Passione Italiana.

On Friday night I was the MC at the Passione Italiana Dinner organised by Grossi Wines and held at the wonderful Chatsworth House in the Derbyshire Peak District. Before dinner our passage from pre-dinner drinks to the Carriage House restaurant talk us through several rooms in Chatsworth House, with the guests taking several opportunities for photo calls. I hadn’t visited Chatsworth House for 20 years and it was wonderful to be back.
The menu for the dinner was prepared and cooked by Francesco Mazzei from L’Anima. There were some potentially tricky food and wine matches here, however the stand out combination was handmade cavatelli with Massara shrimps, homemade sausage and bottarga with Corte della Meridiana 2005 Valtellina Superiore DOCG, Conti Sertoli Salis, which really heightened all the mellow characteristics of this wine. I must also give a special mention to the taut, dry, minerally and classy Kerner 2010, Alto Adige DOC, Lahnhof made by Carlo Ferrini and the appassimento Pian de’ Guardi Supertuscan 2006, Toscana IGT, Fattoria IL Lago. All of these wines are available from www.clubviniitaliani.co.uk
Foodie wise the evening was rounded off with some superb Robiola Brunet,a 100% goat’s milk cheese from northern Italy and beautifully presented, fine Italian chocolates from Baruzzo.
Entertainment was provided by a real vocal talent in Gianluca Pagenelli, who combined some familiar operatic numbers with songs from his new album Tango which will be released in October. Gianluca was a real fun guy who clearly knew how to charm the ladies!