10.6.15 American Restaurant Wins VI Copa Jerez

15 Romolo of the Basque Hotel, North Beach, San Francisco convinced the judges in Jerez yesterday with three assured and sophisticated dishes perfectly matched with Sherry. Chef Michelle Matthews and sommelier Ian J Adams served a starter of langoustines lightly poached in marinade with shavings of mojama (salt-cured tuna) infused with a consommé of tomato with saffron dressed with oil and chives accompanied by Manzanilla Pasada Pastrana by Hidalgo La Gitana.

For the main course they served fresh pasta stuffed with grilled sweetbreads, roast porcini and demisec of beef infused with licorice with a creamy purée of Jerusalem artichoke and shavings of black truffle accompanied by Amontillado Gutiérrez Colosía. Their dessert was a semifreddo of toasted orange and Marcona almonds with chocolate cream infused with Amontillado dressed with flakes of sea salt accompanied by Palo Cortado VORS Apóstoles by González Byass.

It all started yesterday at 10.00 and took seven hours for everyone to prepare their dishes and have them judged at the Atalaya catering school in Jerez, where in parallel with the Copa Jerez there was an International Salon of Gastronomy. Here leading Andalusian chefs showed the latest trends in food and there were wine and food matching workshops and Sherry tastings from some 20 bodegas.

9.4.15 VI Copa de Jerez Final in June; Hugh Hudson visits Jerez

Eight restaurants will contest the final of the VI Copa de Jerez having won their national finals. Spain, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, the UK, the USA, Holland and Russia will all be competing in the final of the top food and Sherry matching competition on the 9^th June. The competition attracts hundreds of professionals, chefs and journalists, from participating countries and is a fantastic showcase for the wines of Jerez.

For the first time, eight countries will compete, thanks to the inclusion of Russia due to its growing interest in Sherry not only in wine tourism in Jerez but also for its increasing imports. Russian cuisine will be another interesting Sherry match in this top level competition. Among the judges are such prestigious names as: Josep Roca, Heston Blumenthal, Juan Mari Arzak, Pontus Elofsson, Juli Soler, and Jancis Robinson.

British film director of Chariots of Fire (for which he was nominated for an Oscar), Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan and The Revolution, Hugh Hudson paid a recent visit to Jerez and signed a butt at González Byass as well as tasting a few wines. During his visit to the bodega he was accompanied by Mauricio González Gordon and Carlos del Rio, both members of the fifth generation of the family.

Hugh Hudson in leather jacket at Gonzalez Byass (foto:lavozdigital)

19.2.14 Iberoamerican Summit; VI Copa Jerez; Toast to Jerez

Beginning tomorrow, the Ibero-American Wine Summit will run in Jerez till Saturday. Wine professionals from all over South America, Spain and Portugal will meet with each other as well as representatives from the OIV (Office Internationale du Vin), Madrid’s Polytechnic University, the FEV (Federacion Española del Vino) and Jerez Council representatives.

The Summit is organised by the Council and the Consejo Regulador against the backdrop of the European City of Wine, and gives specialists from both sides of the Atlantic an opportunity to meet and discuss their various winemaking techniques. The Consejo emphasised the commercial importance to Jerez of having all these people in town.

VI Copa de Jerez, the prestigious competition for international chefs and sommeliers to match gourmet food with Sherry has begun. Firstly a team to represent Spain against the other six countries is being sought, then the international candidates will be considered. An elite panel of international chefs will choose the winner later in the year. This panel consists of restaurant greats such as Heston Blumenthal, Pitu Roca and Juan Mari Arzak. The candidates have to propose a menu of a starter, main course and dessert, all matched with Sherry. Should you fancy a go, visit the Consejo website www.sherry.org for details.

On Saturday Jerez will be drinking a toast to Jerez, City of Wine. The event takes place at 1.30 at the famous central bar, the Gallo Azul as just one of the many events programmed. Previous to the toast there will be a “flash mob” event in the streets by the Flamenco Academy Maria Jose Jaen. Local media Onda Jerez Radio and TV will be broadcasting the toast live as well as the Flamenco which will accompany it. If you are unable to be there, you could – and should – raise a copita to Jerez!