For the grand finale of the year for Branch 281, The Fabulous + Beautiful, the ladies started the evening sipping on Schloss Vaux, 2012 Cuvee Vaux Brut (while getting creative with their name cards!) at Hong Kong’s only Nordic restaurant, FINDS (which cleverly stands for “Finland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden)!

Set in the Luxe Manor Hotel, the F+B’s last official meeting of 2016 was simply divine. Celebrity chef, Jaakko Sorsa, with help from our Food Master, Maria Miles-Vinall, prepared a wonderful feast, which included Creamless Porcini Mushroom Soup, signature ‘Salmon Six Ways‘, Shrimp & Cod Fish Cakes, Slow-Roasted Venison Tenderloin and a Sea Buckthorn Berry and Dark Chocolate ‘TOSCA’ Cake.

The highlight of the menu had to be the dessert amuse, aptly named ‘Lapland’! The bed of pine leaves and kernels, transported us to Lapland for sure and was a nice touch as we are so close to the festive period!

This was just the food. Wine Master, Jennifer Quasdorf, paired the menu with Austrian and German wines, including Weingut Dautel, 2013 Weissburgunder, Gipskeuper, Schmelz, 2011 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Pichl Point, IBY, 2011 Blaufränkisch, Dürrau (made from Blaufränkisch grapes – a grape grown across Central Europe and one you don’t get to taste often outside of the region) and followed by an amazing dessert wine, Tschida, 2011 Zweigelt Schilfwein. Narrated by F+B Member, Amy Dalton in Jennifer’s absence, the commentary proved very entertaining and with such beautiful and thoughtful pairings, both elements really brought out the flavor of Chef Jaakko’s menu!

What a wonderful end to a wonderful year! Thank you to all our F+B members!

 

Copy and photos supplied by Sammi, Maria, Jennifer and Kiki