Think that wine is no match for complex Indian flavours? Think again. Westminster’s Indian fine dining hotspot, Yaatra, is inviting culinary voyagers to embark on a pair of spice-infused expeditions that match Chef Amit Bagyal’s diverse regional Indian dishes with European wines to be reckoned with.
Challenging the status quo when it comes to traditional wine pairings, Yaatra’s resident sommelier Nick Smith has made bold choices from some of Europe’s most established wine regions to work alongside Chef Amit’s inimitable take on off-the-beaten-track Indian cuisine.
Both wine dinners begin at 7pm and will take place in Yaatra’s grand surrounds of the Grade II listed Old Westminster Fire Station, making them a truly unique feast for all the senses that should not be missed.
Coastal Indian Cuisine meets Central European Wines
Friday 18th August, £70 per person
The Western and Eastern Ghats are two mountain ranges in India that are home to long coastlines and countless fishing communities producing some of the freshest and tastiest seafood dishes you’ve ever experienced.
Chef Amit has distilled the bio-diverse regions’ medley of aromatic spices and Neptunian culinary treasures into five fabulous courses. From the Torched Orkney scallop with green mango chaat and crispy boondi, right through to the Roasted vermicelli payasam with coconut & lime sorbet, each delicious dish has been carefully paired with wines hailing from Austria and Germany due to their lighter style and more aromatic notes.
The varying degrees of residual sugars amongst the Riesling, Spätburgunder and Grüner Veltliner grape varieties are the perfect partners for fish and seafood. Such wines have the ability to enhance the careful touch of flavours and spices used in the dishes without being overpowering.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/coastal-wine-dinner-tickets-685168335937?aff=oddtdtcreator
World French Wines meet Regional Indian Spicing
Friday 22nd September, £100 per person
Yaatra’s second exclusive supperclub matches premium French wines with Chef Amit’s masterful use of flavour inspired by dishes selected from across India. In the same way that each region of France brings its own style of winemaking, each region of India has its own unique expression when it comes to food and flavour.
Dishes on the menu showcase what Chef Amit believes are the best offerings from each region, often deeply rooted in the area’s rich history and traditions. The Kid lamb leg shami kebab alone will transport tastebuds to the large city of Lucknow where this dish has been prominent for around 200 years having developed from Persian travellers bringing spices and herbs to the region.
Working in perfect harmony with the menu, sommelier Nick sets out to prove that old world wines can work perfectly with Indian spicing. Shedding the old formula of beer or Riesling being the most appropriate match, Nick’s interesting selection demonstrates how the tannins of light or medium bodied red wines with berry notes serve to calm and balance spices, complementing and enhancing the notes of the dishes.
Meanwhile, big bold red Bordeaux wines pick up different elements of the dishes due to their nature of the blends. The fruitiness complements the red meat, while other varieties complement the smoky nature of the tandoor cooking.
Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/old-world-french-wines-meet-regional-indian-spicing-tickets-687442818977
4 Greycoat Place, Westminster, London, SW1P 1SB
020 4549 1906
