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Have you ‘herd’ of the #CAUnival?

August 10, 2015 by manjirichitnis 1 Comment

I find it find hard to resist a hands-on masterclass invite and it is the promise of making empanada’s and learning about Argentinian street food that lured me to CAU restaurant at Blackheath last week. A Buenos Aires inspired restaurant group CAU is located a short walking from the overground station facing the beautiful All Saints Church. The group is raising funds for the charity Action Against Hunger with the launch of #CAUnival a month-long celebration of ‘Friend’s Day’ or Dia do Amigo. A celebration of friendship this festival is celebrated in many South American countries. What better way to celebrate friendship that over a delicious feast which supports a good cause?!

Argentinian street food masterclass focusing on beef
Argentinian street food masterclass focusing on beef

As I walked up the hill to the restaurant, I walked past the pretty French Wine Bar – Le Bouchon, which I had visited for their opening a year ago, here is my review. One has the unmistakable feeling of being in a smaller village with huge green spaces and village shops while walking along the high street. It’s rare to get such a feeling but I get that each time I alight at Blackheath station and walk into the area – must be a great feeling to come back home to from work in the busy crowded city.

I found my way in and sat down with two very friendly young ladies – Cherry and Brucine. It was a very warm summer evening and the chilled glass of sprite loaded with ice and wedge of lime was just the thing I needed.

#CAUnival , Action Against Hunger
#CAUnival , Action Against Hunger

The big cut of beef on each of our tables seemed managed to do its job of whetting our appetite so while Dom the master griller took center stage for the master class, we were treated to various samples.

Master griller Dom explains the various cuts of beef
Master griller Dom explains the various cuts of beef

We then all got busy making empanadas with different types of stuffing, which we then took home to enjoy over tea. I baked my batch in the oven and enjoyed then with pipping hot cups of chai.

#CAUnival making empanada's and sampling various cuts of beef
#CAUnival making empanada’s and sampling various cuts of beef

After our master class we were treated to a fabulous meal, here’s a quick look at what we sampled – started off with a swordfish carpaccio (£6.50) which I highly recommend – it is a great way to start a meal. Thinly sliced swordfish topped with capers, crushed chilli flakes and dressed with parsley and lemon oil – pairs well with a chilled classic mojito.

Swordfish Carpaccio #CAUnival
Swordfish Carpaccio #CAUnival

Inspired by the master class and eager to try a classic Argentinian steak, I was recommended the Lomito – a fillet of rump which is considered the finest cut in Argentina, it combines the flavour of rump and the tenderness of fillet. I choose to have my steak with a delicious spicy sauce – chimichurri instead of the blue cheese that is offered with Lomito. Chimichurri is definitely the best partner for an Argentinian steak – nothing compares!

Lomito with chimichurri #CAUnival
Lomito with chimichurri #CAUnival

I was seated with a bunch of foodies and we ordered sides to share – here’s a look a what we shared – in keeping with the spirit of ‘Friend’s Day’. Loved the baked sweet potato (£ 2.95), Onion rings (£ 2.75) and the grilled corn with chipotle butter, chilli and herbs (£ 3.95)

Sides at #CAUnival
Sides at #CAUnival

Well don’t just sit there and ‘stew’ get cracking and book yourself a table at one of the 12 CAU branches, after all you wouldn’t want to miss out on this ‘rare’ CAUnival now would you?

To book your #CAUnival feasting experience check Eventbrite.  You can visit any of their 12 UK sites. For every meal ordered from the #CAUnival set menu, £1 from which will go to the charity Action Against Hunger.

*With thanks to CAU for an invite to a truly memorable evening. All opinions expressed are as always my own. No monetary compensation was provided for a positive review.

Filed Under: Events, Featured Lifestyle, Food Tagged With: #CAUnival, 'Friend's Day', Action Against Hunger, All Saints Church, Argentinian street food, baked sweet potato, Blackheath, CAU restaurant, chilli and herbs, classic Argentinian steak, classic mojito, crushed chilli flakes and dressed with parsley and lemon oil, Dia do Amigo, empanada, fillet of rump, flavour of rump and the tenderness of fillet, grilled corn with chipotle butter, Lomito with chimichurri, onion rings, swordfish carpaccioa, Thinly sliced swordfish topped with capers, travels for taste, travels for taste is a food and travel blog based in London, travels for taste restaurant reviews

Le Bar a Vin – French Wine Bar, Blackheath – a Review

July 1, 2014 by manjirichitnis 8 Comments

On a perfectly beautiful sunny summer evening, I made my way to Blackheath for a bloggers evening at a French Wine Bar. A first for both going to Blackheath and a French wine bar that claimed to be halfway between a pub and a restaurant.

I think I walked past the bar once before I finally understood my google map. There is something very welcoming about the simple wooden interiors and large paintings that made me want to just dump my bag and get started with a chilled glass of wine. First up we were served a Champagne Rose’ and hors d’oeuvre of regular stuff like sun-dried tomatoes – not in oil as I expected but these were nice and tangy, very dry on their own though, sweet mini peppers stuffed with cheese and served with Tapenade.

1-2014-06-17 18.39.09 (Copy)
A cute little French Wine Bar overlooking the green on Blackheath high street

Le Bar a Vin has ample seating indoors and out on street, it is tastefully done and perfect for an evening out with friends or with family to have that one glass or carafe of wine, gaze at the beautiful surroundings and drink in the ambience. Also good to grab a high stool, drink a glass of red with a date.

The sunshine and a comfy table visible outside from the beautiful big windows were too hard to resist so we moved outside to soak up some sun, there was a light breeze …just perfect to get started on wine! (Got me dreaming of the perfect Parisian evening and winding down a day of sightseeing by settling down with a refreshing glass of red at a cute French Wine Bar). Well with the 120 wines on offer with a distinctly French touch, I was all set to order my white wine, I wanted a light and slightly sweet one so on Jean-Philippe’s recommendation I got a German white called Gewürztraminer – an aromatic white which goes well with cheese and fatty gamey meat and tastes like lychees, floral and with tiny bubbles in the glass. I loved it! I could have done with some bread but thankfully didn’t have any just then as the charcuterie and cheese were yet to arrive. It was fun deciding what cheese to choose with the charcuterie.

1-17th June'14 Le Bouchon

I choose Comte  – a 24-month-old mature cheese with a nutty flavour & hard but creamy texture, Secret – a cheese I’ve never had before – its made from unpasteurised cows milk with fruity and nutty notes and last one I gave in to a desire for some blue cheese with Forme d’ Ambert – a creamy and very light blue cheese – prefect to slather onto the accompanying bread. Before our beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards reached our table, little did I expect such large portions, it was more than enough and served as a very satisfying main course.

I was seated with some very friendly bloggers and conversation flowed as smoothly as the wine.

That is a picture of my delicious cheese and charcuterie served with red grapes, pickles and dried apricots – perfect with the platter.

2-2014-06-17 19.52.10 (Copy)

L-R Starting Top left clockwise: Comte Saucisson a traditional tasty pork sausage with Comte’, Walnut Saucisson – pork sausage nutty and dry but very delicious and a pepper Saucisson 100% pork sausage aged in black pepper.

I finished my cheese off with some Spanish Red – Rioja –  intense on spices and oak, fruity with a hint of liquorice.

Travelling into Blackheath by train and walking up the high street is like getting out-of-town into a nearby modern village. Le Bar a Vin is Blackheath’s answer to an independently owned wine bar with a good selection of wine and cheese, in contrast to the many chains that otherwise easily take over the majority of the high street. It’s the kind of place you could back to many times over and even make your favourite haunt if you are a local – easy.

Looking for inspiration for an evening out in London? Why not browse through some of my other review posts? Get the inside scoop of where to head for everything from the most authentic Indian food to cracking cocktails!

Dreaming of travelling and enjoying local wines and fab food? Let me tempt you with more posts that will make you want to grab your suitcase, book your tickets and head straight to the airport!

  • Enjoy mouthwatering cichetti with amazing wines just like the locals do in Venice: Best local wine bar in Venice
  • Get a crash course on Gouda with a fabulous wine tasting experience in Amsterdam: Cheese and wine tasting in Amsterdam with Reypenaer

For some wine related recipe inspiration, check out my easy recipes here:

  • Vin Chaud – French mulled wine
  • White wine sauce

*With thanks to Jean-Philippe Tessier for the invite. No monetary compensation was offered for a positive review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own. Previously known as Le Bouchon.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: 24 month old mature cheese, a Review, aromatic white wine, Blackheath, bread, Champagne Rose', cheese, cheese and charcuterie, cheese and fatty gamey meat, Comte, Comte Saucisson, creamy, creamy texture, dried apricots, dry delicious, floral and with tiny bubbles in the glass, Forme d' Ambert, French Wine Bar, fruity and nutty notes blue cheese, fruity with a hint of liquorice, Gewürztraminer, hard, hors d'oeuvre, intense on spices and oak, Le Bouchon, light blue cheese, nutty flavour, pepper Saucisson 100% pork sausage aged in black pepper, pickles, pork sausage nutty, prefect to slather, red grapes, Rioja, Secret, served with, Spanish Red, sun dried tomatoes, sweet mini peppers stuffed with cheese, Tapenade, tastes like lychees, traditional tasty pork sausage, unpasteurised cows milk, Walnut Saucisson

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