The French often boast that their culinary traditions are the finest in the world. One suspects that the Chinese, with a food history that stretches back thousands of years, may have something to say about that.
Closer to home, many Italians would say that their patchwork of hugely diverse regional cuisines not only has the edge on French haute cuisine but that French food is actually Italian in origin. Quelle horreur!
Italian origins of French food
The 5pm Dining blog advises whispering this when in France but many sources say that classical French cooking was a result of the Italian Catherine de Medicis marrying the French Henry Duc d’Orleans. Rather than eat the food of the French court, which had its origins in Moorish culinary customs, Catherine brought her own chefs from Italy.
The Italian chefs, so the story goes, had a defining influence on the development of what would come to be thought of as classical French techniques.
All of which is a long winded way of getting around to telling you about a rather splendid looking wine dinner which is taking place at Zucca on Thursday 27th March.
Enrico Serafino wines
An ambassador from the innovative Enrico Serafino winery will be talking diners through some exceptional wines including a Barolo and a Barbera. Tickets cost £29.95 per person and you can book through 5pm here.
Here’s the menu:
The evening will commence at the bar with an aperitif, at 7.30pm
~
Marinated carpaccio of swordfish served with crab, avocado, fennel and orange salad
Gavi di Gavi
~
Fresh egg fettuccine pasta with braised rabbit ragu`, tomatoes and herbs
Barbera
~
Medallion of scotch beef with sautéed spinach, pancetta, mushroom and onions
Barolo
~
Chocolate and hazelnut torte with vanilla ice cream and berries compote
Brachetto