Showing posts with label Cognac Pairing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cognac Pairing. Show all posts

July 10, 2017

Hennessy X.O Odyssey 2017 with Chef Darren Chin


7 Chapters of Gastronomic Excellence at DC Restaurant



Hennessy X.O Odyssey 2017 returns with another gastronomic excellence with culinary extraordinaire Chef Darren Chin. The exclusive culinary platform makes a striking comeback with an unexpected journey of 7 Chapters of Taste for 2017.


Hennessy X.O, first bottled by Maurice Hennessy in 1870, is classified as “extra old” for its blend of 100 eaux-de-vie. Ever since the launch of Hennessey X.O Odyssey, it has been a yearly journey of exclusive showcase of the 250-year Maison’s iconic seven tasting notes paired with the finest dishes.


This year’s Hennessy X.O Odyssey 2017 is helmed by French trained Chef Darren Chin, featuring an eclectic mix of 7-course to articulate the 7 tasting notes of Hennessey X.O Cognac. From 16 July to 14 August, epicureans will able to indulge in the Hennessey X.O Odyssey 2017 at DC Restaurant.


Chef Darren, our very own culinary maestro, combines classical French and modernist techniques to feature ingredients at their peak of flavours and textures. With a comprehension of the philosophy of ‘la Jeune Cuisine’ (young cuisine), Chef Darren aims to create honest, pure and unpretentious dishes that feature nature’s bounty in its finest form.



Hennessey X.O’s seven chapters, characterized by Sweet Notes, Infinite Echo, Wood Crunches, Spicy Edge, Flowing Flame, Rising Heat and Chocolate Lull, provide the culinary platform for Chef Darren’s creative vision to this exquisite menu.






Sweet Notes

A sweet and savory composition of Botan Ebi with Heirloom Tomato Granita, Konbu, Lemon Basil & Chili Oil led to a great start of the evening, paired with HXO on the Rocks. Sheer ingenious pairing of oceanic flavours of botan shrimp with briny globules of salmon roe is lifted with a fresh tang of tomato granite with drizzle of perfumed oil evoked the sweet nuances of the chilled cognac.




Infinite Echo

Echoing the bold cognac’s complex flavours in HXO with splash of water, the Takao Cold Somen with Ogawa Bafun Uni & Truffle Celeriac Cream oozed with elegance on the palate. As one elegantly slurps the chilled silky strands of somen laced with truffle, the sublime traces of the sea from the bafun sea urchin elevated the taste to new lusciousness. Urchin made more divine with the tasting notes of the cognac…





Wood Crunches

The next sea and land sonata of “Spring” Galician Octopus, Green Gazpacho & Burnt Leeks in Dark Rye Crumbs is paired with HXO with warm water. The refine notes of the slightly warm cognac was utterly soothing, a perfect match for tender octopus flanked by sweet crab meat. The smoky char and tang of gazpacho completed the sonata.




Spicy Edge

There are at least two sides to everything in life hence we tucked into two delicate sides of snow crab paired with HXO with a splash of water. The fine cognac’s spicy peppery note is enhanced by robust sweet crab essence in both sequels.


Part 1 showed off Snow Crab Broth Infused with Herbs from our garden. The sheer intensity of crab essence proved to be brazen match for the fine X.O. Lush aroma tantalized the sense of smell, followed by the satisfaction of oceanic flavours with fine shreds of snow crab was beautiful and delicious.


Part 2 had a medley of Japanese Snow Crab, White Asparagus, Culantro “Nam Jim” & Black Summer Truffle. The sweetest snow crab meat with the season’s finest white asparagus is made even more luxurious with truffles, freshly sliced on. A refine nam jim sauce, well controlled in every possible note of savory, sweet, sour and spicy, tied up the whole dish with much finesse.



Flowing Flame

Paying homage to flavours of flame, the course of Organic Chicken, Bertutu Spice, Vegetables from our Farm & Vegetable Vinaigrettes was not only scrumptious but gorgeous at sight. The chook was sinfully tender with a crisp spiced up skin that was impeccable in flavours. The garden of spring vegetables and purees added much freshness or sweet notes and textures to the dish. The HXO with a splash of cold water and ice was well rounded and imparted a refreshing note to the dish.




Rising Heat

Italian Veal Fillet Poached in Milk and Lightly Grilled with a Foie Gras Emulsion & Red Kampote Pepper could not have been executed any better. The veal fillet was perfectly poached till tender and plush pink before finished with on the grill. Accompanied by tempura battered zucchini flower, crisp snow peas and a foie gras sauce, literally to-die-for. There’s possibly no better way than to pair this with HXO neat for pleasurable notes of fine cognac and meat. Did I mentioned that we sliced through the buttery soft veal with Laguiole steak knives of our choice?




Chocolate Lull

With every journey, there comes an end, and preferably a sweet one. Luring the finale with 100% Arabica Coffee Ice Cream, Spiced Hairy Banana, M’Hencha & Lemon Chantilly, the intensity of the coffee went surprisingly very well with HXO neat. Perhaps the cream married well with the cognac as it added decadence to the fine notes of the cognac.





The Hennessy X.O Odyssey 2017 outdo its previous years again, setting the bar high each time for another culinary adventure with the fine cognac. Each chapter soars on its own, raising above each other to reach the peak of gastronomy.

An unforgettable Hennessey X.O Odyssey 2017 by Chef Darren Chin!


The exclusive Hennessy X.O Odyssey 2017 cognac pairing is priced at RM888++ per guest. This innovative showcase of unrivaled heritage and innovative vision is available from 17 July to 14 August at DC Restaurant. For reservations, kindly contact 03 7731 0502 or 012 223 2991


DC RESTAURANT
44 Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Highlights info row image
03-7731 0502

April 17, 2014

Hennesy X.O Appreciation Grows: The Spirit of Conquest Disembarks for Johor Bahru For The First Time!











This year, Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows returns to enthrall connoisseurs with a gastronomy experience unlike any other. To be held in Johor for the very first time ever, the Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows will port into Danga Bay from 16-18 April this year. Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows is a platform that delivers the ultimate Hennessy experience through a journey of great cuisine and fine cognac that truly showcases the legacy of Hennessy X.O.


Honoring superior savoir-faire, craftsmanship and innovation in creating an elegant cognac, Hennessy X.O. captivates cognac connoisseurs today just as it did the world when it was first created by Maurice Hennessy in 1870. Pioneering the class of X.O, Maurice Hennessy established a world-renowned benchmark of quality, now prominently appreciated by discerning drinkers worldwide.







By exclusive invitation only, this year’s Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows will feature culinary masterpieces wonderfully composed by three times James Beard semi-finalist for Best Chef: Southwest and “Iron Chef Winner”, Chef Viet Pham.


Chef Pham was born in Malaysia and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from California Culinary Academy in 2002. With sufficient experience and culinary techniques under this belt, he went on to open his own restaurant in Salt Lake City, Forage, which was quickly well-received, winning Salt Lake City Magazine's Best New Restaurant in Utah in 2010 and Best Restaurant in Salt Lake City in 2011.

“Chef Viet’s conquests and dedication for perfection mirrors our own. Just as he has spent years perfecting his craft, refining recipes for the modern palate, Hennessy X.O has evolved over centuries to create the world’s finest and original X.O from the Cognac region in France enjoyed by the most discerning,” said Mathieu Duchemin, Managing Director of Moet Hennessy Diageo Malaysia.




 



Chef Viet makes his presence at a recent media pre event preview of the Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows Danga Bay Dinner to be held on April 18, 2014. At the event, distinguish guests and media were treated to a sneak peak at Chef Viet’s culinary skills as he whipped up a dish with an ingredient chosen by the attendees. It will definitely be an exciting night!









Through the years, Hennessy X.O Appreciation Grows has developed a reputation as a series of intimate engagements for the enjoyment of true connoisseurs of the World’s number one cognac. Hosted through an immaculate gastronomic experience, Hennessy X.O A.G is aimed at enhancing guests’ true knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Hennessy X.O, the world’s first and original X.O cognac.

*Stay tune for a night of Chef Viet's creations and fine cognac!



For further information, kindly visit www.hennessy.com and www.mhdm.com.my



 

September 30, 2013

Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant, Publika: A Martell Cognac Pairing Dinner at Elegantology!



My First Martell Cognac Pairing!







Exclusive and luxurious runs through the mind when it comes to both Martell and Elegantology Gallery & Restaurant! One fine evening, a few of us had the luxury of savoring an exclusive and opulent Martell Cognac pairing at Elegantology. That’s not all, the dinner was also part of Reality Bites, a soon-to-be-air program. Stay tune for the show!







Elegantology comprises of a couture gallery featuring exclusive men’s fashion and lifestyle collections created by reputable local designers and a haven for gourmands helmed by celebrity chefs Johnny Fua and Sherson Lian. A fashionable alliance of fashion and food, Elegantology is a collaboration between noted Malaysian fashion designer Beatrice Looi and the oldest cognac house Martell in effort of developing a creative space for rising talents stemmed from a mutual goal of supporting the local creative platforms of fashion and gastronomy.


The moment one walks in, the ambience at Elegantology oozes with elegance and class. Designed with various sections themed with rich décor, the mix of décor is a masterpiece of opulence. Colours are boldly match with deep rich hues of dark mahogany, navy blue, cream colors and luscious gold with hits of red. Gorgeous crystal chandeliers strung above together with gold frames. Plush sofas mixes with leather ones. Spread across the whole space are pieces of elegantly tailored menswear injected with modern touches. A long bar sits on one end nearly opposing an open kitchen where chefs are seen discreetly cooking up a gastronomic menu for guests.







As this was a Martell Cognac pairing, our evening kicked off with dainty and delicious canapés prepared by both chefs Johnny and Sherson paired with Martell VSOP and Martell Cocktails. On a personal note, I really enjoyed the Martell Cocktails as both were smooth and fresh.









Dinner was hosted by Christophe Pienkowski, Brand Development Manager for Martell. With a chef background, Christophe was a charmer with plenty of knowledge of Martell Cognac. We were thoroughly briefed with the history of Martell and the various cognacs we had paired with various courses that evening.







Amuse Bouche of White Gazpacho with Grapes and Almonds served with Salmon Tartare

A bite that whets the appetites, we enjoyed this with a first taste of savory salmon tartare before downing the shot of silky nutty white gazpacho to freshen up our palate.







Hokkaido Scallop, Cauliflower Puree, Fish Skin Cracker & Fined Mixed Mesclun

A large Hokkaido scallop, nicely seared on both sides, is paired up with ultra-smooth and creamy cauliflower puree. An abundance of sweetness of the sea with savory sweetness of the cauliflower elegantly punched up with salty globules of salmon roe filled my palate. Fish skin cracker and mixed mesclun provided some textures to the 1st teaser.








Martell Cordon Bleu

Both were paired with Martell Cordon Bleu, a legendary cognac that has a rich golden copper hue. As both courses featured the ocean’s flavors, it goes really well with this complex and yet mellow cognac. I had my cognac on the rocks which exuded a vibrant palate with the seafood. A nice long finish with various notes is savored in the Cordon Bleu.







Foie Gras Veloute with Smoked Garlic Toast & Citrus Tomato Salsa

Velvety and luscious bisque executed with such finesse sums up the Foie Gras Veloute. A spoonful of this decadent goose liver swirled with cream sent neurons of flavors to my mind. Accompanying the bisque are crispy thin smoked garlic toast and a little tomato salsa to balance out the richness of the nutty and creamy liver sauce.







Martell Chanteloup Perspective

I can’t help but to notice the beautiful bottle of the Martell Chanteloup Perspective etched with silver design and the prestige Martell logo. With a slightly darker hue than the first cognac, this extra quality cognac proves to have a smoother palate filled with fresh and dried fruits with long finish. It does paired will with the luscious goose liver veloute since both are extremely rich and powerful in flavors.







Sorbet of Passion Fruit Granita

Our palate cleanser was tangy and fresh with bits of passion fruit pulp and seeds for crunch.







US Black Cod with Butternut Pumpkin Gnocchi, Chili Oil & Classic Cream Carbonara

Though I did not choose this main course, I couldn’t keep my eyes of it. It certainly looks good enough with a thick piece of cod seared and topped with golden pillows of pumpkin gnocchi, salmon roes and a pool of creamy carbonara sauce.







Master Kobe MB10+ with Natural Beef Jus, Fried Glutinous Rice with Muscovy Duck & Arugula Leaves

The pièce de résistance of the dinner… the holy grail of beef with a marble score of MB10+ is served with creamy beef jus and morel mushrooms. Sitting on the side in a tuna-look-alike can is fried sticky glutinous rice amped up with bits of duck, mushroom and fried shallots. An odd pairing of East meets West but I do admit to like both individually. Leaves of arugula lend a bitter edge to the dish.








Martell XO

The color is really deep and dark copper and has a spicy aroma with rich fruit flavors. It has a silken finish and lingers beautifully on the palate. A great pairing with beef as the XO is rounded and powerful with an elegant note. I also like the glutinous rice which has a light sweetness that seems to be a great match with this Grand Champagne eaux-de-vie cognac.







Baked Cheesecake with Fireworks Crumble, Kumquat Confit in Tarragon Infused Syrup

A deconstruct inspired baked cheesecake, our desserts had our taste bud popping like fireworks in our mouth. Immediately, I recognized pop rock candy in the firework crumbles as I use to enjoy these candies during my childhood days. Silence at the dining table meant this dessert was a crowd pleaser and I can see everyone’s plate polished clean of the cheesecake with an interesting kumquat confit.

We enjoyed our dessert with the elegant and very structured palate of Martell Chanteloup Perspective.







My first cognac pairing dinner and it was quite an experience to be able to have a deeper insight on the renown and oldest cognac house in France. Dinner was equally beautiful and both Chef Johnny and Chef Sherson managed to create a bold and creative menu to be paired up with the exclusive Martell cognacs. Thanks to Martell and Elegantology for the lovely dinner and I am looking forward to more creations from both chefs since the menu at Elegantology changes every two weeks and also Reality Bites from AFC!

For more information on Martell, please visit their website: http://www.martell.com/en/




ELEGANTOLOGY GALLERY & RESTAURANT
35, Level G2, Publika,
Solaris Dutamas,
1, Jalan Dutamas 1
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 6206 5577 (Restaurant) / 603 6206 5599 (Gallery)


Business Hours: Mon – Sun 10:00am to 12 midnight