Michelin 2 Starred Igor Macchia x Frescobaldi Gala Dinner - (Langham Hotel, Hong Kong)

 Part of the Hong Kong Langham Food & Wine Festival 2012 events (Website: http://www.langhamfoodandwine.com/) held at a grand scale without precedent,  Langham Hotel Group are internationally well known for their haute restaurants as well as their steeped in history, highly sort after Afternoon Tea in the London Langham hotel.   The 3 Michelin starred Albert and Michel Roux brothers also have a presence in London’s Langham at Roux Landau.  The Hong Kong Langham Food & Wine Festival,  happening between the 13th to 23rd September 2012 has got me all excited this year!   Notable Chefs like Igor Macchia of 2 Michelin Stars fame from Italy,  or Albert Roux the legendary 3 Stars chef from France & London with a long history,  or the amazingly charming Hong Kong born chef Sur Sur Lee who rocked the world on Iron Chef America TV Shows and is known for his creativity and sensibility,  are all in town here in Hong Kong.   There is also Philippe Mouchel, a famous French chef who trained under the perennially 3 starred Paul Bocuse camp.   Ambitious strategy this year by Langham Group Hong Kong but real hats off to them,  and I hope this can continue for years to come.   I haven’t even started mentioning their local Michelin 2 Starred Chef Tsang from Ming Court which is one of the best regarded Chinese restaurants in town.  Can you tell I was really excited !

 

Blue and White -
Facebook coloring scheme.  

2005 Vintage -
Marchesi De Frescobaldi Brut Millesimato Trento DOC - Metodo Classico
Made using a French champagne method in Italy, with only Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, this was quite different from your typical approachable Prosecco with carbonated fizz.   More refined and slight limestone minerality.  this was more on the medium-dry style.
 

 

Stuzzichini,
To start off the night before Chef Igor Macchia’s Gala Dinner..







Foie Gras Macarons -
Surprisingly very addictive.  This was previously available downstairs at Portal Work & Play in Langham Place Hotel, Mong Kok.  I really think they should reinstate this onto the menu.. yum.







Lots of Frescobaldi wines and some sliced Ham from Spain -

 

Frescobaldi Olive Oil,  harvested from September to November annually -
It was quite grassy and lemon aromatic. 






Banquet Hall Table @ Langham Place Hotel -
Quite like the setting here actually. 
There are even twinkling star lightings above in the ceiling, 
with  a nice night view of Kowloon..







Chef Igor Macchia, 
from Michelin 2 Starred Le Credenza,  Piedmont, Italy -

Wine Guy from Frescobaldi, Tuscany -
He called one of the starting wines a ‘Womaniser’!
The Vin Santo definitely appeals to girls.







Marchesi di Frescobaldi Pomino Vin Santo (DOC) 2005
Food: Foie Gras, Astice Lobster, Ricci di Mare Sea Urchin with Smoked Potato Puree -
When the Tuscany Pomino DOC Vin Santo was served first up,  I was surprised yet reading the menu,  the pairing with French goose Foie Gras was spot on appropriate.  This had more of a tea colour than the usual amber and wasn’t too syrupy.   The dish itself was many’s favourite for the night.  The potato puree smelt smoky,  and the foie gras was cooked very well medium!   It actually paired well with the lobster and sea urchin well  ~  9/10

 

 

Frescobaldi Benefizio Pomino Bianco DOC 2010
Food: Pumpkin Soup Flavoured with Lemon,  Steamed Prawns & Rye Bread
The soup was smooth and had a refreshing lemon scent,  but somehow I thought the prawn would have been better if it was a Mediterranean Red Prawn obviously!   It is the right season for this Autumny soup and I could smell a wift of curry aroma in it somewhere…   ~  6.5/10









Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Riserva Rufina DOCG 2008
Food: Piedmont Cheese Risotto, Coffee Powder and Black Truffle
The risotto rice arrived in the rare to find all'onda wavey form,  and the al dente bite was definitely there and traditional Italian.  It has also absorbed in the black truffle fragrance during storage.  The coffee powder underneath added a twist to the dish and the strongish regional Parmigiano cheese made it all the more lovable.  A very nicely executed dish,  especially considering how the chefs had to prepare for so many people all at once for a Gala Dinner.   ~  10/10

 

Taking a Break between Courses,  we had an Asian Tenor Singer who sang Santa Lucia just like Pavarotti.. 

 

Frescobaldi 2003 Castelgiocondo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
Food: Pan-Fried Tuna Loin with Wasabi Sauce, Spring Onion and Cocoa Nibs
The wine we looked forward to the most arrived.  This table’s bottle initially tasted slightly heat oxidized,  but after a while it subsided and revealed a stunning nose of floral note and a sweet dark fruits background with freshness and just a hint of cedar.  The Tuna was cooked well,  I especially liked the cocoa nibs on the side.  Chef Igor likes wasabi,  and this was subtle enough and fits perfectly with the fish if you think about it.   ~  8/10

 

2008 Frescobaldi Mormoreto Toscano IGT
Food: Lamb marinated in Coffee, Sweet Corn Ragout and Aromatic Cress
I always look forward to a Tuscan IGT or Super Tuscans deviating from the norm,  in this case it is using the typical French Claret blend grapes.   The wine was surprisingly spicy with white pepper to capsicum,  other than that straight forward fruit driven bomb with hint of pencil lead.   The Lamb was cooked really well and doesn’t have too much coffee taste,  except for the coffee powder on the side.  Chef’s famous sweet corn ragout was loved by many on the table.   Somehow expected more coffee flavour however ~  7/10

 

 

 

2007 Frescobaldi Pomino Vendemmia Tardiva DOC,  Late Harvest
Dessert:  White Chocolate & Lime Mousse, Orange and Fresh Fruit Infusion
The late harvest dessert wine under Pomino Bianco DOC appellation has a high proportion of late harvest Chardonnay grapes,  mixed with Pinot Bianco,  Pinot Grigio & Gewurztraminer.  The  Chardonnay presence gave it more acidity than expected for a late harvest sweet wine,  the Pinot Bianco gave it the more distinctive Pinot nose,  the Gewurz for slightly spiced lychee flavour.  I was  surprised that this had a ‘sweatiness’ note on the nose actually.  This was balanced and unique, and were shipped in for this Gala Dinner event!   The dessert was also interesting by incorporating white chocolate and lime together, also a sable biscuit which was shortbread like and a crispy meringue. With an orange sauce beside it all. Yummy and very balanced!     ~  9/10





A Grappa di Brunello di Montalcino to finish the meal..
Grappas are strong but this Brunello version carried a highly attractive esther like bouquet.  For someone who can drink 85-90% Absinthe or Rum undiluted,  I think this was fine for me but it does take time to get used to it!   If you like Grappa,  I highly recommend you this.  Or add some to your espresso for a Caffe Corretto !

 

 

Price:   Meal was by Invitation from Langham Place Hotel, in Promotion of Food & Wine Festival 2012.  More details @ http://www.langhamfoodandwine.com/en/index.html

Ease of Access:   5/5  (Above MTR Mong Kok Station)

Address: 旺角上海街555號朗豪酒店
3/F, Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai Street, Mong Kok
Ph: 3552 3330