Essay title: Beverage Pairing - Individual Report

Student number

Date: 15/10/2022

Unit title: Oenology

Unit code: 5Z4Z0027

Lecturer: Ms. Lilla Fullop

Abstract: According to Harrington (2005), the selection of appropriate wine and

food pairings offers operators the opportunity to increase the gastronomic satisfaction of their
guests as part of the dining experience. Through this report I present an approach to beverage
and food pairing based on culinary and sensory considerations, illustrating the potential of a
balanced approach to pairing. I will discuss the menu, the flow of dishes, their taste profiles,
textures and the key elements of food. I shall also discuss in depth about the components,
textures, and flavours to keep in mind while pairing appropriate beverages. The intent of this
report is to provide a toolkit of ideas, concepts, and knowledge for identifying key elements of
wine and food pairing.
Table of Contents

1. Introduction to Wines and Beverages

i) Alcoholic Beverages
ii) Non-Alcoholic Beverages

2. The Restaurant
i) French Laundry
ii) Chef Thomas Keller

3. Analysing the Menu and Pairing Drinks

i) The Menu
ii) Oysters and Pearls
iii) Garden Vegetable Salad
iv) Nova Scotia Lobster Galette
v) Charcoal Griller Japanese Wagyu
vi) Chocolate Malt Brownies

4. Pricing

5. Selling Point and Marketing

6. References

Introduction to Wines and Beverages

As stated in 361 Degrees Hospitality (2014), beverages are liquids intended for consumption. They may
be in the form of stimulants such as tea, coffee, milk, or soft drinks such as soft drinks, juices, and
water. They are broadly classified into the following categories :

• Alcoholic Beverages
• Non-Alcoholic Beverages

(Table reference - 361degreeshospitality, 2014)

Alcoholic Beverages

Alchoholic beverages existed in early civilization, and there is evidence of an early alcoholic beverage
in China around 7000 B.C. In India, between 3000 and 2000 B.C., an alcoholic beverage called sura,
distilled from rice,was used. The Babylonians worshipped a wine goddess as early as 2700 (Foundation
for a drug free world, 2011).

Alcoholic beverages are portable liquids containing 2% to 75% alcohol. They are produced by the
introduction of yeast for fermentation in substances such as fruits, grains, molasses and plant extracts.
Alcoholic beverages are divided into two categories, as follows

• Fermented Alcoholic Beverages – Wines and Beer

• Distilled Alcoholic Beverages – Whiskey, Rum, Tequilla, Gin, Brandy Vodka etc
(361degreeshospitality, 2014)

Non-Alcoholic Beverages

Non-alcoholic beverages are beverages with no alcohol content or non-alcoholic beverages that do not
contain alcohol or do not use yeast in fermentation to convert sugar to alcohol. E.g. carbonated water,
mineral water, juices, squashes, syrups, tea, coffee, milk etc. (361degreeshospitality, 2014)

The Restaurant

The French Laundry

Chef Thomas Keller went to Yountville, California, in the 90s to look for a place that could be the place
where he achives his dream to start a restaurant for Fine dining French Restaurant in Napa Valley.
Iduring his travels he stumbbled onto a two storey cottage. Once he entered it, it was love at first sight
and he knew this is the place he wanted to spend his rest of his life. French Laundry, a scottish
stoneman built is as a cottage in 1900s. The menu, changes daily, showcases French cuisine with the
finest ingredients and world class customer service. It’s been a 3 michelin star restaurant since 2007.
(Thomas Keller, n.d.)

Chef Thomas Keller

The only chef, to be born in USA and hold 2 michelin starred restaurant. The James Beard Foundation
awarded The French Laundry the coveted "Outstanding Restaurant Award" and recognized Chef
Thomas Keller as "Outstanding Restaurateur" in 2007. It’s recieved wine spectator award since 2007.
(Thomas Keller, n.d.)

(Image Reference - Yontville, n.d.)

Analyzing the Menu

The Menu

Oysters and Pearls

“Sabayon” of Pearl Tapioca with Island Creek Oyster and Regiis Ova caviar

Image Source – French Laundry, Facebook

Drinks to Pair

Alcoholic – Gin Old Fashioned ( Made with Aviation Gin )

Non-Alcoholic - Ginger’s Island with fresh Pineapple, Ginger, Lime, Mint and Angostura.

Image source, lettuce.com

Justification

A Gin Old Fashioned goes well with the light oyster dish wich is creamy. A strong punch to start the
course, it compliments the caviar’s brinyness ( Broadsheet ). If you take the main ingridients of a gin
old fashioned like juniper berries, lime etc. It makes a good mignoette that goes perfectly with the
oysters. A cocktail with the same taste profile does a brilliant job as well. ( Dillfords guide ).

For the same reason the Ginger’s Island also pairs well. According to (HamaHama Oyster Company)
oysters go well with mignonettes, horse raddish etc. And the pineapple. Lime, mint and angostura act
like a nice mignonette taste-alike flavor profile and the ginger adds a fresh and earthy notes like horse
raddish to compliment the Oyster.
Garden Vegetable Salad

Compressed Bok Choy, Shiso Leaves, Sweet Potato Miso and Sesame Dressing.

Image Source – Miss Cheese Monger

Drinks to Pair

Alcoholic - Selladore En Provence Rosé 2021

Image Source – Domain Saint Jean

Non-Alcohol – Cucumber Lemonade

Image Source – Hedi Hearts.

Justification

Thanks to it’s Fruity Flavor, this light Rose, Compliments well to fresh vegetable and light vinegraitte.
(Vinocritic.com). The wine has an enticing nose which exudes stone fruit and citrus fruit aromas. An
enveloping silky texture on the palate is balanced with refreshing acidity and bone-dry flavours of
peaches and grapefruits (selladorewine.com). This goes well with the sweet potato miso and sesame
dressing.

When it comes to the Cucumber Lemonade, the Freshness of a Cucumber very well compliments the
fresh, herby and sweet texture of the Vegetable salad.
Nova Scotia Lobster Galette

Creamed Spinach Puree, Chanterelle Mushroom Tapenade, Wilted Arroleaf Spinach and "Crème de
Champignons"

Image Source – The French Laundry, Twitter.

Drinks to Pair

Alcoholic - Puligny-Montrachet Enseigneres Chardonnay

Image Source – Vivino.com

Non-Alcoholic - Prairie Oyster Pick me Up

Image Source – Dillford’s Guide

Justification

Lobster meat can be described as a cross between the flavours of shrimp and crab, however lobsters
more exquisite and have much cleaner flavor. Lobster meat has a sweeter flavor and a less fishy taste
compared to both crab and shrimp (Rakhe,N.D). Spinach provides a fresh earthy flavor along with the
velvety and rich texture due to creaming it. The mushroom provides a hint of Umami and the Creme
the Champiognion adds a nice creamy balance and savoury profile to the dish.

Chardonnay doesn't especially have a taste of it's own but gets its aroma from the terroir. It's taste
differs, from being clean and zesty to being buttery and rich and oak aged wine. It goes beautifully with
fatty and spicy food as well. Depending on the ripeness of the chardonnay they might taste like tropical
fruits for a very ripe one like mango, pineapple and zesty and clean like green apple of lemon for the
barely ripe ones. (Vivino)

According to Vivino, this Burgundy cote de Beaune white is a creamy chardonnay and it goes very well
the dishes which are rich in texture and mild in flavour. It perfectly compliments the meaty lobster and
the pastry crust of the galette. The sweetness balances the earthiness of the spinach and it enhances
the creamy texture of the creme de champignon. (La Crema, N.D. Online)

Charcoal Grilled Japanese Wagyu

"Ris de Veau" Stuffed Squash Blossom, La Rette Potato Puree Crispy Garden Squash & Bordelaise
Vinaigrette

Image Source – San Francisco Chronicles

Drinks to Pair

Alcoholic – Stark Conde Three Pines Syrah

Image Source – Hedonism Wines

Non-Alcoholic – Proteau Ludlow Red

Image Source – Bevindustry.com

Justification

According to the Wagyu Shop (n.d) , One of the best wine pairings for fatty Wagyu meat is , a nice
shiraz, Which can present or give a desirable medium to full-bodied profile with pleasant notes of
pepper, mint and smoke, that can beautifully balance the subtle, sophisticated flavor of the beef.

Chocolate Malt Brownies

Sacher Biscuit and Marques Mousse

Image Source – Gordon Ramsay

Drinks to Pair

Alcoholic - Old Fashioned with Sweetens Cove Bourbon

Image Source – Olive Magazine

Non-Alcoholic – Black Tea Earl Grey

Image Source – Wikipedia

Justification

Combining spirits with chocolate can be an interesting change. Bourbon and dark chocolate have many
things in common. With bourbon, 50 to 60% of the flavor comes from the barrel - that's where the
delicious caramel and vanilla notes that are so perfect for pairing come from. The yeast and grain used
for distillation give us some of those wonderful stone fruit and citrus flavours that also help you create
a rich and unique pairing experience.

Pricing

The Cost of the Menu is 450 USD per Person.

If we calculate the total Cost of all the Beverages by Bottle Retail

1) Gin Old Fashioned with Aviation Gin – 25 USD

2) Selladore En Provence Rosé 2021 – 19 USD
3) Puligny-Montrachet Enseigneres Chardonnay – 50 USD
4) Stark Conde Three Pines Syrah – 50 USD
5) Old Fashioned with Sweetens Cove Bourbon – 100 USD

The value comes to 244 USD. (Binwise.com) Assuming we get approx 5 glasses from each bottle we
divide 244 by 5 to roughly get 50 USD. 400 USD for the Food + 50 USD for beverage brings the price to
450 USD per Person.

Selling point and Marketing

French Laundry Being in the California, Celebrity presence has always been there. We celebrate two
such celebrity’s brand in the special menu curated to promote these Liquors. The Aviation Gin by Ryan
Reynolds which is used in making the Gin Old Fashioned and Sweetens Cover Bourbon by Peyton
Manning and Andy Roddick to make the Regular Old Fashioned. Both the old fashioned are very
different to each other. One uses it’s fresh crips nature due to the gin and it’s spices and crispiness and
other uses it’s sweetness and oaky flavor to balance the bitterness and the sweetness of the chocolate.
Both the Owners have a crazy social media following but even better social circle. By pairing and
promoting their liquor at a 3 michelin star restaurant we market the menu and the restaurant to the
influential circle that these people hold, and promote the brand for free in exchange of their invitations
to the industry titans. And after that social media marketing will automatically take place as people,
be it celebrity or otherwise love posting pictures of the places they eat on social media to their millions
of followers.

References

361degreeshospitality (2014). Beverages & Its Classification. [online] 361 Degrees Hospitality.
Available at: https://361degreeshospitality.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/beverages-its-classification/
[Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Broadsheet. (n.d.). Pairing Spirits With Oysters. [online] Available at:

https://www.broadsheet.com.au/national/food-and-drink/article/pairing-spirits-oysters [Accessed 31
Oct. 2022].

Cappiello, E. (n.d.). This Is How To Pair Bourbon (And Bourbon Cocktails) With Chocolate. [online]
Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilycappiello/2020/01/31/this-is-how-to-pair-
bourbon-and-bourbon-cocktails-with-chocolate/ [Accessed 1 Nov. 2022].

Chefgordonramsayrecipe.com. (n.d.). Gordon Ramsay’s Chocolate marquise | Chef Gordon Ramsay’s

Recipes. [online] Available at: https://chefgordonramsayrecipe.com/chocolate-marquise/ [Accessed 1
Nov. 2022].

chrisdlink (2022). Rosé Food Pairing | Vino Critic. [online] vinocritic.com. Available at:
https://vinocritic.com/rose-food-pairing/ [Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Domaine Saint Jean de Villecroze. (n.d.). Les vins. [online] Available at: https://domaine-saint-
jean.com/les-vins/ [Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Foundation for a Drug-Free World. (2011). A Brief History of Alcohol & Alcoholic Beverages - Drug-Free
World. [online] Available at: https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol/a-short-history.html
[Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Hama Hama Oyster Company. (n.d.). Serving Raw Oysters. [online] Available at:
https://hamahamaoysters.com/blogs/recipes/19140403-serving-raw-oysters [Accessed 31 Oct.
2022].
Hearts, H. (2021). Cucumber Lemonade - Hedi Hearts Easy, Quick & Refreshing. [online] Hedi Hearts.
Available at: https://hedihearts.com/cucumber-lemonade/ [Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Hedonism Wines. (n.d.). Stark Conde Three Pines Syrah 2017. [online] Available at:
https://hedonism.co.uk/product/stark-conde-three-pines-syrah-2017 [Accessed 31 Oct. 2022].

Ho, S. (2022). The French Laundry remains so hot there’s a black market for reservations. Is it still worth
the splurge? [online] San Francisco Chronicle. Available at:
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Oct. 2022].

home.binwise.com. (n.d.). Wine By the Glass Price Formula: What’s a Glass of Wine Cost? [online]
Available at: https://home.binwise.com/blog/how-to-price-wine-by-the-glass [Accessed 1 Nov. 2022].

La Crema. (2016). Chardonnay Food Pairings Guide: Rules and Recipes. [online] Available at:
https://www.lacrema.com/chardonnay-food-pairings/.

Lettuce Entertain You. (n.d.). Sip on these Alcohol-Free Drinks. [online] Available at:
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