Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Wine Pairing Dinner with Luis Felipe Edwards @ The View, Equatorial Hotel Penang.

One of the most sold Chilean wine-labels in Malaysia- Luis Felipe Edwards (LFE) organized its inaugural wine-pairing event at The View, Equatorial Hotel Penang few days ago. The aforesaid event was hosted by The View (a French fine-dining restaurant housed within Equatorial Hotel Penang), in collaboration with Luis Felipe Edwards and The Wine Shop. The 5-course dinner costs Rm 288 nett per person and diners were treated with extravagant dinner, perfectly paired with some of the finest Chilean Wines (handpicked by LFE's wine ambassador Mr. Nick Tullet).

Note: This is a one-off event and if you are keen on participating on such events in the future, do follow their Facebook page.

Many Thanks to Equatorial Hotel Penang for hosting us that evening.



Luis Felipe Edwards' ("LFE") estate is strategically located in the Colchagua Valley, a premier viticultural region in Chile. It is the location and environment that make LFE wines so unique and delicate. In Year 2014, LFE is the most awarded winery in Chile. While LFE is established for more than two centuries (in Chile), it only entered the market of Malaysia in October 2011. Today, LFE is the largest supplier of Chilean Wines in Malaysia. Also, the label can be found in more than 90 countries at present, with UK being the largest market. In Penang, LFE wines can be found at The Wine Shop


Crabmeat and Avocado Salad with roasted Capsicum Coulis and Micro Greens

Executive Chef of The View, Equatorial Hotel- Ronney Too started the evening with a tastebud charmer. The Amuse Bouche may seem deceiving simple but it was beautifully crafted with a remarkable depth of flavor. The dish was creamy rich with a burst of Seafood sweetness. It was dressed in Mayonnaise-alike sauce with tiny bits of Avocado. Adding further enjoyment to the dish... we paired it with LFE's Family Selection Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc. The fresh, fruity wine introduced a refreshing and delicate sweetness to the dish. It was a dramatic yet elegant offering.


Escargot Ragout with Fried Eggplant

The second course was a little less successful. Stir Fried Escargot encased in an Eggplant, together with some fresh Button Mushrooms. The filling was delicious, earthy and reasonably seasoned but the skin of the Eggplant carried a hint of bitterness. The pairing wine- Luis Felipe Edwards Reserve Gewurztraminer had not done much in its aid; enhancement to the flavors was weak. The wine on its own was light and easy on the palate... zesty yet lightly oaked but not sweet. If I must choose, I'd pick LFE Reserve Gewurztraminer over LFE Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc.


Seafood Risotto with Mushrooms 

Chef Ronney's rendition of Seafood Risotto was delicious, though there were some misses. The flavors were bold and it was apparent that seafood broth was used to cook the Risotto. Unfortunately, the Rice was overcooked and thus, too slouchy and soft to our liking. The highlight of the dish was the tacky crunch of baked Cheese, which introduced another layer of crispy, cheesy and aromatic dimension to the dish. Luis Felipe Edwards Marea De Leyda Pinot Noir was served to pair with this dish. When it comes to Pinot Noir... it's either love or hate. Unfortunately, we belong to the latter group. The medium-bodied Red was a little too intense for us.


Palate Cleanser- Spicy Papaya Seed Sherbet


Pan-seared Black Angus Beef Rossini Brussels Sprout Puree and Confit Potatoes with Port Wine Glaze

The entree of the evening was Pan Seared Black Angus (medium rare), topped with a piece of creamy goodness of Foie Gras. The meat was soft and tender, little effort was necessary to slit through the meat. It was most succulent and satisfying... sinfully delicious but well-worth the guilt. We paired this wonderful creation of Chef Ronney's with Luis Feliepe Edwards 900 Blend, one of the most-praised wines under the roof of LFE. The LFE 900 is a single vineyard, plant 900 meter above sea level and is amongst the highest in the country (Chile). The climate is fresher and brighter, allowing for a slower and longer maturation; resulting in fresh wines with higher concentration of fruit flavors. We adore the harmonious flavors, everything seems to blend well in this dish. My untrained palate does not seem to appreciate full-bodied wines with intense flavors; I found LFE 900 suits my palate perfectly. 


Passion Fruit Tart accompanied with Lime Sherbet, Raspberry Coulis and Vanilla Hazelnut

We wrapped up the meal with a sweet note, the Passion Fruit Tart was absolutely lovely. The zesty filling was refreshing, a wake up call for all the boozy treats earlier before this. Our only possible criticism was the thick pastry crust. Equally revitalizing would be the Lime Sherbet, though some of us could not agree on the jolting sourness but yours truly enjoyed it to the bit (probably I was intoxicated). To balance the acidity, we paired the sweet treat with Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Late Harvest, a sweet honeyed wine that puts a perfect full stop to the meal.


Additional Information:
Address: Equatorial Hotel, 1, Jalan Bukit Jambul, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Penang.
Business Hours: 12 pm to 2:30 pm (a-la carte Lunch), 6:30 pm to 10 pm (Semi Buffet Dinner). Opens Daily.
Contact Number: 604- 632 7073

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