As good as it gets – Casita Miro event
A little magic was created this past Sunday at Casita Miro restaurant on Waiheke. The place was packed to the gunnels with 75 guests, and buzzed from start to finish. Master of Wine Bob Campbell and I teamed up for a wine & food presentation, with a line-up of spectacular Waiheke wines.
Miro Vineyard Rosé 2013
Passage Rock Viognier 2013
Miro Vineyard Bordeaux Blend 2008
Obsidian Bordeaux 2010
Goldie Reserve Syrah 2013
Owhanake Syrah 2013
The tasting was followed by a simply delicious lunch prepared by Casita chef Cristian Hossack
Tapas
Cat’s house-made bread with Miro Grove 2016 XV olive oil sparged with Pedro Ximenez sherry vinegar, romesco pesto & Julie’s (that’s me!) unctuous hummus
Jamon Mangalica, extraordinary acorn-fed hand-carved, black hoofed indigenous ham
Goat’s cheese croquetas with honey & toasted almonds
Segunda
Patatas bravas fried with mojo picon & aioli
Braised ox cheek on a bed of Moroccan couscous with preserved lemon, yoghurt, pomegranates & chermoula
Waiheke mesclun salad with grated parmesan, Madame Rouge walnuts & dried fruits
Postre
Vahlrona white chocolate mousse on Pedro Ximenez soaked prunes topped with Anzac crumb
I ate so much I thought I would pop, but I couldn’t stop because it was simply delicious. Hossack is the master of croquetas – these ones with their gorgeously crunchy crust housing molten goat’s cheese, are the best I have eaten in this country. Seriously good. A mere nudge from a fork saw chunks of braised beef cheek fall apart, just as it should, and it melted in the mouth. To accompany the Pedro Ximenez soaked prunes in the dessert, there was no option but to enjoy a glass of medium-sweet Ximenez-Spinola Harvest 2011. Ambrosial!
