Launch: Wolf Blass Luxury Collection Release 2012 at Quay Restaurant, Sydney (4 Sept 2012)

Upper Level, Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney 2000

http://www.quay.com.au

Wine in wolf's luxury clothing

Thanks to Tessa Kerestes from Liquid Ideas for inviting me to the media launch of the Wolf Blass Luxury Collection Release for 2012 held at Quay Restaurant. Nice timing with the announcement of Quay as ‘Restaurant of the Year’ by Good Food Guide. Uninterrupted views towards the Harbour Bridge and Opera House were spectacular from the function room matched with three-hatted canapés and no shortage of wines selected from the White, Gold, Grey, Black and Platinum Labels. Mr Wolf Blass was quite a jovial character and celebrated his birthday in good spirits with a large chocolate mud cake decorated with an eagle. Guests could play spot the TV celebrity with a small entourage of MasterChef contestants joined by My Kitchen Rules winners, Tracey Spicer and Kerri-Anne Kennerley minus the dancing.  

Savoury and dessert canapés were served starting with the Sea scallop pearl, lime, cucumber, fennel — scallop sashimi in a ball I guess. I only tried one but I should have tried more to better appreciate the flavours. The Crostini of smoked ocean trout, crème frâiche, lemon marmalade was a win for me with its simplicity that hit the mark as a bite-sized joy and I could have happily munched my way through a tray of Peking quail, peanuts, sesame, cinnamon, hoisin, pickled cucumber. Dessert canapés were the highlights of the night though. The Salted caramel, prune, walnut tart and Lime curd, meringue tarts had exceptional shortcrust pastry — I suspect a pastry god must have been in the kitchen. Quay has been on my wish list to dine since October 2008 when I tried their Let’s Do Lunch. Since then the famed snow egg and eight-texture chocolate cake has been calling my name — matched with some Wolf Blass dessert wine perhaps? 

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Stylish canapés and friendly event staff, Quality ingredients, Enjoyable wines supplied by Wolf Blass

CONS: There was a large break between some of the canapes leaving me quite hungry at one stage, Would have loved the wines and food to be paired up for better appreciation

MUST TRY: Returning to Quay to try their a la carte menu
VERDICT: Great function space with spectacular harbour views but I'm sure it doesn't come cheap

—

Time for wine tasting

Wolf Blass whites

Wolf Blass reds

Sea scallop pearl, lime, cucumber, fennel

Beetroot, sheep’s milk curd, pomegranate molasses tart

Peking quail, peanuts, sesame, cinnamon, hoisin, pickled cucumber
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Tuna tartare, eggplant cream, dashi jelly, shiso

Braised pig belly, cauliflower cream, px sherry, prune

Risotto of young garden vegetables, aged reggiano

Blue swimmer crab cakes

Confit of tomato, goat’s curd and olive crumb crostini

Crostini of smoked ocean trout, crème frâiche, lemon marmalade
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Salted caramel, prune, walnut tart
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Lime curd, meringue tarts
SIMON FAVOURITE :-)

Coconut macaroon with coconut cream, raspberries

Speech time with Wolf Blass

Happy Birthday Mr Blass

All hands on deck lighting the birthday candles

Birthday cake for all

No shortage of glasses that's for sure

No shortage of Wolf Blass wine — I'm calculating there's at least one bottle available per guest so no one will go home thirsty

A relaxing night off presenting for Natarsha Belling

MasterChef meets My Kitchen Rules: Julia, Audra, Amina, Bella and Sammy — time for a cook off guys

Lyndey Milan and Kerri-Anne Kennerley looking good

Tracey Spicer with her entourage

Adam Liaw (left) busy times with food and funny tweets

Hayden Quinn enjoying the MasterChef afterglow

MasterChef contestant Lucas Parsons still enjoying his golf these days

George Gregan and Linda Duncombe (Citibank Australia)

Denéa from Gourmet Rabbit (right)

Wolf Blass team enjoying the outdoor view

Fine wine lovers

Country Home Ideas team from Express Publications

Where's Citibank amongst the Liquid Ideas team?

Sharon Muscat sings for the guests

Great view of Sydney Opera House

I wish I was in this spot for New Year's Eve

Nice balcony with city skyline and opera house view

I'm not sure why this hard reflective sphere is on the couch but it makes for a fantastic self portrait and I guess looks pretty cool

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