The Staff Canteen Live 2024: Sommeliers Networking Lunch at City Social
On Monday, October 28, an exclusive networking lunch for our second sommeliers was hosted at Jason Atherton’s Michelin-starred restaurant City Social in London.
Winterhalter and Moet et Chandon sponsored the event, which brought together a select group of wine industry professionals.
The Guests
Sonal Clare, The Wilderness
Jiachen Lu, CORD by Le Cordon Bleu
Merlin Ramos, Kioku by endo and OWO
Francesca Turra, Fallow
Marta Tytek, Akoko
Valentin Bunea, Petersham Nurseries
Cong Cong Bo, Amphora
Nuno Pereira, The Five Fields
Steve Locklin, Simpsons Restaurant
Ernesto Gabriel, Nomadic Flavours Ltd
Nathan McCormick, Rafters Restaurant
Inaa Sin, Sollip
Giuseppe Grasso, Alex Dilling at Hotel Café Royal
Sam Weatherill, Etch by Steven Edwards
Emanuel Pesqueira, Pesqueira Global Luxury Hospitality Consulting & Management
The Menu
The menu, designed by chef Paul Walsh, was carefully paired with wines from Moet et Chandon cellar.
Truffle mozzarella arancini & truffle mayonnaise
Crispy confit potato, black garlic emulsion, salt & vinegar
Chicken Karage, Jalapeños, Dallas sauce
Aperitif of Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial en Jeroboam
ooOoo
Orkney scallop tartare, Granny Smith apple, wasabi, winter Citrus
Served with Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015
ooOoo
Cornish halibut, saffron & fennel compote, crispy squid,
bouillabaisse Marseillaise
Served with Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016
ooOoo
Herdwick lamb, butternut squash, cavalo nero, lavender
glazed Roscoff onion, haggis, neeps and tatties
Served with Moët & Chandon Collection Impériale Creation NO. 1
ooOoo
Pineapple, passion fruit and spiced rum vacherin Petit fours
Served with Tea & Coffee
Jacqueline Kobald, champagne ambassador for Moet Hennessy in the UK, remarked on the success of the event, saying, "It’s been incredible. Bringing communities together, being able to engage with all these incredible sommeliers, being able to share and taste our champagnes.’ Jacqueline continued, “Champagne is such a versatile drink, and we wanted to showcase that.”
Stephen Kinkead, managing director of Winterhalter, was equally impressed, saying, "Today has exceeded all expectations. It’s been perfect. Moet has been the perfect partner at these lunches; it’s not about the hard sell – it’s a very natural, relaxed lunch environment.”
Sonal Clare, the wine director at The Wilderness in Birmingham, attending his first networking lunch, praised the event bringing 15 sommeliers together “ to taste great food and champagne as well as meet new people with a common interest.” Sonal continued, “All the food was fantastic, but if I had to choose a favour course, it would have to be the Orkney scallop tartare, Granny Smith apple, wasabi, winter Citrus. served with the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2015.”
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The Staff Canteen Live 2024: Sommeliers Networking Lunch at City Social
