Boozeat x Banfi Wines at Mr Wolf, Petaling Jaya: Wine paring dinner

Sean Yoong $$$, $$$$, East/West, Reviews & Articles, Sean's Restaurant Reviews, Wine 0 Comment

This review was brought to you in part by Mr Wolf.

Creative courses, enlivened with exuberant wines: Mr Wolf, one of PJ’s most inventive modern restaurants, hosted a wine pairing dinner this month in collaboration with Malaysian e-commerce platform Boozeat and Italian wine producer Banfi, marking the launch of Boozeat’s ‘secret menu’ dining experiences.

Four-course meal

Chef Bryan Tan and his team crafted a four-course meal that underscored Mr Wolf’s strength in bringing together fresh produce in enjoyably elaborate ensembles, expertly executed: House-cured citrus salmon tartare would be delicious even on its own, but the pleasure factor was amplified with the umami-rich creaminess of a 63-degree egg, salmon roe and yuzu shoyu, complemented by the crunch of caraway mustard toast.

Next, the bounty of both ocean and land came together in the coupling of pan-seared Hokkaido scallops and luscious slow-roasted chicken, bolstered by the earthy complexities of crushed edamame, Avruga caviar and cauliflower truffle cream.

The main course was a memorable protein-powered two-way of a crusted chunk of Margaret River Wagyu striploin with onion puree, grilled baby corn and smoked Maldon salt, alongside savoury slices of roasted duck breast, shredded pork-laced pancake, sweet potato puree and tonkatsu jus.

Dessert was a can’t-fail crowd-pleaser of mango and raspberry ice cream with poached pear, berries and mixed nut crumble to revive and reinvigorate the senses. If this menu sounds tempting, it’s worth checking out Mr Wolf’s regular a la carte selection, which illustrates equally impressive ambition.

Banfi wines

Six Banfi wines were showcased, introduced by Banfi Wines brand ambassador Guillaume Blanchard. The Tener Brut N/V paved the way with a vibrant brightness, followed by a relatively gentle, delicate Principessa Gavia Gavi 2015 to balance the salmon.

A rich, round San Angelo Toscana IGT 2014 proved a versatile counterpoint for the scallop and chicken, while the powerful Belnero Toscana IGT 2012 and Summus Toscana IGT 2003 matched up well with the meats. A soft, elegant Rosa Regale DOCG 2013 stood as the perfect companion piece for the berry-laden dessert.

All these wines, including the latter five which have won awards, are available via online orders on boozeat.com – the Boozeat service is best known for delivering a well-curated selection of alcohol and party packages to customers’ doorsteps, but it’s now also seeking to work with respected eateries to offer ‘secret menu’ pairing events, similar to Mr Wolf’s. Many thanks to all the parties involved for having us here.