Having enjoyed Anna Hansen's dishes at her recent collaboration with Atul Kochhar at Benares, we're keen to try more of her food and the launch of a series of wine tasting menus at her Clerkenwell restaurant, The Modern Pantrymay tempt us to do just that. The menu for the first one - a Riesling Spring Tasting Menu (printed below) sounds frankly marvellous and with four small glasses of wine and a shot of dessert wine included, the price of £80 is pretty mid-level as far as wine tasting menus go.
The menus have all been designed with the help of wine consultant and Financial Times writer Bill Knott and the Modern Pantry's GM Candi Giacchetti. Upcoming menus include Natural Wine Selection which runs from mid April until the end of May, Best of British (June & July), Bad Press Grapes (July & August) and Wines from New Zealand (September & October). All will be served in the restaurant's upstairs dining room which has been given a spruce up in honour.
Tempura battered oysters, shiso & shichimi saltBlack fried squid
A glass of Bernkastler Badstube, Kabinette Riesling 2007, Mosel, Germany (125ml)
Seared King oyster mushroom, yuzu & tamari, kimchee & manouri pot sticker
A glass of Albert Mann, Riesling 2009, Alsace, France (125ml)
Sole Duglere, umeboshi & fresh coconut, lemongrass broth, monks beard
A glass of Riverbrook, Pyramid Valley Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand (125ml)
Poppy, caraway and black onion seed dusted guinea fowl breast, Iranian lime & smoked anchovy dressing
A glass of Cascabel, Riesling 2010, Eden Valley, Australia (125ml)
Yorkshire rhubarb, stem ginger ice cream, cashew, curry leaf & mustard seed praline
A glass of Pegasus Bay, Encore Noble Riesling 2008, Waipara Valley, New Zealand (100ml)
The Modern Pantry chocolate truffles
Newby Tea or Caravan Coffee
