Tastes of Spring with Pierre

He’s said it before.  I suspect he’ll say it again.  Pierre loves a party.  Not content with being a part of all manner of celebrations across Central Vic, Pierre has found a way to extend his bonhomie from his Mollison Street HQ.  Every month or so, Pierre will host an intimate evening of food, friends and happiness...

Fittingly, Pierre chose the first day of Spring to host his first wine and tapas evening.  A part of the Put Victoria on your Table celebrations – the casual soiree  consisted of 4 Victorian Wines (skilfully selected by Monsieur Scott Banks of Banks Fine Wines) each matched with a canapé starring some of our favourite regional produce.  Taking advantage of the sudden spring weather in the days leading up to the event, Pierre took the Citroen for a spin to personally select his prized ingredients from the farm gates.

Saturday rolled around as Saturdays are wont to do, with a buzz in the shop all day with people out and about enjoying the sudden sunshine and taking part in the Kyneton Daffodil Festival festivities.   Late afternoon, Pierre briefly closed the doors, donned the overalls and transformed the shop a la changing rooms ready for our first guests at 6pm.

And so it began...

Match One:  The Twice Cooked Caramel McIvor Farm Foods Pork Belly Baguettes with Harcourt Apple Slaw and Srirachi Chilli Sauce almost caused a riot ...sticky porky goodness and a natural match for the Bress Brut Cider.

Match Two: As the shop began to fill and DJ Pierre spun the platters, Scott Banks joined us for pouring duties filling glasses with the perennial regional favourite 2004 Knights Granite Hills Riesling.  Always the risk taker, Pierre paired the Riesling with Char-grilled New Season Asparagus (welcome back old friend!) with Free Range Mimosa Egg and Olive Dust.  

Match Three: Starred the wine favourite of the night the 2010 Vinero Pinot from the Hesket based Athletes of Wine.  Describe by Monsieur Banks as ‘the sultry redhead of pinots’ it accompanied Daylesford Spa Venison with Roast Beetroot and Juniper and Black Pepper Dust.  Mmmm...Juniper that which make Gin so good... was a perfect complement to the venison.  Subtly gamey – even those in attendance who professed not to be a fan of Bambi’s cousin were lining up for more.

Match Four: Rounding out the night was the Tellurian 2010 Shiraz – a relative new comer to Heathcote, Tellurian’s wines made by former Balgownie winemaker Tobias Anstead are catching the eye of many a practiced palate.  Pierre chose a tasty mouthful of Istra Chorizo on a Trentham Potato Tortilla with Kyneton Pickled Quince...need we say more?

Sated and happy, the laughter trailed into the evening as guests were safely on their way home before 9 pm...

And so to the future... to mark the occasion of our third Birthday Pierre will host ‘Pierre’s Table.’   An intimate wine dinner to be held on Saturday 20^th October – a few tickets still remain – click here if you would like to be a part of the fun.

Let us Put Victoria on Your Table - The Roast Collection....

click here to book your place to join us for lunch....Poulet Demi Deuil is crazy good and perfect with Ellender Estate's Pinot Noir...

The producers will join you at the end of the meal to talk about their passions and answer any questions; Jenny & Graham Ellender will talk about their wines, Amanda & Ian McClaren will talk about their chooks and we've got our fingers crossed that Tim & Deri-Ann will be able to pop their head in and talk about their veggies and their farm.  And of course Simon Fenwick will talk about his love of seasonal regional produce and the joy of cooking with Victorian produce.

If that's not enough to convince you - we are wondering if anyone is interested in us organising a bus from Daylseford or Kyneton?  We could meet you at the station - and then no one needs to sulk because it's their turn to be the designated driver...let us know - add a comment or email us  and we'll see what we can do!

Mother's Day Ideas for your Maman...

A possible alternative to the traditional vegemite on toast...an almond croissant or two...simply pop them in the oven to gently warm them up or just pop them on a plate.

Or for the slightly more culinary confident...might I suggest local artisan small goods...Crispy Istra Bacon...perhaps served with Pierre's own Baked Beans...C'est Parfait!

Afternoon tea more your style?  Lovely vintage plates filled with delicate macarons - a novel gift, mais oui?

Personally hand picked and hand packed - a range of beautiful Mother's Day Hampers.  Choose a hamper of European Chocolates, Pierre's Pantry Supplies or a selection of essential and exotic ingredients...








Open until 4pm on Saturday to make sure your Maman does not miss out.

MP x

Look Mum! We're on Gourmet Traveller TV!

Always honoured to get a mention, use this link to check out

 Gourmet Traveller’s ‘Worth the Drive’ Episode 8: Kyneton, Regional Victoria

Merci!

J'adore...a wine matched menu.

Sanguine Estate Music Festival - Wine Matching Lunch - Saturday 10 March 2012

One of life's great joys - good food, great wine, stimulating conversation...

Last night's full moon prompted a little reflection on the year so far...and one of the highlights of our busy spring period was the inaugural Sanguine Music Festival. 
  

Guests at the event indulged in incredible performances from world class musicians performing in the candle-lit barrel room and fotified themselves between concerts with Sanguine's wines and of course three days of Pierre's meals.  From canapes under the stars, freshly baked muffins for breakfast, Pierre's picnic lunch in the vines to a four course gala dinner...no one was left wanting.  But for us, Saturday's wine matched lunch was a particular pleasure.

The process of preparing for the lunch was as much a joy as the event itself.  First, the wines had to be tasted, always a hardship to spend the afternoon pondering a mixed six of some of Heatchote's finest.  Then a menu created, trialed and tested - the rose jelly made with Sanguine's Rose a particular triumph... 

Menu suitably composed, we spent a beautiful afternoon in the wine cellar of St Agnes in Kyneton with the Festival Directors and the Winemaker.  To a soundtrack of the performers scheduled for the festival weekend dish by dish, course by course, wine by wine we diligently workshoped the lunch to ensure each dish sung with Sanguine's wines.  

To begin..two options for Sanguine's superb chardonnay, scallop on a half shell with chorizo..the verdict...a superb dish but the chorizo a little loud for the subtlties of the Chardonnay, a quick tweak substituting Istra pancetta and the match was made.  Next, Gravlax with honey and dill dressing...well..the aromatics in the dish echoed the aromatics of the wine...and on the palate?  According to the winemaker "This is what food & wine matching is all about!" 

Breaking from tradition (as Pierre is wont to do) next up Tempranillo - match one - a Peking Duck Consumme, the tempranillo elegant, feminine...match two - Twice Cooked Pork Belly with Morello Cherry...the smokey pork with the sweetness of the cherry a perfect counterpoint to the Tempranillo.  

Three Shiraz went up against Lamb Backstrap with Caponata and Olive Tapenade with much to and fro to find the wine that harmonised most sweetly.  Already sated we gallantly forged on, our next task to reapeat the process with the Daube of Beef - emerging victorious finding the ideal match for the beef in the Special Edition Sanguine Music Festival Shiraz.

Our work here now done, the final menu was written.  Three weeks later, thirty VIP guests of the festival joined chef Simon Fenwick and winemaker Mark Hunter amongst the barrels in Sanguine's winery...the verdict..good food, great wine, stimulating conversation...

Click here to read Vulture Magazines review of the Sanguine Music Festival.

..See you at the Town Hall..

...yep....wild and wooly weather...

Regional World's Longest Lunch has re-located to
KYNETON TOWN HALL - 129 MOLLISON STREET KYNETON.

There will be shuttles from the Kyneton Railway Station to the Town Hall - our lovely volley's will see you there!  And we'll see you at the town hall...

Cheers
Pierre x

WORLD'S LONGEST LUNCH - CHANGE OF VENUE

Bonjour Mes Amis,

Just a quick note to let you know that due to the current wild weather we are re-locating the World's Longest Lunch to Kyneton's beautiful and historic Town Hall.

We are just in the process of ringing  everyone who booked tickets, we will email all guests later today and post more details later this afternoon.

For our Vline guests a shuttle has been arranged to transfer you in mini-bus comfort from the station to the Town Hall.

It will still be a fabulous afternoon - we are looking forward to sharing it with you!

Pierre x