Pinotage and Paneer

Has Pinotage found its culinary corner? Tasting the new menu at Bombay Brasserie at the Taj Hotel yesterday afternoon, it became clear that Pinotage has the presence to deal with the milder offerings from the kitchen of Harpreet Longani. Dak Bunglow, an Anglo Indian chicken dish reputedly the favourite of Bungalow Bill Wiggins (not much on top but plenty down below) one time husband of diva Joan Collins, was a dish made in Dallas for Amanda Harlow’s Wildekrans 2011 Pinotage. Wildekrans won all the Pinotage prizes this year: part of our Naughty Boy exhibition, Absa Top Ten, Decanter dazzler and the fig leaf of David at the Michelangelo Awards.

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The most hedonistic dish is truffle scented tandoori mushrooms Bhatti ke Khumb which pairs well with a younger lover/twink and Diemersdal Pinotage 2012 – pheromones leaking all over the place – while the variety of paneer is palate boggling.

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Pinotage and paneer (Lal Mirch, Tawa Masala with jalapenos and Kulcha) is a natural while plutocrats can splurge on tandooi Ajowan crayfish tails and Back Roads Pinotage 2012 from Black Elephant Vintners. Not sure about elephant tikka though, unless it was served up with tellicherry peppers and fenugreek.

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When ABSA takes their five Perold Cape Blend winners to a wine producing country next year, they should focus on BRICS and visit India. KWV in Kashmir, Vijoensdrift in Veranassi, Sumaridge in Simla, Anura in Andhra Pradesh and Clos Malverne in Calcutta. 1.3 billion Indians are waiting.