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OMGD China Dinner

Bailliage of China
Beijing, September 7, 2019

'The Basque instinct' at China World Hotel
" To relive the spirit of 1610, we tasted our wines while listening to music written for the court of Louis XIII "

In celebration of the 56th anniversary of the Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs (OMGD) the OMGD group in Beijing hosted a "Basque Instinct" dinner. The theme of this event was French history. The year was 1610 - a time of political turmoil, two great kings, and a royal guild of “Rôtisseurs” whose memory we honoured.

We tasted two phenomenal Basque wines - one from Jurançon and the other from Navarra - both from places with personal connections to Henry IV and Louis XIII of France. And it was in 1610, a pivotal year in which the French crown was passed from Henry IV to his son Louis XIII, that the Guild of Rôtisseurs, to which the OMGD traces its historical roots, received its Royal charter and coat of arms.

To relive the spirit of 1610, we tasted our wines while listening to music written for the court of Louis XIII.

Maiker Valdivia, Executive Chef of Aria at the prestigious China World Hotel, brought to our table a sumptuous dinner that told culinary stories especially from the Basque city of San Sebastián where he spent most of his life, and from Chile, his country of birth.

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Amuses-bouches
Black truffle croquetas and crumbs
with beetroot mackerel tartare
Crémant de Limoux Brut 'Cuvée Thomas Jefferson' 2015
(Chardonnay blend) - Gérard Bertrand

Duo of starters from the sea
Donostiarra-style crab with avocado basil aioli

Confit of seared scallops with lemongrass
coral, onion sand, seafood soup reduction
Irouléguy Domaine Brana 2015 (Gros Manseng)

Marinated sardines
orange, piquillo pepper confit, piparrak spheres
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado 2018
(Hondarrabi/Beltza blend) - Getariako Txakolina

Cohiba-smoked slow-roasted pigeon
plums, apricot crumbs
Marqués de Riscal Reserva 2012 (Tempranillo blend)

Roasted herb-encrusted loin of lamb
Garnacha wine reduction, figs, heirloom carrots
potato, charred onion purée
Viña Zorzal Old Vine Garnacha 2017 - Navarra

Roasted suckling pig
apricot coulis, grilled oyster mushroom, macadamia nuts
Irouléguy  'Herri Mina' 2015 (Cabernet Franc) - Famille Berrouet

Apricot parfait, coconut dacquoise, banana/apple compote
Jurançon 'Cuvée Marie-Louise' Vendange Tardive 2014
(Petit Manseng) - Château Lapuyade

Our culinary journey criss-crossed the Pyrenées to draw inspiration from the French and Spanish Basque regions. Of particular note was the sardines dish which was artfully constructed with colours of red, green, yellow and white thus perfectly representing the Basque flag.

Congratulations and thank you to: Chef Maiker and his excellent brigade; Sommelier Gary Zhang; the staff at Aria; and our wine suppliers in New York: Chambers Street Wines, Astor Wines, Park Avenue Liquor, Wainscott Main Wines & Spirits, Warehouse Wines & Spirits.

Vive la Chaîne!

Michael Delacruz
Vice-Échanson

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