British Seafood and English Wine Pairing

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
On Thursday 24th I had the opportunity to attend a taster session at the Billingsgate Seafood School located above the Billingsgate Fish Market in Canary Wharf. The afternoon comprised of pairing English wines, with British seafood. As most of you already know, I love seafood, and the opportunity to attend an event with fish as the starring role will see me there as fast as public transport and my legs will allow! 
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
The upcoming event will be on 24th October 2015, with an am and pm session each lasting 3 hours, it will be a one off event - costing £85 (totally worth it). 
I am sure it will get booked up fast once word gets out about it.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

The Seafood School is great whether you are just a foodie interested in the preparation of seafood or a seasoned professional wanting to brush up on your skillset. They are also very passionate about sustainable fishing. And they are perfectly placed, with the array of fresh seafood on offer from the market below when it is opened, so you know you will be tasting and working with the most delicious and fresh catch from around the British and European coastlines. For more information on courses available  and other work the school does follow link below.



The hosts for the tasting session were CJ Jackson Principal of the Seafood School, and author of the Billingsgate Market Cookbook (everything you need to know about sourcing and cooking seafood) and Stephen Skelton from English Wine, an English Wine specialist and wine master with over 30 years of wine knowledge and experience.  The tasting session made up of four sets of seafood canapes (fish and shellfish) paired with award winning English wines to complement each. The menu was fabulous at showcasing just how dynamic British seafood can be.

Seafood and Wine Pairing

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

The tasting started with this beautiful Vintage Reserve Rose` from Capel Down, if you like your wine with a hint of summer berries on the nose and fizz on the tongue, then  you'll love this sparkling wine.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

The canapes were light, but full of flavor, all a balancing act of letting the fish shine and not having any one ingredient over power the other, they were perfect. 
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers


Set 1: Brown shrimp (from Morecambe Bay) in hot butter infused              with mace and black pepper. 
           Smoked salmon (from Coln Valley) on rye bread.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
 Click  Pinot Gris 2014for more information on the wine.



All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers


Set 2: Steamed cockles on laverbread. 
          Queenie scallops in half shell served with beurre blanc.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
Click Three Choirs Sonnet White 2014for more information on the above wine.

I was in heaven with this combination. The scallops were soft and melt in the mouth, the laver bread was a new experience and one I loved. 

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

Set 3: Cuttlefish arancini with black ink plus paprika mayo 
         Coley (from Lowestoft) goujons in a Greenish Meantime beer           batter and mini skinny fries.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
 The Limes Dry White for more information on the above wine.

loved this set, portions were perfect as am not much of a battered fish fan but this was fantastic, the batter wasn't heavy and the fish was flakey and moist.

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers


Set 4: Gurnard (from the Isle of White) roasted with streaky bacon            Cured mackerel on samphire.

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers
Hush Heath Pinot Noir-2014 for more information on the above wine.
All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

We were also treated to a rather delectable sweet wine at the end of the session, it was really rather delicious. 

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers

I not only left with my head buzzing with new information, and my tummy satisfied, but I have found my new seaweed crush - Welsh 'Laver Bread or bara lawr'.

All rights to images reserved  copyrights Alicia Lewis @ KitchenTakeovers


The session was clear and very engaging from start to finish, with lots of laughs throughout. "To think I lived in London for so many years and never ventured to this awesome place", was my first thought once I left. If you do live in London go, grab a friend or three and go, I promise you won't regret it...

This is certainly a location I will be returning to!




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