MLH to celebrate South African wine and cuisine

Tuesday, 28 August 2012 02:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

When it comes to wine, South Africa — especially the Western Cape — has a reputation for producing some of the finest in the world. So Mount Lavinia Hotel, the leader in winemakers’ dinners in association with Global Brands, is proud to present an indulgence in the most celebrated wines of South Africa and pairing it with a top quality South African meal on 3 September for Rs. 6,500 nett, which is inclusive of food and beverage.

The Governor’s Rooftop will be the exotic venue where Guy Webber and Executive Chef Indika will balance gourmet cuisine with sheer elegance. All elements of a typical South African dish will be fused to an evening of indulgence.

In 1998, Guy Webber joined Cape Legends as winemaker and has enjoyed considerable success ever since. Considered one of South Africa’s Pinotage masters with a personal tally of five ABSA Top 10 scores, Guy is passionate about this home-grown varietal and considers it his absolute favourite. “It bears well, colours well and gives good fruit. It’s a strong, masculine varietal that challenges the winemaker to balance power with elegance.”

The pairing of South African cuisine will be presented by Executive Chef Indika and his team, who will blend the best ingredients with Guy Webber’s celebrated wines. Executive Chef Indika endorsed the fact that the elegant menu has been discussed with Guy Webber for a custom pairing to create an exceptional dining experience.

He further stated that the cuisine is similar to a rainbow which is a mix of indigenous African dishes, the cooking of Dutch and English hence the dishes are as eclectic. For example, many traditional dishes reflect the different cultures that have passed through South Africa.

Bobotie, one of the national specialties, resembles shepherd’s pie with an Indian twist: minced meat pie topped with custard, and seasoned with onion, curry and fruit chutney. African cuisines are generally known for their rich and spicy stews, which in South Africa are called bredie and usually served with vegetables and chili peppers.

Sosaties, also popular, are pork or lamb kebabs marinated in curry. The braai (barbecue) plays an important role in South African cuisine, as it does in other parts of the continent. Braai can be everything from beef and lamb to crocodile and ostrich, often accompanied by mealie pap (maize porridge).

The country’s coastal location means fresh seafood is abundant and the fish dishes are undoubtedly some of the best offered in Africa. Common snacks enjoyed by South Africans include biltong (beef jerky) and curry-filled bread. Beer is also widely consumed, as are natural juices made from various fruits such as tangerines and passion fruit. Yes, the menu will highlight ingredients of such so that a little bit of South African could be tasted in Sri Lanka.

“If the quality of a dinner can be judged by the quality of wines poured, this indeed will be the best,” stated Anura Dewapura, General Manager of Mount Lavinia Hotel.