Food is not just the art of eating; it's an experience, a multi-sensory experience.
The Wine and chocolate experience at the Westin, Nanshan is not just a food experience; it is an all-encompassing sensory journey. Each bite of chocolate and sip of wine is a unique mouth-watering adventure.
This dish is the equivalent of “Foodie” heaven, Last week, we had the opportunity to explore this epicurean delight and we are going to share some of the highlights with you here today. Before, we get into some of the details it's important that we first mention what a spectacular venue the Grange Grill, Westin is - the first time I visited this restaurant I was completely blown away. There is nowhere else in Shenzhen that has such spectacular views in such intimate surroundings. The attention to detail and the superior customer experience make going to this restaurant an experience in itself.
Crushegrapes.cn as a boutique online wine destination, were very excited to get the opportunity to work with the Grange Grill on this special dish as the boutique and intimate experience of the Grange Grill mirrors the boutique and specialized wines that crushedgrapes.cn has to offer. Also, incorporating nuts and dark chocolate into the handmade chocolates (specifically designed and made for this special combination), allows one to indulge in this sensational experience guilt-free.
Tasting chocolate is very similar to tasting wine and therefore is a very subjective experience. So, instead of telling you what I experienced when tasting this dish, I'm going to give you some basics steps to take to make sure you have the optimum experience and then why don’t you tell us what you thought of the experience!
The Wine – Calais Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
As the fireworks lit up the sky over Windows of the World, we tasted the wine. The wine selected for this experience is the Calais Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, from a family owned vineyard in Hunter Valley, Australia. Cabernet Sauvignon is renowned for its ability to pair very well with food. Remember - Look, Smell & then Sip. This wine is a deep garnet red, it has very powerful blueberry and blackberry aromas, in the mouth, these fruit flavors persist while cinnamon and chocolate flavors start to develop. Medium tannins and a lingering finish give it a strong and full bodied presence in your mouth.
The Chocolate – A Trio of Handmade Chocolates
When tasting chocolate you need to first examine the attributes of the chocolate - note the aroma, check the shine and glossiness of the chocolate. Then break off a small piece and place it on the centre of your tongue - how long does it take to melt? Once it begins to melt, place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and move the melting chocolate around in a circular motion, make sure to coat your entire tongue - what flavors do you taste? is it tart, bitter or sour, are there any fruits or spices? How long does the flavor last in your mouth?
Now, as the flavor lingers in your mouth, taste the wine again - how does the wine and chocolate interact - is the wine more or less tannic, does the chocolate taste sweeter or bitterer? What flavors remain dominant? Now, sit back and relax and savor the delicious flavors.
Opportunity to experience the Grange Grill
So, no matter if you are looking to sweep your loved one of their feet with a romantic setting and gourmet dish or are getting together with some friends and want to try something new, this Wine & Chocolate gourmet dish will be perfect.
Indulge Guilt-Free
Remember both cocoa and red wine are high in antioxidants that help protect the body and promote good health. So, not only is this dish delicious, you can also enjoy it guilt-free!
A few highlights:
Almond Chocolate - taste the white chocolate coated almond with the wine first, then taste the chocolate and wine together, finally combine the nut, chocolate and wine together and feel the sensory explosion in your mouth.
Dark Chocolate Truffle - this chocolate incorporates every possible element of the chocolate tasting experience - the cocoa, the texture, the thickness, the sweetness, the lingering flavor - it is amazing. Then when the wine is added, the flaovrs crescendo and the chocolate and the wine have a literal showdown in your mouth!!!
Different Cocoa Levels - the wine and chocolate interact very differently in the mouth depending on the level of cocoa in the chocolate.
The Westin Shenzhen Nanshan
www.westin.com/shenzhen
25/F, Grange Grill, The Westin Shenzhen Nanshan, No.9028-2 Shennan Dadao, Nanshan District.
Reservations: (755) 26988888
Crushed Grapes
www.crushedgrapes.cn
T: 4000 472 737
Article by Niamh Given.
