Broken Hills is an Australian label, using grapes from all over the great sunburned land, and with their winemaker Leigh Gilligan being available, the Sheraton Pattaya Resort took full advantage of this and the Broken Hills Estate Wine Dinner was the result.
With the Sheraton’s executive chef, Spencer Kells, having shown previously at a Chaîne des Rôtisseurs dinner that he was ready, the event was scheduled for the end of May.
Full marks go to Jonathon Glonek, MD Bangkok Fine Wine, Spencer Kells executive chef of Sheraton Pattaya and Leigh Gilligan, winemaker from the Broken Hills Estate.
The GM of the Sheraton, Michael Delargy, welcomed the guests and introduced Leigh Gilligan the winemaker from the Broken Hills Estate. Leigh turned out to be an affable Aussie with 25 years experience in the industry. In response to a question from one of the diners, he showed his depth of knowledge ascertaining that the first vines into Australia came with the First Fleet in 1788.
Michael Delargy, GM of the Sheraton Pattaya welcomes the guests to what was to be an excellent evening of fine wines and cuisine.
With his knowledge of the wines and the grapes and the terroire in the different regions in Australia, he selects the grapes and then makes the wines. The first two wines in the dinner were both from the Adelaide Hills, as Leigh believes that this is the best region for white wines.
The Bangkok Fine Wine’s MD Jonathon Glonek also spoke on the Broken Hills Estate wines. His company has been handling small family-owned wineries since 1994, such as Chateau Tahbilk, but it was apparent that his wine business in Thailand would take as much Broken Hills as they could get.
For many of the guests, the Broken Hills wines were well known, being one of the most usual wines drunk at the Australian Chamber of Commerce Thailand meetings, and current President John Anderson and his vivacious wife were present, enjoying them again.
Spencer Kells’ first course featured a seared scallop with a lobster truffle sauce, which was paired with an Amanda’s Brook Sauvignon Blanc 2010. This was a very light wine to go with the delicate flavour of the scallop.
Leigh Gilligan entertains Catherine and Ted Smith (GM Thailand).
The second course of crispy seared salmon bundles was bundled together with a Margaret’s Bluff Chardonnay 2009. I enjoyed this wine, which had a somewhat longer finish than the first white with the previous course.
The third course had a braised shin of veal on a pea risotto, a beautifully cooked veal, and washed down with a Bundie’s Patch Shiraz 2007 this was another great combination, and I thoroughly enjoyed this shiraz.
Jonathon Glonek welcomes Chitra and Ranjith Chandrasiri, president of the Royal Cliff Wine Club.
After a short breather, Spence Kells brought out what many guests felt was the dish of the evening, being a roasted pigeon breast wrapped in Parma ham with foie gras and creamed mushrooms. This was taken with the second red, a Crombolo’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, also from McLaren Vale in South Australia.
Mihai Cuza and the lovely Penpapasorn Eamsa-ard Senior Sales Manager Sheraton Pattaya Resort enjoy a glass of sparkles at sunset.
The final dessert course was taken with a Sandalford Founders Reserve Port NV, and was one of those ports to linger over; however, Jonathon Glonek did admit that this was not one from the Broken Hills Estates.
The Sheraton has always dressed their service staff immaculately, and this wine dinner was no exception, with the ladies in some stunning evening dresses, while the charming Marcom executive, Tritra Limpapath, was kept busy taking photographs.
Amongst the guests were Sam Armenio from Pizza Pizza and Ranjith and Chitra Chandrasiri who had hopped over the wall from the Royal Cliff Beach Resort.
It was an excellent evening and Leigh Gilligan expressed the opinion that the combinations of wine and food were some of the best he had tasted. We look forward to the next one.
Just what the doctors ordered, Somchai T.Shoke-satian, M.D. Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Narintara Boonjongcharoen, B Econ., M.D, Director Bangkok Hospital Samui.
The sunset was absolutely stunning. (l-r) John Anderson, President of the Australian Thai Chamber of Commerce (AustCham), Dr. Iain Corness, Panida Kaewpradit (McConnell Dowell Constructors Thai Ltd.), Michael Delargy General Manager Sheraton Pattaya Resort, Napaporn Lohakam (Cat) and Sergio (Sam) Armenio (Pizza Pizza Italian Bistro and Wine Bar).
Michael Delargy, Panida Kaewpradit, John Anderson, Jonathon Glonek and Peter Malhotra (Pattaya Mail) toast to goodwill and better friendships.
