Top day out

Boo - my birthday is finally over. Three months and sixteen days after the actual day my final treat took place on Saturday - but this time Debrah came with me.

We went to Corrigans in Mayfair for a wine and food matching day and this wasn't just any old wine and food matching - it was wine and food of the highest order. The food had been billed as tapas to go with the wines but the reality was a full-on Michelin starred lunch - ten beautifully prepared different foods starting with four appetisers, three meaty middle courses and then, unusually, a fish main course followed by cheese and dessert.

We ate really well. There were also lots of ideas to take away and think about for use at 42rvh. I anticipate some kitchen practice sessions in the next week or so.

The wines were not to be ignored either and there were some interesting pairings too.

I had never before had a wine from Canada but there was a delicious buttery chardonnay that, if I hadn't known where the wine was from, I would have guessed Burgundy.

There was also a delicious Languedoc red from Domaine d'Aupilhac which I shall seek out as well as some champagne, sherry, an albarino from Spain, a sauternes, a pinot noir and a sauvignon blanc from New Zealand and a red dessert wine from Maury, Mas Amiel, which is just the best thing to eat with chocolate fondant.

My fabulous wife told everyone present that the chocolate fondant wasn't as good as mine, which was very sweet of her, but actually she was right - maybe it had been sitting around for a few minutes which is a nightmare for a fondant.

The session was hosted by the restaurant's general manager, Dawid Koegenlenberg, also known as Inspector Grape on his personal web wine blog which is well worth checking out - inspectorgrape.wordpress.com

I firmly believe that a fabulous long lunch is such a civilised way to eat and drink and much healthier for you than a very long and late dinner. After lunch there is always time to relax and digest before bed - which is just about all we managed last Saturday slumped on the sofa in front of X-Factor and Match of the Day.

All in all it is a top day out, highly recommended and very good value for money for the quality of the food and wine that is served.

For those that are interested here is the full offering;

Starters
Rock Oyster Vietnamese
Champagne NV Veuve Fourny et Fils 1er Cru Blanc de Blanc
Crispy Olive filled with organic Goats Cheese & spicy harissa
Manzanilla San Leon, Sanlucar de Barrameda
Mackerel Tartare & Beetroot Foam
2008 Terras Gauda O Rosal, Rias Baixas - Galicia
Foie Gras Mousse soaked in Pedro Ximenez & Chutney
2001 Chateau Filhot - Sauternes

Middle Courses
Chicken Liver Parfait & Toasted Brioche
2008 Kerner, Weingut Eisacktaler - Alto Adige
Game Pie with roast fillet of Hare
2006 Montpeyroux les Truffieres, Domaine D'Aupilhac - Languedoc
Butter Poached Pheasant, Red Cabbage & Coleslaw
2007 Delta Pinot Noir, Hatters Hill, Marlborough - New Zealand

Main Course
Monkfish en croute, Bearnaise sauce, Green beans & Ratte potatoes
2005 Chardonnay Le Clos Jourdanne, Niagara - Canada

Cheese
Cashel Blue
2004 Pacherenc de Vic Bilh, Alain Brumont - SW France
Ragstone Goats Cheese
2008 Staete Landt Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough - New Zealand

Dessert
Chocolate Fondant with orange, Yoghurt foam and clementine
2007 Maury Vintage, Mas Amiel - Languedoc