The Restaurant
I love dining in Mayfair, the restaurants I have been to around this area are always top quality and the location is just oh so beautiful. Today Corrigan’s is my choice; the lighting is dim, the leather seats are oh so plush and there is a mix between old gentleman’s club and a hunter’s cabin in the country. It looks to be an enjoyable night.
I am seated and have a great view across the main dining room.
Some bread and rich cheese canapes are brought out to start before we head into the menu.
Entrée
Shellfish Cocktail with Tempura Prawn
The seafood cocktail is a refreshing “by the beach” kinda dish. The cool lettuce and salad base pairs well with the soft silky rich shellfish (the crab in particular was a pure dream to eat). Then there is a lovely textural contrast from the tempura prawn which commences with the crunchy coating before revealing the sweet meat of the prawn, a pure delight indeed. There is some tangy seafood dressing on the side which I use sparingly so as to let the true flavours of the dish shine.
Domaine Laroche, Chablis 1er Cru Vaudevey, (2013), Burgundy, France
This wine is a good match for the dish. There are beautiful aromas of white peach with a light hints of almost “sea-like” saline notes which prove very alluring. On the palate there is a sweet wonderful flow of stone fruit flavours, hints of butter and roasted nuts. There is sufficient acid in the wine to match the richness of the shellfish and it flows into a lovely finish.
Main Course
Dartmoor Venison, Blueberry, Red Cabbage & Kale
I have the Venison which is full of its distinctive bold gamey flavour with a juicy centre. The charred outer part of the meat leaves a lovely smoky residue. It is flavoursome but firm, consistent with the leanness of the meat. The accompanying puree is sweet and offers a lovely textural contrast. The kale and root vegetable provides some crunchy texture to the dish along with rich earthiness of flavours. It is a well executed “classic game” dish.
I do have a buttery potato mash on the side, which is moist, buttery and creamy and provides a touch of comfort for the evening.
Chateau Les Ormes de Pez, Cru Bourgeois Classe, (2007), St Estephe, Bordeaux
It is always nice to try an older wine which is a little bit special. Being a solo diner I am often restricted to wine by the glass or half bottles and typically the most premium wines are not available on this basis unless its a matched wine course. However, Corrigan’s use a Coravin technology to reduce the oxidisation that effects wine by glass for premium wines and deters restaurants from offering them by the glass. The Coravin Wine System allows you to pour your favorite wine by the glass, without pulling the cork out of the bottle. A unique touch and a lovely way to enjoy that premium drop by the glass.
On the nose this particular wine has good waft of fruit with wonderful blackberry and floral notes with a gentle intermingling of sweet spice. On the palate the wine a good flow of fruit (blackberry with a delightful streak of cassis) which is starting to make way to good hints of herb, bitter chocolate and tobacco notes. There sandy-like “grainy” tannins which flow through with each sip into a slightly dry finish.
In terms of its pairing with the dish: The fruit along with the bitter chocolate and lovely tobacco notes were perfect for the Venison, however the wonderful tannins were a bit lost with the dish, given the leanness of the venison. It was nonetheless a lovely drop.
Dessert
Prune and Armagnac Soufflé with Vanilla Ice Cream
Anyone who knows me best, will know that I am a soufflé person and today is no exception. This is classic of the South-West France region. The prunes endow the soufflés with their sticky texture, rich sugary flavour and the lashing of the Armagnac provides a beautiful jammy syrupy streak through the light fluffy soufflé. It is a classic Gascony combination melded into the soufflé. The ice cream acts as a great balancer of flavours to the dish.
Some sweet treats are brought out to finish the evening, which is oh so wonderful. The mini macaroons and chocolate truffle provide a sweet light touch to end the night.
Corrigan’s proves to be a delightful affair indeed. The food was beautiful, there were great wine experiences and of course I do love good game meat and Corrigan’s did not disappoint. It is situated in a lovely part of town and I wouldn’t wish to be anywhere else when I’m in ole’ London Town.