This is just a taster of some of the tasting events we enjoyed in 2006.
A dark but cosy night in January saw a candle-lit evening Classic Fondue Savoyarde kicking off the New Year. With a suggestion that guests had been up a mountain, skiing all day, mastering all the black runs, no doubt feeling a little tired, exhilarated but above all HUNGRY. Fondue with all the trimmings and an excellent chignon La Marechale wine from the Savoie made it into a perfect evening.
On the 25th we celebrated a whisky laced Burns Night with Compass Box Whisky with Bob Thwaites reciting an 'Ode to a Haggis' in his own indomitable fashion
February 14th we invited you to venture back to Swinging London to visit Patricia’s first foray into the food scene; a restaurant she opened with her two brothers at 23 Brook St in 1967, called ‘Mr Love’. It was a fantastic evening and we all enjoyed classic 60’s fare, with a updated twist, Prawn Cocktail, Port & Melon, Escargot and then the original ‘Mr Love Burgers’ or for the more ‘sophisticated’ ‘Veal Patrician’
March saw the first in as series of informative butchery work shops held in conjunction with Ginger Pig. We started with pork, it was a fabulous chance for them to impart their knowledge of husbandry and rare breeds, guests were taught the importance of provenance & seasonality to give you true taste of real farming by a real farmer! All followed by a delicious dinner at LA FROMAGERIE based around the workshop
April saw the start of our Spring events with a Tutored Spring Cheese & Wine Tasting focusing on spring and early summer goat’s cheeses from England, France & Italy. Towards the end of the month we enjoyed the next Ginger Pig workshop and dinner with spring lamb.
May was all about poultry with our next Ginger Pig workshop where we were shown all the different ways to prepare various poultry including chicken, duck, pigeon, guinea fowl, poussin, goose and cornish hen with all methods of preparation such as stuffing, boning & marinating. The dinner at LA FROMAGERIE following was a feast of roast guinea fowl, polenta and wild mushrooms.
June saw the last in our series of butchery workshops with Ginger Pig. Guests were treated to a fabulous ‘show’ on preparing beef, followed by a stunning supper of Côte de Boeuf with Béarnaise. On the 10th we were down at Petersham Nurseries Café hosting a Summer tasting workshop in the morning situated in one of their greenhouses. Guests also enjoyed various tasting plates from Skye Gyngell’s kitchen incorporating LA FROMAGERIE cheeses.
On the 24th we went back to Castle Farm in Kent for a stunning summers day spent amongst the lavender fields, with a walking tour of Castle Farm followed by a LA FROMAGERIE summer picnic.
At the end of June we were treated to a very special ‘Super Tuscan’ Tasting Supper with producers where guests were introduced to Giancarlo Russo who sources many of the beautiful Tuscan and Sardinian cheeses exclusively for LA FROMAGERIE. The supper featured many Tuscan products sourced by LA FROMAGERIE and it was a rare chance for us to meet some of the finest producers from Tuscany and explore the region’s diverse food culture. A stunning menu was enjoyed by all which featured heaps of summer truffles to everyone’s delight
July saw the start of our collaboration with Christies Wine Education. Patricia held a tutored cheese & wine pairing evening at Chrsities with Master of Wine Nancy Gilchrist.
August was all about your summer holidays, but for those of you who did not escape the heatwave our cheeseroom worked overtime trying to keep cool, perhaps making it one of the ‘coolest’ place in London in more senses than one.
September saw a late summer cheese & wine tutored tasting. Tasting plates were comprised of soft fresh cheeses including ricotta and young goats cheeses with late summer fruits such a the perfumed Fragolina grapes and raspberries. The first of English wet walnuts and new season apples were perfectly paired with Montgomery’s Cheddar, finishing with a blue cheese plate paired with pickled damsons.
October 4th we co-hosted a Catalan Tasting Supper with Manuel Monade of Hoxton Bakery & Slow Food London. It followed a sourcing trip Patricia and Sarah had undertaken in May sourcing cheeses with the help of Enric Canut who has worked incredibly hard with small artisan farmhouse cheese producers from all over Spain. Our chef and Manuel prepared a stunning Catalan feast with over a dozen tasting dishes and a stunning Catalan cheese plate.
We also celebrated our 3rd annual fund raising Apple Dinner for Common Ground showcasing perfect English produce including Gloucester Old Spot pork, Wiltshire pumpkins, an excellent British cheese course and of course the perfect apple dessert.
October also found Patricia back at Christies, this time with Jane Hunt MW. It was a fascinating journey through the history, geography & local customs of regions around France, Italy & Spain, including the unique and varied flavours of their produce.
November as usual was about Thanksgiving a with full house celebrating American style. Chowder with pumpkin bread, roast turkey with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie.
December is all about Christmas. The shop laden with beautiful festive produce; Plum puddings, Christmas cakes, panettone & of course the cheese room, filled with Vacherin du Mont d’Or, Colston Bassett Stilton - everything for the perfect Christmas.
Tasting events will resume in the new year.
