Ken Forrester says, “food and wine pairing is pretentious nonsense”, but points out that some combinations are cast in stone, like Chenin Blanc and seafood; especially shellfish like shrimp, lobster, prawn and crab. It is for this reason that the starter for the Ken Forrester Wine and Dine event at Cape Grace on the night of the 25^th May, is grilled prawn and lemon scented risotto with chilli salted sweetbreads and spiced mango espuma. This combination will truly compliment the FMC 2009 Chenin Blanc, whose soft pliable nature can take something a little spicy. Forrester says this Chenin is the greatest to come out of Stellenbosch since 2000.

The whole evening is dedicated to the pleasures of good food and wine, planned by two experts; Cape Grace Executive Chef Malika van Reenen and Ken Forrester himself. For the main course, Forrester will present The Gypsy 2007, his iconic red blend of Grenache and Syrah. Barrel-aged for 2 years, it is typical of Rhone-style blends, with a strong red-fruit focus of plums and cherries. The Platter Guide describes it as, “big boned with generous layers of dark spicy fruit and leather with haunting length” and it will be served with grilled fillet of beef, porcini mushrooms and bone marrow jus.

Back to Chenin for the dessert (they don’t call Ken Forrester the ‘Chenin King’ for nothing), but this time in the guise of Noble Late Harvest. Despite its sweetness, the wonderful fruit-acid balance leaves your palate really clean and its popularity is such that the current vintage is completely sold out. This means Ken Forrester had to find stock especially for this wine and dine event, which is the Woolworth’s Reserve Ken Forrester Noble Late Harvest 2008.

To make your reservation for the Ken Forrester Wine & Dine event taking place at Signal Restaurant on 25 May, call Rene Chitter on +27 21 410 7097 or email renec@capegrace.com.

Here’s the menu again in full:

Arrival

Kataifi wrapped kingklip

Spiced guava compote, scallop ceviche, avocado mousse

Ken Forrester Sauvignon Blanc 2010

Starter

Lemon scented risotto, grilled prawn, chilli salted sweetbreads, spiced mango espuma

The FMC 2009 Chenin Blanc

Main

Grilled fillet of beef

Porcini mushrooms, bone marrow jus

The Gypsy 2007 Grenache – Syrah

Dessert

Vanilla cream pannacotta, roasted pineapple, coconut crumble

Woolworths Reserve Ken Forrester Noble Late Harvest 2008