Whilst on the topic of China, during my recent visit I was so impressed with the calibre of cuisine at the various Villa Maria promotional events I attended.
In particular was a lunch I hosted in Beijing, a lunch for journalists at this most impressively designed restaurant called, Room. It all starts when you walk through the bright pink library of a foyer and are surprised to see the book shelves are in fact the doors leading to the bathroom!
Entrance to Room
Staff Member Exiting the Bathroom
As you walk through the restaurant which I’ve been told really starts humming in the evening with a resident DJ, the walls sport that same amazing modern, abstract art with even the odd hologram appearing. We are seated in a private room graced with yet more fabulous paintings and after a brief introduction to my guests on the history of the New Zealand wine industry and the story behind Villa Maria – the food begins to arrive to match with the wines.
Given the element of visual surprise with the décor it is only natural this twist flowed into the cuisine. Pictured is the best presentation of a Waldorf salad I have ever seen. Although this salad has stood the test of time first being created between 1893 and 1896 at the Waldorf Hotel in New York City (the precursor of the Waldorf Astoria), this has a very modern twist All the essential elements were present; the granny smith apple, walnuts, creamy mayonnaise with a touch of roquefrot cheese. But it wasn’t this unsightly creamy mess as is often the case, but the flavours were incorporated into the still perfectly formed apple.
Wardorf Salad on left
I’m definitely going to plagiarise that recipe! It was the best way to describe the various layers of flavour in our Cellar Selection Marlborough Chardonnay 08. The apple illustrates the malic acid freshness of the portion of the wine that doesn’t go through malolactic fermentation (MLF). The creamy Roquefort mayo shows an element of the softer lactic acid that results from the MLF, and the nuts illustrated the wine’s maturation in French oak barriques. All it needed was a vanilla pod as a garnish (but that would have looked weird on a salad I guess).
The mains were amazing, but I will fast forward to the finale – the smoking fruit tree. I have never seen a fruit platter so spectacularly presented. The picture speaks a thousand words.
The journalists who came from a wide variety of publications from Food and Wine, Madame Figaro, International Club, Lifestyle to Modern Weekly International, all had a great time. I was most impressed on their sunny Saturday afternoon they chose to come and experience New Zealand wine from Villa Maria over a memorable lunch. A visit to Room for anyone going to Beijing is a must. www.room-bmk.com
