Two weeks ago, Dar es Salaam’s only revolving restaurant, Akemi staged the second of the increasingly popular wine tasting and jazz events. This time it is was ‘bigger and better’ with more wines from Qway International, Red N’ White, Upper Zonal Trading, MMI Tanzania and Mark Techno Tanzania.
Brown’s Cheese were a welcome addition to the event, providing a fantastic selection of high quality cheeses that were a big hit with the wine lovers. Annette Ngongi and The Unit Band provided amazing jazz sounds throughout the evening.
Once again, there was a selection of outstanding canapés. Some 16 choices were expertly prepared by Akemi’s Chef Bernard and his team. The flavours of the delectable Norwegian smoked salmon en-croute was hard to beat. The crusty pastry topped with cream cheese and smoked salmon was simple yet so tasty.
Lovers of sushi were treated to Chef’s sushi selection of California Rolls topped with tempura prawns tossed in a mixture of teriyaki sauce and sushi mayo with a hint of soya sauce. They were sprinkled with chopped spring onions and sweet chilli. The fried tuna and cream cheese rolls were delicious. For a sushi-obsessed foodie like me it was a heavenly selection.
There were a trio of duck canapés. The Cantonese barbeque duck with citrus preserve, the Peking duck wonton with cucumber and hoisin, together with pear and duck liver pate were outstanding!
The other canapés included panko fried prawns on cucumber salad with sesame orange and wasabi mayo; lamb and mint burger with Brie and caramelized onion; sesame crusted beef fillet with oriental dipping sauce; tuna tacos with mild chilli; and Gorgonzola and sweet onion tartlets.
There were also dessert canapés for guests to satisfy their sweet tooth. These included: fudge cake stack with praline; deep fried beignets; Strawberry mousse; and Millionaire Shortbread. The passion fruit cheesecake was one of the best versions of this popular patisserie I have tasted in Dar. These desserts are often available in Akemi’s daily lunch and Sunday brunch buffets.
Moving on to the wines, MMI Tanzania had a selection of wines which included firm favourites like Cuvee Sabourin Syrah, France and Torres Vina Esmeralda, Spain. But the standout wine for me was their new easy-drinking Bantry Bay Chenin Blanc, South Africa. This wine is aromatic with flavours of tropical fruits and firm acidity on the palate. A perfect have-on-hand-everyday-drinking white!
The popular bottle at the Mark Techno stand was the Taittinger Nocturne Sec Champagne which is a complex yet gentle bubbly made from Chardonnay, Pinot noir and Pinot meunier grapes. I think part of its appeal is the fact that it is beautifully balanced with a touch of sweetness that makes for a soft and mellow Champagne. And if you do not like your Champagne too dry (Brut) then you will enjoy this bottle immensely. And for those who like their Champagnes dry, when it is cold enough you do not even notice the sweetness. The sweet flavor in the Champagne was perfectly matched with the millionaires’ shortbread on the night. Magnificent!
At the Upper Zonal Trading stand, wine lovers could not get enough of the Van Loveren African Java Pinotage, the distinctive intense flavours of coffee integrated with chocolate and dark fruits appealed to majority of the red wine lovers. The absolute super star wine, however, was Thelema ‘The Mint’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa. Thelema’s trademark mintiness integrated with rich flavours of black currant, mocha and dark chocolate makes this a unique and stand-out wine which deserves all the awards it has received for its different vintages. Full-bodied and spicy but with a velvety mouthfeel, the wine has power and elegance. A new discovery and a keeper for me.
From the Q-Way stand attendees were treated to various fine wines, including the fantastic Marquis De la Tour Sparkling Brut. The stand out wine for me was The Terrazas de los Andes Reserva Chardonnay, Argentina. This is a very sophisticated, oaked Chardonnay that is dry and elegant. Green fruits and a toasty finish dominate the palate while the refreshing acidity balances this Chardonnay with a long finish.
I am fan of blended wines and Red N White’s Kanonkop Kadette Red, South Africa is spot on. Also known as the Cape Blend, this Kanonkop blend of Pinotage, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is a good full-bodied red with fresh but rich fruit flavors of berries which offers plenty of immediate appeal. The spicy and smoky notes in this wine would make it ideal for burgers or barbecued meats.
Well done to the Akemi team, Browns Cheese and the wine suppliers for delivering yet another fantastic wine tasting evening.
The next wine tasting and jazz event at Akemi is penciled for 20 November 2015. Send an email to info@akemidining.com if you would like to be notified when the tickets go on sale.
Photos courtesy of Moments Photography
www.moments.co.tz
