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.”