Its unofficial, the recession is over but dipstick research does not always give an accurate picture. My once favourite quick and easy check on how the economy is doing was to look at new car sales figures. My new favourite check – attend Cape Legend’s Night of a Thousand Glasses (or a Thousand Knives as one of the hacks said – that economy is really bad).
Simple enough – well simpler than building a new car – assemble 100 guests in a spectacular setting (the Roundhouse in Camps Bay in this instance), commission an outstanding chef (PJ Vadas) and his team to assemble 10 delicious courses matched with 10 Cape Legends wines - all to the music of the sexiest classical music quartet on the planet. (there is nothing outside the Cape right?)
The first course was matched with one of the most under-rated Sauvignon’s in the Cape (and one of the most consistent) Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (and a contender for best value) with Tuna Carpaccio, pickled melon and fennel. If you ran out of time to shower before the event this match was so fresh and zesty all your woes would be forgotten.
One of the few slip ups was the roasted bone marrow and oxtail marmalade with toasted sourdough and parsley salad as the overt sweetness of marmalade made the wine – Plaisir de Merle Grand Plaisir 2007 - appear acidic which quickly receded after the course finished.
Although a close finish, my favourite match of the evening was Stellenzicht Rhapsody 2006 (a 50/50 Shiraz/Pinotage blend) and Venison and Cacao Terrine with pickled cranberries – the wine displayed bright cherries and lively integrated acidity with this carefully crafted dish.
It certainly was an outstanding evening with a very well conceived menu - full of twists, surprises and turns including refresher courses like the 5th of Stellenzicht Semillon Reserve 2008 and crayfish salad with smoked tomato vinaigrette. The Tarte Tatin finale was entirely fitting and delicious - especially when you consider they made 100 individual servings but enough Chinese torture, if you are interested the full menu appears below.
Jonathan Snashall
Link to Roundhouse
“Night Of A Thousand Glasses”
Thursday 4th November 2010
FIRST COURSE
TUNA CARPACCIO WITH PICKELED MELON AND FENNEL
LE BONHEUR SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010
SECOND COURSE
CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM BALLOTINE WITH nasturtium PURÉE
LOMOND SNOWBUSH 2009
THIRD COURSE
ROASTED BONE MARROW AND OXTAIL MARMALADE WITH TOASTED SOURDOUGH AND PARSLEY SALAD
PLAISIR DE MERLE GRAND PLAISIR 2007
FOURTH COURSE
VENISON AND CACAO TERRINE WITH PICKLED CRANBERRIES
STELLENZICHT RHAPSODY 2006
FIFTH COURSE
CRAYFISH SALAD WITH A SMOKED TOMATO VINIGRETTE
STELLENZICHT SEMILLON RESERVE 2008
SIXTH COURSE
ALTO RED WINE RISOTTO WITH OCTOPUS AND SQUID
ALTO MPHS 2007
SEVENTH COURSE
Buffalo Ridge Ricotta Cannelloni with Pickled Beets, Pine Nuts and Balsamic Jelly
LOMOND SUGARBUSH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006
EIGHTH COURSE
HAY SMOKED PORK BELLY WITH POMME PURÉE AND CHERRY JUS
LE BONHEUR PRIMA 1997
NINTH COURSE
GORGONZOLA, WALNUTS AND POACHED PEAR
ALLLESVERLOREN FINE OLD VINTAGE RESERVE 1997
TENTH COURSE
TARTE TATIN AND VANILLA ICE-CREAM
NEETHLINGSHOF THE MARIA 2010
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