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.