Supper Club at The Wet Fish Café
Thirty five guests arrived on a blustery Monday evening to sit at two long candlelit tables for the ultimate dinner party. Andre the owner explained how he wanted to bring together local residents who enjoy food and wine in a more sociable atmosphere than usual. It worked; six of us at my end of the table quickly introduced ourselves and got on with setting West Hampstead and the world to rights.
Each course was paired with a wine starting with a delicate fish stew paired with a white wine from Monterrei in Spain. The main course was introduced by a wine specialist who challenged us to taste and guess the red wine selected to pair with the upcoming duck confit. My companions guessed the Bordeaux style but were pleasantly surprised to hear it was from Israel. Dessert was delicious; a modern, light interpretation of trifle. Some of my table thought the rosé wine jelly too bitter, I disagreed but found the accompanying Australian pink Moscato too sweet.
As always the serving team were super friendly and along with the kitchen coped remarkably well with delivering great food to 35 of us at the same time. I think the music could have been quieter so that people could hear one another better across the tables but I think it’s a great idea and hope another will be planned in the not too distant future.
I agree it was a great success. The fish stew starter was outstanding. My creamed cabbage was a case of too much (cold) cream to cabbage. But I didn't mind the slightly bitter wine jelly. Will definitely be coming to the next one!
Great review. I too had a fantastic time and had the pleasure of sitting across from you. 🙂 Fish stew was flavourful without being overpowering, the duck tender and crispy and the dessert just the right amount of bitter and sweet. What I cannot stop thinking about though is that Isreali wine we had with the duck. I've asked Andre to put bottle aside for my boozy lunch there on Saturday!
I wish I'd known about this…