Victoria Inn's 5th Anniversary Dinner

Nigel presented the wines at another anniversary the following evening, this time at the Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe, where Stewart and Anna were celebrating five years at the helm. Stewart, classically trained by Raymond Blanc, is the epitome of a star chef-patron and it really shows in his assured and inspirational cuisine. The excellent dinner featured duck and duck eggs from the Cornish Duck Company at Grampound Road, whose owners  Roger and Tanya gave a brilliant presentation on their life as duck farmers.

They are true food heroes producing happy ducks for very happy chefs throughout the Westcountry. Once again Urgoiti Rioja Crianza 2005 did a fine job on the duck breast main course while the restrained oak and buttery mouthfeel of the Wakefield Estate Clare Valley Chardonnay 2008 was good match to a crispy duck egg starter. Mike’s suggestion for the rhubarb dessert was the creamy, prosecco-like Mionetto Legatura Frizzante Rosato and it worked very well (much to Nigel’s annoyance as he had been a touch sceptical).

Mike was supposed to have presented this dinner, but was taken ill the day before. Since then our dear Henry has also been off ill, so we were a bit rushed last week. Apologies, therefore for not posting earlier, but we are back on stream now!