China & Calitzdorp(2)
Calitzdorp
His food and wine pairing extravaganza was called Boerekos, Port, Bollywood & Ballroom and pitted frikkadels in a saffron sauce with stamp mielies against Tinta Chocolate (a wood-influenced Tinta Barocca) from Boplaas Estateand hake fishcakes with a lentil salad and pineapple achar matched with an Axe Hill White Port made from Chenin Blanc that in another age of maiden aunts might be mistaken for a Fino Sherry.
The soup course was a spicy turmeric bean and potato served in an NGK koffiekoppie, one of the tasty ironies of the New South Africa. For Bollywood had come to the Calitzdorp NG Kerksaal (church hall) with beautiful appliqué tapestries with their naïf exposition of biblical parables (stained glass windows being too hot in the Karoo) on the walls making me think of the moneychangers in the temple and confirming that gastronomy is truly the religion de nos jours.
A soup that would not have been out of place at the China Club with curry on the menu among the dim sums, congees and crispy chicken feet. “SA wine would work in China” continued Debra – “the style fits and the price is right, which is not the case for most California wines. In addition, the Chinese government is keen to pursue closer relations with SA, which will help.”
Chinese entertain their friends in private rooms of restaurants like the China Club and “never at home. You choose a menu, bring the wine and show your friends just how much you love them.” Imagine a private room at the China Club with Debra as sommelier and François as chef – a pairing made in marketing heaven.
