Coming up...

URBAN ELKERIA

Supper Club

7.30pm Saturday 23^rd February 2013

Sloe gin cocktail

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Bruchetta of

Jamon de Serrano with salsa

Medium rare sirloin beef and strawberries, balsamic reduction and gorgonzola

and a surprise

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Somerset brie deep fried in breadcrumbs, red onion marmalade and dressed leaves

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Elderflower sorbet

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Duck breast with blackberry sauce, celeriac mash and wilted spinach

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Chocolate brownies, raspberry coulee & vanilla ice cream

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Tea, coffee and mint tea

It's tapas time...Urban Elkeria visits Iberia

FRIDAY 25th MAY 2012

Pinxtos – Basque finger food / mini tapas

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Refresco de gazpacho

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CARNE

Chorizo with peppers

Meatballs

 Asturian bean and sausage Stew

FRITOS

Croquetas

Calamares

Gambas al pil pil

ENSALADA

Marinated Peppers

Seafood salad

PATATAS

Patatas bravas / Tortilla

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Paella

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Sorbet de naranja - refresco

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Chocolate torte with raspberry ripple ice cream

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Portuguese custard tarts with tea, coffee and mint tea

Reflections on Urban Elkeria's 1st Supper Club

Last Wednesday saw Urban Elkeria's first Supper Club. 


I had a lot of fun putting everything together: the shopping, finding hard to get ingredients, getting everything just right and then having a great night of serving up  a 5 course extravaganza.


Monday morning was my starting point: - a long, long shopping list and out on my bike I went, first heading into Marylebone to pick up some big sumptuous shoulders of lamb from the Ginger Pig (www.thegingerpig.co.uk). Cooking Moro style food requires very specific ingredients and Green Valley came up trumps (including rose water and orange blossom water), a Lebanese supermarket on   Upper Berkeley St. But alas they did not have nibbed pistachios (all shell and husk removed) or black cumin...the search continued!


An excellent Indian supermarket on Turnpike Lane was my saviour for black cumin but nibbed pistachio proved elusive: I had to "nib" by hand a packet, but fortunately I had a few bags from a trip to West London a while ago so an hour was saved there.


Returning home I cracked on with prep: hummus, harissa (my favourite Moro thing),  cardamom and rose water ice cream. Then a phone call - did I want as much work as I wanted from tuesday? - yes, of course but a rewrite of the cooking plan was required to fit everything in...


Tuesday came and more prep including the beetroot soup. One minor calamity as I overfilled the food processor (liquid went up and then down the blade holder) and liquid beetroot everywhere. Mop n wipe. Zoomed off to Hampstead Butcher to pick up Phil's dessert wine, then the Sampler in Islington for wine ordered by three guests, then Waitrose for final bits n bobs.


Off to work and back at 10pm and more prep, setting the table, polishing glasses, making placenames. Done. And for good measure another ice cream: - pistachio, using a River Cafe egg custard based recipe.


Wednesday came, off to work til 2pm and then back into the kitchen where the proper cooking began. Making two batches of fresh bread was a delight, kneading, proving, rolling and baking. The Moroccan bread made with honey and milk looked appetising. Had a nibble.


All set everyone arrived around 8 and got stuck into the starters and wine. Lamb done a bit ahead of time, good job I have a second oven to let it rest and keep warm.


Beetroot soup next, portions a tad too big but well received. A few decided to save themselves for the main and dessert. Understandable.


Then onto the deep fried aubergines with a goat's cheese salad and a generous drizzle of honey. Some excitement, aubergines came out just right, crispy on the outside, melt in the mouth in the middle. 12/10 Mandy said. Nice. Could have done seconds but left people wanting more....


The lamb came out lovely, very tender, the saffron rice stuffing oozing everywhere. The big fellas went straight for seconds...plenty left.


And so to dessert, the pistachio tart with the two ice creams. Moment of the night: a minute's silence as everyone tucked in.


Now 11pm, everyone sated, I joined the throng to help polish off the wine...a good night all round. And only minor carnage in the kitchen, thank goodness for dishwashers.


Tired but happy, bed by 12.30 and before I know it it is 7am and off to work at UCL. Lovely leftovers, lunch and dinner. Including 4 aubergines fried to perfection.


More cleaning, everything back to normal by midnight...Retire, exhausted! Back to work on friday, more leftovers, then off to the boozer...


So, from my perspective, a great success, the next Supper Club is likely to be late January. Ottolenghi (www.ottolenghi.co.uk), Great British, Spanish and Greek are on my shortlist. And I've had a few enquiries about hosting people's own private dinner parties. Bring it on...


Laurence

   

WINE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM HAMPSTEAD BUTCHER FOR 7TH DECEMBER

WHITE

SANTA JULIA - VIOGNIER

White / Argentina

£9.25

Rich, fruity flavour with crisp acidity. Versatile enough to accompany most foods - even chicken korma!

TRAMINER AROMATICO DEL FRIULI - BORGO MAGREDO

White / Italy

£12.30

Spicy floral and lychee aromas and a generous soft yet dry palate. Ideal with Oriental cuisine.

SOAVE CLASSICO VILLA BORGHETTI 2009

White / Italy £15.00

The vineyards of Villa Borgetti are situated on the stoney hills of Soave Classico zone facing south and southeast which makes the wines riper and fuller than most others produced in Soave.
An absolute superb Italian white with an enticing lifted nose showing succulent aromas of honey apricot and herbs. The honeyed palate shows stone-fruit flavours a slight hint of spice and a long intense finish. This is a complex Italian white that’s not to be missed.

RED

GREGORINA SUPERIORE - SANGIOVESE

Red / Italy

£10.25

The Sangiovese grape offers a fine balance between soft cherry fruit and firm acidity with good tannins to suit rich mediterranean dishes.

PINOT NOIR - SANTA JULIA

Red / Argentina

£10.25

An intense Pinot Noir with a deep colour, good fruit flavours and smooth finish. Enjoy with spicy stir fry.

LAPACCIO PRIMITIVO SALENTO 2008

Red / Italy   £15.00

Salento lies in the region of Puglia, the heal of Italy, where some fine red wines are being crafted.  Primitivo is one of Italy’s most distinctive wine styles intense bramble fruit with an earthy dense texture, ripe and fleshy on the palate with a touch flattering oak tones. It complements full-flavoured meat dishes as well as tomato-based sauces and strong cheeses.

DESSERT

CHATEAU JEAN-FONTHENILLE – LOUPIAC 2003

Dessert / France

£20.00

A delicious sweet wine with out excess sweetness. Rich with an excellent balance of acidity. A long beautiful finish. Makes a perfect dessert wine.

VERDUZZO FRIULANO - TORRE ROSAZZA 50CL

Dessert / Italy

£20.50

A deliciously fresh and peachy sweet wine to accompany sweet foods and excellent with blue cheeses.