TV Chef to host gourmet wine nights

The renowned Ambrette restaurants in Margate and Rye have announced the return of their popular gourmet wine tasting evenings, in conjunction with the Cranbrook-based wine and cheese merchants, Perfect Partners.

Wine and food connoisseurs have three dates to chose from, all Sundays: 27th January, 12th May and Sunday 8th September 2013, beginning at 7pm.

Acclaimed chef patron Dev Biswal will be serving a 6-course tasting menu with matched wines chosen by Perfect Partners co-owner Richard Clarke at £49.99.

“The quality of most wines worldwide has improved hugely, but they still demand rigorous selection - some of the traditional wine regions disappoint, but the new areas astound at great value,” said Richard Clarke, co owner of Perfect Partners, adding, “Our philosophy is to find quality wines, irrespective of label or country, that represent good examples of their grape variety and provenance at a fair price.”

The Ambrette is hoping to dispel the myth that you cannot drink wine with Indian food and that beer is the preferred accompaniment. Matching the right wine with the right flavours is simply a matter of chemistry.

“The reason why wines do not pair well with a curry from your local take-away is because most of these curries are highly flavoured with cooked onion and garlic containing sulphur compounds such as allicin, diallyl disulphide and diallyl trisulphide,” explained Biswal, adding, “These clash harshly with the taste molecules present in most wines.”

Dev Biswal will feature on BBC Radio 4’s Food Programme on Sunday 3rd February. The programme, which will be repeated on Monday 4th February at 3.30pm February and be available on BBC iPlayer), reports on how many senior citizens are eschewing traditional Sunday roasts, in favour of fine Indian dining, taking advantage of The Ambrette’s Senior Privilege Card, entitling them to 2-for1 lunchtime dining.

Dev will also be seen giving money saving tips on two series of Channel 4 TV’s ‘Supercrimpers Challenge’ being broadcast in February and March.

In one of the programmes Dev shows a pensioner how to prepare a gourmet 3-course meal for six people for less than £20. The starter is a nutritious nettle soup, foraged from her garden.

For more information, visit theambrette.co.uk.

The Ambrette Restaurant, 44 King Street, Margate, Kent CT9 1QE

Perfect Partners, Stone Street, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF