Why You Should Order Chocolate With Your Steak

To celebrate Chocolate Week, Argentine-inspired restaurant Gaucho has created a special food and wine tasting menu that really shouldn’t be missed.

CHOCOLATE AND WINE

Phil Crozier- A man who knows him wine

As the fifth largest wine producer, Argentina knows a thing or two about creating a tasty red. Phil Crozier, the Director of Wines at Gaucho, has matched three chocolates to bring out the intense fruity flavours of Malbec.

My favourite was the simplest – a 70% bitter dark chocolate. The reason was given a pseudo-scientific explanation: ‘the fat and protein from the chocolate softens the wine leaving a silky and velvety texture on the pallet.’ A coffee and vanilla chocolate was also a good match, highlighting the oaky flavour. Finally a sweet violet chocolate was a little overpowering for me, but apparently ‘highlighted the Malbec’s ability to tone down the strength of the chocolate whilst the chocolate lifted the floral side of the wine.’

CHOCOLATE AND FOOD

Described as a ‘carnivore’s paradise’, Gaucho’s Chocolate Week theme holds back on its famous giant Argentine steaks for a more delicate fusion of meat, Malbec and chocolate.

First course: Braised beef cheeks with lamb sweetbread popcorn in almonds and breadcrumbs, humita and chocolate jus

Wine: Molina Mortero Malbec

My favourite part about this dish was the bed of humita (sweetcorn puree), an Inca influence on Argentina, that really complemented the beef.

Second course: Slow cooked pork belly, white chocolate and vanilla mashed potato and chocolate chilli pork matambre

Wine: Atamisque Malbec

The matambre, which is a thin cut of beef taken from between the skin and the ribs, has a pleasant amount of spice and begs to be eaten slowly with the creamy mash, which I would not have guessed contained chocolate. The pork belly is a more classic Gaucho serving, packed full of flavour and texture.

Third course: White chocolate mousse with milk chocolate crumble, fresh and frozen fruits and almond praline

Wine: Zuccardi Port Malbec

A perfect end to the meal, the mouse was served on a sugary and crunchy bed which was light but tasty.

THE VENUE

You can’t get much more central than Gaucho in Piccadilly. But while many of Soho’s eateries cater exclusively for indiscriminating tourists, Gaucho has built a solid reputation that has laid the foundations for it grow to 12 branches in London alone. Peeking onto the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street, Gaucho is situated on a (relatively) quiet side street, boasting an impressive outside area. The main room has a cow-skin design to match the Argentinian theme, with a sumptuous private room for bookings of 14 – or those lucky enough to be on a wine tasting.

The main dining room

Outside seating

Malbec on display in the private dining room

THE DEAL

The Chocolate Week Menu is on offer at all Gaucho restaurants in the UK from 14– 20 October 2013, and costs £65 pp. The Malbec and Chocolate Masterclass is priced at £30pp.

CONTACT

Gaucho Picadilly

25 Swallow Street,
London W1B 4QR

020 7734 4040

piccadilly@gauchorestaurants.com

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