MASTERCLASS
Rice, Rice Baby
If all the back-to-school chat has piqued your thirst for learning, we recommend checking out one of the masterclasses at Lucky Cat. Gordon Ramsey’s Grosvenor Square eatery was inspired by his travels through Asia, and prides itself on serving up exceptional food as part of an unrivalled dining experience – inspired by the 1930s Tokyo kissas and Shanghai’s drinking dens. Experiential dining, inventive cocktails, and a thriving entertainment roster are cornerstones of the dining experience here, and as part of that, diners can choose from a variety of workshops designed to deepen their understanding of Japanese cuisine. From hands-on sake tastings to sushi masterclasses, these intimate sessions promise a fusion of practical skills, cultural insights, and delectable food and drink. We love the sushi masterclasses, which delve into the secrets of making this much-loved Japanese delicacy. From knife skills to presentation, in a small group, you’ll get hands-on, before tucking into the fruits of your labour, alongside a selection from the restaurant’s own Sushi Masters. And you’ll even receive a special gift at the end. Now that’s the sort of lesson we can appreciate.
10 Grosvenor Square, W1K (020 7107 0000). Available to book on Fridays from 3-5 pm, priced at £195 per person. To book, see gordonramsayrestaurants.com/lucky-cat/masterclasses
EXPERIENCE
Dining through the decades
Get your hands on some tickets to an exciting new series of supper club events at Firmdale’s Number Sixteen hotel in South Kensington. The Dining through the Decades series sees executive chef Joe Fox team up with food historian and author Eleanor Barnett to serve up an irresistible slice of history. The relaxed dinners will be hosted in the hotel’s Orangery, overlooking the leafy, private garden; each event promises a delicious four-course dinner, inspired by three distinct periods in history, all accompanied by a selection of drinks. First up, later this month, an evening with the Victorians – a fi tting starting point given the hotel’s origin as a Victorian townhouse. While diners tuck into a menu including the likes of smoked eel and soda bread, pea soup with bacon and herbs, and fillet of turbot with wilted coastal greens and oyster sauce, Eleanor will give a fascinating talk about the era, touching on how class divides influenced Victorian food, as well as the growth of the British Empire which brought about exciting new dishes and ingredients. Much more fun than your average history lesson!
Dining through the Decades: The Victorians will be held on 19 September priced at £85 per person. To book, see firmdalehotels.com/a/what-s-on/dining-through-the-decades-supper-club
WINE
Last of the summer wine
Feeling nostalgic for those halcyon holiday evenings spent sipping wonderful wines in the balmy Mediterranean breeze? You might like to check out Porta 6 Winemaker’s Selection White Wine, which launched earlier this summer. It is produced with grapes harvested in vineyards located close to the ocean north west of Lisbon, where the cooling coastal breeze keeps temperatures moderate and the resultant wines are fresh and balanced. Porta 6 Winemaker, Mauro Azóia, has crafted this delicious blend from a combination of local grape varietals, Arinto (30 per cent) and Viosinho (25 per cent), alongside international favourites, Viognier (25 per cent) and Chardonnay (20 per cent). Bright and aromatic, bursting with fresh tropical and citrus lime fruit flavours, it is soft and easy drinking, making it an ideal pairing for fish, seafood, pasta, chicken, salads and soft cheeses. We love the label almost as much as the taste – painted by Lisbon-based street artist Hauke Vagt, it depicts the cheerful-looking yellow trams his city is known-for. Go grab yourself a bottle and enjoy the last of the summer sunshine this September. Cheers!
Available from Tesco, Porta 6 wines are exclusively imported to the UK by Guy Anderson Wines (guy andersonwines.co.uk)
