Oysters at Wright Brothers in Soho

In my enviable task of trying different wines with oysters I found myself in Wright Brothers restaurant near to Carnaby Street in London.  They specialise in oysters and offer a range of native and rock varieties according to season and availability.  We tried two different types of rock oyster.  The Cumbrae oyster, from Scotland, was slightly creamy with a medium mineral finish.  The Speciales de Claires from France were sweeter which, I was informed, results from them spending some of their life in fresh water. In both cases, as a bit of a purist, I only added freshly squeezed lemon juice, so the shallots in red wine vinegar remained untouched. The chosen wine was a 2011 'single vineyard' Hilltop Pinot Grigio from Hungary.  This crisp fresh wine worked very well with the oysters. 

Oysters with Picpoul de Pinet

A popular wine to accompany oysters, as recommended on Twitter by Waitrose, Majestic Wines and Languedoc Wines was Picpoul de Pinet.  I purchased a bottle of 2011 Domaine de Morin - Langaran from the Haslemere Wine Cellar for £9:50. Domaine Morin Langaran sits on a slightly raised flat of land looking out over oyster beds of Bouzigues in the Etang de Thau. The citrus zestiness of this well chilled wine developed fully about 10-15 minutes after opening. A dozen Colchester rock oysters from The Good Fish Shop (Haslemere) were shucked and freshly squeezed lemon juice added.  These No3 oysters had a superb mineral quality and the wine worked very well with them.  

Wines which go well with Oysters

Oysters are often compared with wines when described using terms such as 'mineral finish' etc. Classic choices include crisp white Sauvignons and in particular Sancerre, Muscadet and dry Champagnes ( if you have the budget).
Now the oyster season has started in the UK we will be comparing a range of wines ( all under a tenner) to complement native and rock oysters.

We would be pleased to hear your views too so let us know your favourites and we will share them here.

Seafood Kebabs

Simple to prepare yet good to look at and great to eat are these seafood kebabs.
Marinade whole tiger prawns, monkfish pieces and squid strips in olive oil, crushed garlic, black pepper and lemon juice for about one hour. Arrange the seafood on skewers with pieces of red pepper and red onion. Finish off with a lemon wedge. Grill or barbecue for about 10 mins each side and serve with potatoes and salad. Easy.

Fine wines and tapas in Lagos, Portugal

Portugal produces some high quality wines particularly from regions such as Douro, Dao and Alentejo but they are not always easy to find in restaurants. Visit Hortela-Pimenta in central Lagos and you will be spoilt for choice. Not only do they stock some of the finest wines (at prices to suit all pockets), the staff Rebecca and Sarah offer helpful advice when choosing. This modern wine bar, which would be equally accepted in Lisbon or London, is run by owners Sandra Korreia and Nuno Soares Franco. Sandra runs the front of house and has a good knowledge of wine, food and presentation and welcomes customers with her warm personality. Nuno is an accomplished chef who trained at a top hotel. His food creations are attractively presented and offer exciting combinations of flavours. Seafood options include Octopus Stew in Red Wine, Sautéed Garlic Prawns and Scallops with Garden Greens and Olive/Orange Dressing (pictured). So, for sophistication, great food and high quality wines visit Hortela-Pimenta.

Fine Dining in Porto de Mos

Senses restaurant is situated at the Cascades Hotel near to Porto de Mos. Chef Luis Batalha produces stunning combinations of flavours and colours.

Our starters included, lime and papaya soup with scallop ceviche, hot and cold tiger prawn with sesame and asparagus salad. For main we tried the turbot in crispy herb blanket with spinach risotto and a canneloni of chickpea pure in roasted red pepper. All were beautifully presented in this stylish restaurant with good service.
Our waiter kindly provided us with a range of wines to try before we decided on a bottle of 2010 Casa de Santar Reserva from the Dao region. This white wine was dry with a mineral finish and worked well with the fish.

O Camilo, Lagos, Portugal

This contemporary restaurant was opened just over a year ago on the site of the original rustic version which operated as a family business for over 30 years. Now run by the son, Francisco, the new version, designed by a prominent local architect is modern and stylish with beautiful views across the bay towards Portimao.
The food is equally impressive with a wide variety of fresh fish on display including John Dory, Seabass, Bream, Red Mullet, Snapper and Alvor Oysters
We enjoyed Linguado (Sole) which was simply grilled with fresh vegetables and tasty potatoes in butter, garlic and oregano. Francisco recommended a Douro white wine which was well rounded and matched the fish perfectly. We enjoyed our meal at O Camilo and judging by the numbers in the restaurant so did a lot of other people.