or seafood.

When it was time for the mains, Kennedy unveiled Italian Rigatoni Bake, Pan Seared Smoked Duck and Chicken Thigh, Pan Fried Cod and Pan Seared Tenderloin.

Dessert was juicy red strawberries in the Strawberry Fluff presentation and Mascarpone Trio (freshly sliced rock melon, kiwi and strawberries, mascarpone cream cheese and luxury Movenpick ice cream).

For patrons' pleasure: An enclosed wine area at the Tasting Room, so customers can enjoy a selection of wines with their meals.

The Tasting Room is located above the Wine Cellar in Bukit Bandaraya. It is the wine shop's food and beverage arm featuring a range of niche German Riesling as well as wines from Portugal, Spain, Australia, Chile, Italy, South Africa and California.

n TASTING ROOM, 65-1 (1st Floor), Jalan Bangkung, Bukit Bandaraya, Kuala Lumpur (Tel: 03-2092 4404). Business hours: Tuesday to Friday from noon till late. Saturday and Sunday from 4pm till late. The outlet is closed on Mondays.

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