Sweet Deals on Champagne and Wine this Valentine’s Day!

Posted on February 10, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Valentine’s Day and Chap Goh Mei celebrations are here! But I guess a lot of us are looking forward to the celebration of love this Friday! Why not make it more classy and unique with some wines versus the usual?

Express your love with wines this Valentine’s Day!

Pamper your sweetheart with Wine Talk’s Sweet Celebrations champagne and wine this Valentine’s Day. With great offers on iconic champagnes like Moët &Chandon (now only RM190) and Dom Pérignon (now only RM528) as well as a specially arranged Valentine wine set for RM248 you can be sure to enjoy the celebration with a smile on your face rather than a hole in your pocket. The Valentine wine set consists of 3 most popular sweet wines to express your sweet love for your sweet one: a light and fizzy Moscato from Australia – Peter Lehmann Princess Moscato (500ml), a rich and luscious Muscat from Spain – Torres Floralis Oro (500ml), and a gentle but intense Semillon from Australia – Cranswick Estate Sarus Botrytis Semillon (375ml). This is a great gift of love for the season!

Yummm…My Sweet Valentine Set!

Celebrate the day with a bottle of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial (750ml) priced at only RM190. Moët& Chandon’s unique style is distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and elegant maturity. Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial can be enjoyed throughout your meal from the entree to dessert and pairs perfectly with sushi, white fish oysters and even white fruits such as a white peach tart with chocolate cream.

wine-talk-valentines-day-gifts-champagnes

Champagnes ON SALE now!

Instead of the conventional bouquet of roses, romance her with a bottle of Moët& Chandon Rosé Impérial (750ml) at only RM240. The sparkling rosé is a symbol of spontaneous, radiant, romantic expression of the Moët & Chandon style. The Rosé Impérial pairs well with foods that have simple, intense and colourful flavours such as red meat with fresh, red-fleshed fruits, fresh goat cheese and mozzarella.

Feeling like spoiling yourselves this Valentine’s, Wine Talk is giving champagne lovers a reason to do so with a special price for its Dom Pérignon (750ml) at only RM528. Appear effortlessly sophisticated when you present her with a bottle of the most iconic Champagne in the world – intense, full-bodied, and hedonistic.

Wine Talk sommelier David Stephan said “In the age of technology, online shopping is fast becoming a trend and people are sometimes too busy to physically shop for wine. Let Wine Talk take out the guesswork for you with wine advices or with our mixed wine sets that are all ready for you to choose from.”

Transform your home into a classy wine and dine restaurant!

If you want to take things a step further, you can even transform your home into a classy restaurant in just one hour! Order his or her favourite dish from Room Service and enjoy Valentine’s Day dining in the comfort of your home. All orders before VDay will receive RM88 food vouchers from Room Service.

Need advice on which wines to serve? Easy, breezy. Let Wine Talk’s French sommelier do the choosing for you. You can call them at 1300 88 9788 or email us at info@winetalk.com.my for the best wine advices this Valentine’s Day season or maybe Chap Goh Mei! Visit www.winetalk.com.my for more details.

Wine Talk’s Sweet Celebration makes it easy for you to express your love this season!

Welcome the Chinese New Year with Great Deals from Wine Talk!

Posted on January 17, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

With the Chinese New Year just 2 weeks around the corner, preparations are getting more and more hectic as the big celebration comes close. In my husband’s family, Chinese reunion dinners bear a big importance in keeping close ties and are the best times to catch up with cousins who are overseas. And as dinners are filled with sumptuous Chinese dishes, it is also the time for merriment together with some drinks: beer, whiskey or wine.

Celebrations with wine

Putting together a great re-union feast is no mean feat, something the current Y generation would be hard pressed to do. But fret not, as you can add to the joyous occasion by turning up with a good bottle of wine that goes well with the Nian Ye Fan menu. Wine Talk ushers in the year of the wooden horse with great deals that are perfect for this season.

Want to bring wines or send wines without adding load into your already-loaded car? This lunar New Year, Wine Talk is offering customers FREE DELIVERY for orders above RM300. Send wines to your home town or for your loved ones without the hassle of carrying the bottles! Wine Talk makes your celebration fun, easy and travel-friendly by delivering the wines for you. Simply place an order via www.winetalk.com.my and key-in NODELCNY on the voucher code box upon checkout. Place the orders on or before 24^thJanuary 2014 to get the wines delivered in time for Chinese New Year’s Eve.

FREE Decanter for orders above RM500 on red wines

The love for red wine around the world is also shared by a lot of Chinese for its health benefits and maybe because red wines are red! Wine lovers can take home the perfect gift for 2014 or add a piece of beautiful crystal ware to their homes. Upon purchase of RM500 on all normal priced red wines, Wine Talk customers will get a FREE Crystal decanter by Luigi Bormioli, made in Italy. Perfectly shaped for the perfect pour; Luigi Bormioli decanters add the right amount of sophistication to any table. This mouth-blown, hand-crafted glassware can hold up to 2.6L and also rivals other fine crystal in appearance and elegance. For more about Luigi Bormioli, visit www.luigibormioli.com

Wine Talk sommelier and self-professed “wine geek” David Stephan said, “This lunar New Year, savour our wine selection with your CNY feast. I’ve carefully paired some of the red wines in the Chinese New Year festive packs as they go well with the traditional Chinese New Year dishes like fish, chicken, yee-sang and dumplings (jiaozi).”

Moet and Chandon at special price

And what can be even more stylish and classier than adding a burst of bubbly to the occasion? Fans of the world’s most iconic champagne Moet & Chandon can enjoy a bottle for only RM180! “This is the best price in town!” said David. Champagne lovers can choose to order 3, 6 or 12 bottles in time for your Chinese New Year celebration so you can Gong Xi Gong Xi in style!” he added. Moet & Chandon’s style is distinguished by its bright fruitiness, seductive palate and elegant maturity. Limited stocks available.

Food vouchers from Room Service worth RM88

For any purchase from now until Chinese New Year, Wine Talk will be giving away RM88 worth of Room Service MyDeal food vouchers to 8 Lucky Winners every day from now till 30^th January! Simply make any order at www.winetalk.com.my to be part of the draw. Every order of any set of wines entitles a customer to an entry. Vouchers will be delivered together with your order of wines so you can order food to be delivered once you have your wines from Wine Talk!

If you want to receive your wines in time for CNY, please make your orders thru Wine Talk by 24^th January 2014. Wine Talk wishes everyone a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Need advice on which wines to serve? Easy, breezy. Let Wine Talk’s French sommelier do the choosing for you. Give Wine Talk a call at 1300 88 9788 or email at info@winetalk.com.my for the best wine advices. Visit www.winetalk.com.my for more details.

You can also get connected to their FB page at
http://www.facebook.com/winetalkmalaysia

Spanish Food, Great Wines and a French Sommelier in Malaysia

Posted on November 28, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

It’s a rare occasion to have the opportunity to dine and enjoy wine with a sommelier. So when this gem-of-a-chance came, I was thrilled to be part of something that I’ll truly treasure and enjoy.

One lovely Thursday evening, I found myself treading the classy pavement along Bangsar Shopping Centre where my desire for good Spanish food and good wines brought me to The Pressroom. I was about to indulge into a delightful wine experience.

In this country, it is not easy to find wine experts even in wine shops. So for wine lovers who need to shop for wines and even for those who just need wine for an event or occasion, picking wines off the shelf can be challenging or even frightening. Imagine yourself walking in to a shop full of walls and shelves of different types of wines, different countries, different regions, different winemakers, different vintages and, of course, price. Which one to pick? Most of the time, when you ask the staff around the wine shop, you also wouldn’t get much advice except for the price difference.

Let’s say you were brave enough to try something you haven’t tried before. If you don’t like the wine or if it’s corked, can you bring it back and change for a new one?

Great news to fellow wine lovers (or to those who are interested to discover more about wine)! Wine Talk, an online wine delivery service, makes wines easy. It provides easy access to different labels of wines from different countries, regions with different price ranges in just 1 wine shop online. What makes Wine Talk even better is that they have a French sommelier, David Stephan, who chooses the wines and who also provides wine advice to every wine lover, beginner or connoisseur.

For starters that evening, we were served with the first white wine of the night, Kiwi Walk Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand. This classic NZ wine is a very fresh & easy-to-drink wine, packed with great tropical aromas. Kiwi Walk is an addictively crisp & fresh wine, sourced from premium vineyards in Marlborough.

The second one, which later on turned out to be the ‘favorite of the night’, was Louis Guntrum ‘Royal Blue’ Rieslingfrom Rheinhessen, Germany. The ‘Royal Blue’ is an off-dry wine, boasting some sugar and a very soft 9.5% alcohol level (this is a good clue to know if a Riesling is sweet or not; 12% & over: dry; 8-12%: off-dry; below 8%: sweet). It showcases an elegant and classical Riesling scent, paired with aromas of tropical fruits, with green apples and citrus, pineapple and melon. It has an excellent balance of sweetness and acidity. It can be enjoyed by itself as an aperitif, or with lightly spicy food, roasted duck or smoked meats. This is my personal pick for the night!

My mouth was watering when the dishes started coming.

The third wine, which is also the most interesting in terms of color, was the Gérard Bertrand ‘Art De Vivre’ Grenache Rosé from Languedoc, France, costs RM60 per bottle. This Rosé wine is a perfect introduction to the classics of the region. Made from 100% Grenache, it shows a delightfully light color, lots of fruit flavors and a fresh and aromatic palate. Great for a wide range of dishes, from seafood, fish to Barbecue meats. I seriously think that this is great for weddings mainly because of its color, which somehow appears romantic and sweet.

The fourth wine was La Closerie des Lys Pinot Noir from Languedoc, France, costs RM58 per bottle. This Pinot Noir has an expressive nose of black cherry and spices with a beautiful attack; this is ample and fruity with a fresh final and delicate oak hints. Beautiful wine, serve it slightly chilled with some roast duck, or grilled lamb chops. I’m not a fan of red wines yet but this is something I can enjoy.

The fifth wine was Logan ‘Apple Tree Flat’ Shiraz from Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia, costs RM65 per bottle. This Shiraz shows a deep, rich red color, and a softer palate than regular Aussie Shiraz, with flavors of mixed berries and sweet spices. So if you aren’t into big, bold, juicy Shiraz, this will be your friend. If you like the big wines, you can still enjoy this wine. It won’t hurt you! A great match with classic roasted lamb or cheese platters.

The last wine was Finca Sobreño ‘Crianza’from Toro, Spain, costs RM69.60 per bottle. It has a pretty bouquet of blueberry jam and raspberry that is well defined. The palate is well balanced, with a smooth, silky texture, crisp acidity and a citrus, fresh, primal finish. David recommends decanting for this wine before consumption.

It was truly a wonderful experience to dine and enjoy wine together with a wine expert or sommelier. David guided us through each wine and gave a lot of helpful tips about each type. You’ll feel more ‘clever’ and familiar about the wines you’re drinking. David Stephan is a French sommelier who has been in Asia for 10 years now so his palate has been familiar to Asian cuisine aside from European. He enjoys the variety of food in Malaysia and finds excitement in exploring new dishes while enjoying them with wine.

Wine Talk’s wines are personally selected and handpicked by David Stephan. With Wine Talk’s brand promise, GUARANTEED SATISFACTION, GUARANTEED PRICE, DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME, experiencing wines is now even more pleasurable. With GUARANTEED SATISFACTION, customers will get a new bottle if they don’t love the wine they received and notify us within 30 days of purchase. With GUARANTEED PRICE, customers will get refunded with the price difference if they find the wine cheaper in major super and hypermarkets in Peninsular Malaysia up to 14 days from the date of purchase.

Wine Talk makes wine fun, simple and easy.

Visit www.winetalk.com.my or call 1300 88 97 88 for more details and wine selections.

International Certificate in Wine & Spirit available at Taylor’s University

Posted on November 23, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

Are you someone who works for a wine or spirit-related job? Do you serve or sell wine and spirits? Or maybe you are someone who is simply interested in enhancing your wine knowledge?

Working for a wine business, I know that it can be quite tough when you have no basic knowledge of wine. Luckily, I am working directly with a sommelier (that’s wine expert in layman’s terms) that knows wines inside and out. His generosity in sharing information has helped me in getting through a challenging start.

I’ve also attended some casual wine classes to learn a bit more about this very diverse and interesting industry. But then again, if you really want to learn serious, deep matters about wine, I believe that you need to go beyond informal classes to really dig down the subject.

In Malaysia, there are only a handful of sommeliers around. They are mostly working in hotels and restaurants but there aren’t many of them. And although this industry is still very small, I think that it has a good potential and the demand for wine experts will rise in the next years to come. Malaysia is a food haven of various cultures and techniques, with people who are big foodies and are willing to travel so far for good food. And the more people who enjoy food, the more chances of people exploring the exquisite delight of food enjoyed with wine or vice versa.

Great news! At Taylor’s University, you can now receive the International Certificate in Wine & Spirit or WSET for Level 2 and 3.

Taste of character

The perfect fusion of wine with food emits magic to any dining experience. Learn this charm effortlessly with the necessary knowledge, technique and skills regardless if you’re an enthusiast, beginner or professional in the hospitality food and beverage industry.

Taylor’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts is well known in the industry for offering highly sought after professional wine training programme. Specifically designed for working adults to further develop their wine knowledge skills. This programme is highly recommended for staffs who sell and serve wine, and to anyone who wishes to enhance their wine knowledge. At the end of the programme, you will master the classifications of wine, match it with the perfect cuisine, recommend the finest drink, improve on wine selling skills and serve wine skillfully.

About WSET®

• WSET® provides both part-time and full-time courses that will provide you with the foundation on how to select, evaluate, taste and serve wine and other alcoholic beverages.

• WSET® is based in London. It is the leading provider of World-Class Qualifications delivering informative and entertaining courses for the wine and spirit industry, and consumers worldwide.

• WSET® is the only wine and spirit education entity approved by the Qualifications & Curriculum Authority, the UK Government’s regulator for education.

• Over 17,000 candidates in 38 countries have sat for WSET® exams in 8 different languages.

WSET Level 2

Intermediate Certificate in Wine & Spirit

Provides an in-depth understanding of the principles of wine tasting and evaluation, as well as the nature, history and production of wines and spirits. Also covers basic guidance on appropriate selection, service and understanding of the broad range of alcoholic beverages. Ideal for those who wish to learn more about the subject and for people who want to upgrade their skills and competencies in the customer service and sales functions in the hospitality, wine retail and wholesale industry. After the completion of level 2, you are required to sit for an examination to receive a certification of international recognition from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET®) upon passing.

At the end of the programme, you will be able to:

• Have an insight of grape growing and wine making

• Interpret the labels of the major alcoholic beverages of the world

• Give guidance on appropriate selection and service

• Know the principles of wine tasting and evaluation

• Give information on the characteristics of spirits and liqueurs and identify major international brands within each category

WSET Level 3

Advanced Certificate in Wine & Spirit

This programme is designed for working adults who want to further enhance their knowledge about wines and spirits. The Level 3 Advanced Certificate gives comprehensive coverage of wines and spirits, with an increased focus on tasting technique and of the application of the knowledge gained. After the completion of level 3, you are required to sit for an examination to receive a certification of international recognition from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET®) upon passing.

You will have an opportunity to taste a vast selection of wines from major wine producing countries, such as Germany, France, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, USA, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, South Africa and UK.

At the end of the programme, you will be able to:

• Explain the key factors influencing the production of the principal wines and spirits of the world and how those factors influence the style, quality and price.

• Describe in detail the characteristics of the principal wines and spirits of the world.

• Use knowledge of the principal wines and spirits of the world to make recommendations to customers in a variety of situations.

• Apply the principles of food and wine matching to the key styles of wine available.

• By the use of the WSET® Systematic Approach to Tasting, produce tasting notes and use the information contained within them to identify the style, quality and price band of wines and spirits.

• Provide information for customers and staff on the health issues relating to wines and spirits.

• Provide information and advise for customers and staff on the correct storage and service of wines and spirits.

• Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate awarded by Taylor’s University, School of Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts.

• Upon passing the examination, participants will gain a certification from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET®), UK.

• This programme is claimable from Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

Course fee includes study packs, notes and wines for tasting

WSET is suitable for:

Employees who sell and serve wine
Those who wish to upgrade their skills and competencies in customer service and sales functions in the hospitality, wine retail and wholesale industry
Anyone who wishes to enhance their wine knowledge

Time	:	9.00am – 5.00pm
Venue	:	Taylor’s University, Lakeside Campus
Fee	:	RM3,650 (Level 2), RM 5,000 (Level 3)

Interested? Call Taylor’s University – Centre for Continuing Professional Education at +60356295000 or visit http://www.taylors.edu.my

Be connected with Taylor’s via Facebook at www.facebook.com/TaylorsUniversityCPE

You can also download the WSET brochure here

Centre for Continuing Professional Education

Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, No. 1 Jalan Taylor’s, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Tel. +603 56295000

Fax +603 56295001

Email: cpe@taylors.edu.my

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2014 is coming!

Posted on November 6, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

Melbourne is set to make waves with 200 events across Victoria with a glorious celebration of food and wine: All events on sale 3 December.

Celebration of food and wine

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival presented by Bank of Melbourne will reel in more than 200 events for a global celebration of the bounty of water, 28 February – 16 March 2014.

Over 17 days food and wine lovers are invited to celebrate the world’s ocean and river fare guided by the best seafood chefs, join exclusive behind-the-scenes tours both on and off the water, get amongst it at lively street parties, secure a spot at never-to-be-repeated dinners with Michelin-starred chefs, and much more. Launched as one single program, tickets to all Festival events go on sale 3 December 2013.

The Festival’s hub project and centrepiece of the 2014 program is a bold expression of the Festival theme exploring the cycle of water with a temporary bar, restaurant and raingarden, popping up in the city’s Queensbridge Square.

Following on from the Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar in 2013, this ambitious project designed for the second year by HASSELL, anchors three levels to the Yarra’s edge featuring a riverside bar, an open-kitchen restaurant on the concourse and a top-level verdant raingarden. Melbourne chefs including Florent Gerardin (Silo), Jesse Gerner (Anada & Bomba), Adam Liston (Borrowed Space) and Daniel Wilson (Huxtable & Huxtaburger) will bring their take on dishes inspired by the three states of water – liquid, solid and gas – to the restaurant, and by night, the country’s boundary-pushing bartenders will craft one-off cocktails and drinks that celebrate the cycle of water.

Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch

Festival favourite Bank of Melbourne World’s Longest Lunch (28 February) gathers 1,500 lunching revellers at one 500 metre-long table to kick off the first day of the Festival along the banks of the Yarra in Alexandra Park. The three-course menu will be designed by Jacques Reymond, Adam D’Sylva, and Stefano de Pieri and brought to life by Peter Rowland Catering. Celebrating the world’s waterways as the lifeblood of food and wine, each chef will draw on personal connections to the Amazon, Mekong, and Murray-Darling rivers respectively to create a menu made with Victorian produce.

New for 2014, the Flemington Grazing Trail & Cellar Door combines the best of Victoria’s wineries, craft breweries and artisan producers with Group 1 racing on Flemington’s Super Saturday race meeting. The event at the iconic racecourse offers trackside wine tasting and gourmet produce picnics just outside of the city.

Back in Melbourne, budding cooks can learn from Melbourne’s favourite chefs about our city’s diverse culinary heritage at Festival Foodies, an event for kids in Queensbridge Square. For those seeking to explore and debate the social and environmental issues connected with water, the Festival is collaborating with The Wheeler Centre for a one-off talkfest featuring a broad spectrum of speakers on 6 March.

At the hotly anticipated Langham Melbourne MasterClass, 8 – 9 March, learn from and taste the creations of the new wave of young gun chefs alongside global greats of the kitchen as they share their connection with the world’s most precious resource, water. Chilean food forager Rodolfo Guzman (Borago, Santiago), seafood crusader and Spain’s Best Chef Angel Leon (Aponiente, Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain), and Lummi Island locavore Blaine Wetzel (Willows Inn, USA), are among the star-studded line up.

Now at the core of the new dedicated wine weekend, 1 – 2 March, Acqua Panna Global Wine Experience returns with benchmark wine tasting guided by a panel of Australia’s most influential winemakers, writers and sommeliers including Rick Kinzbrunner (Giaconda, Beechworth) and Guill de Pury (Yeringberg, Yarra Valley).

Melbourne’s hottest restaurants will pull out all the stops to bring you dining experiences exclusive to the Festival. Brothers Matt and Andrew McConnell join forces for Blood is Thicker than Water, a street party between Casa Ciuccio and Cutler & Co with water and blood-inspired dishes; Darren Purchese (Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio) takes over the historic Johnston Collection for decadent desserts at Swan Lake’s Sweet Seduction; and chef Frank Camorra and food writer Richard Cornish will talk foodies through a gastronomic tour of southern Spain, from the secrets of Spanish seafood to tales of nuns making moreish doughnuts (A Gastro-Tour of Spain, MoVida Aqui).

Learn about and taste the state’s outstanding seafood at events on and off the water. Hook, Lunch & Sinker returns with a fishing trip and lunch at Stokehouse Upstairs lead by The Age Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year Ollie Gould, or at Melbourne’s Fish Mongrels at Sanford Australia, Melbourne’s wholesale fish hub, take a tour and a first-hand look at wild-caught seafood.

Join other food and wine lovers in this celebration

Foodies are invited to tour through Victoria over Regional Weekend (14 – 16 March) with all Festival events taking place out in the regions. The weekend kicks off with 20 Regional World’s Longest Lunches at spectacular locations across the state including Queenscliff Harbour on the Bellarine Peninsula, among the vines at Elgee Park vineyard in the Mornington Peninsula and overlooking the ocean in Inverloch, Gippsland.

Also over Regional Weekend, join the ultimate ‘60s themed cocktail party at The Dispensary Enoteca (Bendigo), H2007 James Bond vs. Don Draper, as they pit the signature drinks of the two smooth operators against each other. Feast at regional events embracing Victoria’s waterways, from floating down the King River ‘river sledding’ on lilos followed by lunch at Dal Zotto Winery (High Country) for Lilos & Prosecco; to dinner with Ovens River produce in the Alpine Valley at Tani Eat & Drink’s Down by the River.

Union Dining’s Nicky Riemer will bring her provincial style cooking to Bress in the Goldfields for Raining Produce at Bress, and in the High Country, get back to the core of outstanding produce at Philip Lobely Wines’ Water, Wheat and Wine, learning about the role of sun, water and earth in creating wine and artisan bread.

This is just a small taste of Melbourne Food and Wine Festival 2014. The full program can be viewed from 26 November at melbournefoodandwine.com.au.

28 February – 16 March 2014 All Festival events on sale 3 December 2013

melbournefoodandwine.com.au

French dining with The Expat Group & Wine Talk

Posted on October 27, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

The Expat Group, together with Wine Talk, hosted a French dining experience at Le Cordon Bleu in Bandar Sunway on 25^th October 2013.

Guests indulged into a delightful selection of French cuisine carefully prepared by Le Cordon Bleu’s top chefs and culinary team. Le Cordon Bleu is globally recognized for offering the most intensive and comprehensive training in classic French culinary techniques and Pattiserie. The famed culinary organization is now on Malaysian shores and has begun to apply the Blue Ribbon’s distinctive teaching methodology since 2012, where students gain culinary skills through demonstration classes and hands-on learning.

The Expat Group’s guests that included both locals and expatriates were welcomed by French canapés and white wine. Tables were beautifully prepared for guests and created an exciting anticipation for what awaited their taste buds and palate.

The Expat Group CEO Andy Davison and TEG Digital General Manager Nick Davison



Wine Talk Malaysia, online wine delivery service, provided the superb French wines for the night.



Wine Talk Malaysia General Manager/ Sommelier David Stephan gave a quick talk about the French wines: Arthur Metz Pinot Gris (Alsace, France), Gerard Bertrand ‘Art De Vivre’ Viognier (Languedoc, France), and Chateau Siffle-Merle, Blaye (Coates de Bordeaux).



Le Cordon Bleu’s chefs, Franck Bruwier, Thierry Lerallu and David Morris, personally welcomed the guests to the French dining experience.

The French dining started with this appetizer:

Hot Foie Gras Quenelle

White Mushroom and Asparagus Fricasse

Duck Consomme Solferino

Wine: Arthur Metz Pinot Gris

Main course:

Braised Beed Cheeks in Cabernet

Fava Beans Toast

Glazed Carrots and Daikon

Wine: Chateau Siffle-Merle, Blaye

Dessert:

Plated Strawberry Vacherin

Petits Fours

For inquiries on French culinary arts programmes, call:
Sunway Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts
No. 5 Jalan Universiti, Bandar Sunway,
46150, Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel. No. +603 5632 1188
Email: malaysia@cordonbleu.edu

To be part of The Expat Group’s monthly dining experience, visit:
www.expatgomalaysia.com
www.theexpatcard.com

For wine requirements and sommelier advice, call:
Wine Talk Malaysia 1300 88 9788

www.winetalk.com.my

info@winetalk.com.my

Halal, Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine that will truly tickle your taste buds!

Posted on October 12, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

This is my 2nd post about a non-alcoholic wine and it’s really a delight to talk about this yet-to-be-popular beverage. Most people think that all wines contain alcohol. But some winemakers have recognized that there are people who’d want to enjoy wines without the alcohol.

The 1688 Grand Rose (pronounced row-sey) is a non-alcoholic, Halal sparkling wine. It’s a product of Paris, France, from Maison Honore du Faubourg.

1688 Grand Rose (pronounced row-sey), non-alcoholic/ Halal wine

This wine has a very delicious, sweet flavor and leaves a yummy tingle in the mouth. As the product says, it’s a 100% natural selection of concentrate red and white grape must. It contains natural fructose of the grapes, natural citric acid, natural muscat aroma, and filtered water. And since it contains no alcohol, you can really taste the full sweetness of the grape juice.

1688 Grand Rose with Halal seal

The 1688 Grand Rose is a great accompaniment for most dishes, as long as it’s not very spicy. It would be wonderful to serve for celebrations such as parties, events or weddings so guests who prefer not to have alcohol will still have a classy drink to choose. You can even serve it for ‘yam seng’ and nobody would notice its difference from alcoholic wine! I think that the 1688 halal wine also adds a lovely touch as decor for weddings because of its sweet pink color.

Image from web

So if you’re sensitive to alcohol but would love to experience the exquisite taste of wines, try the 1688 Grand Rose and share it with friends. This is such a delicious treat for your taste buds!

Price: RM54.90 per bottle of 750ml

Serve chilled between 6 and 8 degrees Celsius

You can order online via www.winetalk.com.my for home delivery, event reservations or wine consultation

Love cigar and whiskey? You gotta visit Whisky Tango Foxtrot!

Posted on August 31, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

My work-related adventures have brought me to one of the coolest places in Kuala Lumpur. Located at Jalan Kasah Damansara Heights, Whisky Tango Foxtrot is definitely a must-visit for those who enjoy cigars and/or whiskey.

Upon entering the venue, you will be welcomed by a huge humidor showcasing a big collection of cigars and accessories. It is the biggest collection showcase in Asia, I was told. I’ve never seen a cigar collection in my life and I find this amazing. Honestly, I only see people smoking cigars in movies, those typical high-profile men who enjoy the most luxurious lifestyle. I am inclined to believe that only people who have reached a certain level of success or wealth can truly appreciate cigars. But as I’ve learned, there are a lot of people who enjoy having cigars once in a while, not just the extremely wealthy. I guess it’s a similar general perception as with wines. People tend to think that wines are also for the rich.

There are shelves and shelves of cigars. Some are sold in box sets but there are also individual ones. There are also very nice sets that are great gifts.

Cigar collection at Whisky Tango Foxtrot

Highlighted in display were Macanudo cigars.

I didn’t know cigars are also aged. This set is aged for 8 years…

You’ll also find great accessories for cigar lovers such as lighters, cigar scissors, cutters, cigar cases and more.

Cigar accessories

Lovely lighters…

High-quality cutters and scissors…

They also have an online store where you can easily purchase your favorite cigars.

The humidor/ entrance has this poster to welcome guests. I did a bit of research and as I found out, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ was a motivational poster produced by the British government in 1939, a few months before the beginning of the Second World War. It aimed to raise the morale of the British public in the event of wartime disaster. You’ll actually see a lot of different phrases or statements using this concept around, whether in mall boutiques, mugs, tumblers, shirts and other things. In fact, this is almost everywhere nowadays. But there’s a much more meaningful origin to this quote.

After the humidor, you will reach the cozy, private lounge. It is adorned with black-and-white posters, black leather chairs and dim lighting. The atmosphere is very masculine and exclusive. Definitely a great place to hangout, enjoy cigars and whiskey while having serious or not-so-serious discussions. I can imagine my husband having whiskey here with his friends.

On one side of the lounge, a wall of private humidors are lined up for members who want to store their cigar collections. For a certain fee, a member will enjoy a private humidor with his/her initials, 10% discount on all purchases and other exclusive privileges.

At one end is the bar where you can enjoy your favorite whiskey, wines and some cocktails. I’m not a whiskey drinker but since they also serve my cocktails then it’s great for me…

There are also 2 private rooms for guests or members who would prefer to have a more private area.

I have great respect for places that pay good attention in making their washroom better than just its function. And I’d say WTF (that’s Whisky Tango Foxtrot, no pun intended) impressed me. I’ve never seen any bar or restaurant using a great product such as Aesop Aromatique for a hand wash. (Well, the ex-skincare brand manager in me can’t help but notice…)

And aside from that, there is also a set of Ralph Lauren perfumes for guests to use. How impressive.

Whisky Tango Foxtrot is definitely THE place for cigar and whiskey aficionados. The service is damn good, the cigar showcase is the biggest in the country (and in Asia), and the ambience is something you won’t get anywhere else. It’s great for anyone who wants to enjoy and have a good time while having some puffs and drinks. Though I’m not a cigar or whiskey fan, I agree that this is a great place to hangout or spend an evening with friends.

WTF is located at 2nd floor, 128B Jalan Kasah, Damansara Heights, KL, Malaysia.

Visit www.whiskytangofoxtrot.my or call +60320112056 for more information.

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant

Posted on August 18, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

While working for a previous company, my office was located next to Mid Valley Megamall but I only ate at Brotzeit just once with a colleague. The food was great but it wasn’t a regular option for me and friends to go to for lunch. Aside from the price concern of most employees for daily meal spending, I guess Western food is not really a top choice for a lot of locals. I, on the other hand, am a fan of good Western food.

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant, Mid Valley Megamall

Last weekend, the early celebration of my sister-in-law’s birthday brought me back to Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant. I never noticed their entire menu before. There’s an appetizing selection of different dishes and pastas. Most of all, they had cocktails and a decent wine selection.

On the first page of their menu, there’s a brief introduction about Brotzeit. I find this good and interesting. I’m not sure if there are other people like me who’d really read it but it’s great to see that they put some effort to explain what ‘Brotzeit’ means and what do they promise their customers.

Brotzeit also had a selection of red, white and sparkling wines, available in glass serving or by the bottle. But that day, I was thirsty for something else…

I’m sure, by the look of Brotzeit’s bar, that they have what I’m looking for…

The bar inside Brotzeit

My brother-in-law, sister-in-law, and husband opted for Paulaner bier, of course…

But my mouth was watering for my usual classic frozen margarita. They didn’t have the frozen type that I like (awww) so I settled for their classic crushed ice margarita…

Anyway, I still had a margarita and that made my night.

Margarita at Brotzeit

We had this big pork platter for dinner. Mix of pork knuckle, pork sausages, pork belly, roasted pork and meat loaf.

Here’s another view. Notice the cute brand flag on top of the bone?

The side dishes…

My dinner plate, pretending not to each so much but I actually had a few more helpings after this. Good bye to my diet plan for that day…

Lunch or dinner with my husband around won’t be complete without him ordering an extra something for me. This macaroni and cheese was damn good, quite addicting, in fact.

Good dinner, good margarita at a cozy spot inside Brotzeit was a great ender for that week. This restaurant is worth going back to, and also a nice place to hang around with friends. Cheers!

Brotzeit German Bier Bar & Restaurant in Mid Valley is located at the Ground Floor, along the same row of Maybank, Chili’s and Delicious.

Check out their Facebook page for more info and updates

https://www.facebook.com/brotzeit1516

My Wine Class Experience with Sommelier Roderick Wong

Posted on August 11, 2013 by CelesteDeJesus

I was so delighted to have been given the opportunity to attend Mr Roderick Wong’s class at Starhill Culinary Studio yesterday, 10th August 2013. It was a lovely Saturday afternoon, just a day after the 2nd Raya holiday. I parked at Pavilion KL which was busy with streams of families celebrating a great weekend then walked happily across to Starhill Gallery where Starhill Culinary Studio’s wine studio was about to engulf my senses with the aromas and taste of wines.

Themed Bubbles of the World, the class was about understanding and exploring different sparkling wines from around the world, how a sparkling wine is made, and other interesting information about this specific type of wine.

Bubbles of the World wine class by Roderick Wong

Roderick gave us this handout which I really appreciated because it contains a lot of useful information to understand the class and the sparkling wines more.

5 different sparkling wines Prosecco, Sekt, Cava, Champagne, Sparkling Shiraz Cabernet

Roderick Wong started the class with a detailed explanation about the Champagne method of producing sparkling wines. It involves a long process with a lot of steps: harvesting, destalking, separation of juice, fermentation, blending (assemblage/ coupage), second fermentation, ageing, riddling, disgorgement, dosage, recording and wiring. Roderick said this is already a simplified version of the process so we can easily understand. OMG, so the actual process is even more complicated than this? Seriously, kudos to those winemakers!

Roderick also shared that a lot of people often mistake Champagne for other sparkling wines and are unaware that sparkling wines are not the same as sparkling juice. Champagnes are only produced in the Champagne region of France and are governed by very strict rules to be allowed to put ‘Champagne’ on their label. No other region or country is allowed to use the put ‘Champagne’. But due to the extreme popularity of Champagne as probably the best sparkling wine, some people assumed that any sparkling wine is called Champagne.

Some people also thought that when somebody says sparkling wine, it is the same as the ordinary sparkling juice available at the supermarket. The truth is there are a lot of other great sparkling wines from other countries and regions aside from Champagne in France, such as: Cremant from other regions in France aside Champagne, Spumante from Italy, Cava from Spain, Sekt from Germany, Cap Classique from South Africa and more.

Roderick also gave us a helpful list of information to what ‘Brut’ and other words mean for wine.

Opening a champagne or sparkling wine bottle can be tricky so we must be very careful when uncorking one. Here Roderick demonstrates how to uncork a bottle without letting the cork fly or pop loudly. It takes an expert skill, I believe, and I wouldn’t dare to open one! Apparently, most of the accidents in restaurants/ bar come from flying corks!

Roderick Wong uncorking a Champagne bottle

We started with a Laurent-Perrier Champagne (yum). It’s wonderful to see it bubbling on the glass.

Pouring Champagne

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles. I had to catch a photo before all the bubbles disappear!

Champagne and its bubbles on my wine glass

Here I was, tasting the precious bubbly from Champagne…

And here’s my good friend, Jen, sniffing a Cava (sparkling wine from Spain), the 2nd wine for the class.

Pouring the 3rd sparkling wine – Sekt from Germany…

And probably the most interesting one I saw and tried was a sparkling red wine – Shiraz Cabernet from Australia…

All the 5 sparkling wines from around the world: Champagne, Cava, Spumante, Sekt, and Sparkling Red. I personally liked the 3rd wine – Spumante from Italy.

The class wouldn’t be complete without some canapés…

Roderick Wong is a very articulate, knowledgeable and approachable sommelier (wine expert). He answered our questions happily and with some interesting personal stories as well.

Me with Roderick Wong

Jen and Roderick Wong

Jen and I also met a few hot chicks during the class…

This wine class at Starhill Culinary Studio was truly wonderful and memorable. Not only were we able to sample great sparkling wines but we really learned a lot of useful information about this beverage which is viewed by many as a luxury drink.

Kudos to Starhill Culinary Studio and to Mr Roderick Wong for hosting such an amazing class. We’ll see you again soon!

For more information about Starhill’s wine classes, visit www.starhillculinarystudio.com

For more info about upcoming events with Mr Roderick Wong, check out their FB page – The Wine Academy Malaysia

Cheers!

Celeste de Jesus

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