Restaurant Magellan New Belgrade

 Why should someone less knowledgeable about food rate you as a chef? words from MPW

I dislike to give restaurants revues, who am I do do this, yes I like or No I dont and will not go back, very simple for me, UNLESS its something special and original like Magellan located in New Belgrade.

The concept is around a luxury yacht and the famous seafarer Magellan, walking towards the restaurant you see the big door straight out of a mega yacht somewhere in the Mediterranean, very cool and extremely posh and polished,  then you walk in and see the wine rack Petrus, Mouton and so on you quickly realize that this is not the regular bistro located in the concrete environment of the city.

The FOH staff is really good and friendly with great attention and warm hospitality and we as a group was very well treated with nice wines, rakija and some really nice dishes from their winter menu, thank you Chef Alexander for this special treat and keep pushing for your star.

Ziveli

Food & wine pairing how confusing it is , or not!

 I frequently read and listen to diverse kind of wine geeks, sommeliers and so called professional wine tasters who tell their store when it comes to food & wine pairing, many are absolutely ridiculous and totally out of tune and try to explain something that are not correct

This wine goes with white fish bla bla bla  because its white and crisp with a scent of cherry blossom

ok fine for the wine, but then the bloody chef serve this white fish lightly smoked on a pile of mushroom and pepper ragout and a foam of dill.... how does this match? not at all for sure

To match a wine with only a protein in mind will always fail, so let me give you all some small simple fundamental guidelines 

Fish is it baked, roasted, well seasoned, flaky or firm, cold or river fish?

what is accompanying the fish 

vegetables, rice, potatoes, are they roasted or cooked? 

What sauce are you using for this fish?

Buttery, light vinaigrette, reduction of fishbones, creamy white vine sauce or just simple a squeezy of fresh lemon?

So if you take all this factors in mind you will end up with a total different wine that you was aiming at in first hand for sure, but yes if you understand mouthfeel, the basic flavors and have common sense you are able to balance the food to suit your fish much better.

sure thing is that with training and try-error you will eventually master this as I did after 45 years of cooking and drinking wine, a shitty job but someone need to do it

cheers 

Wine vision Belgrade Serbia

 Wine vision is a yearly wine fair with focus on Balkan wines but also many producers from around the world, this year it have around 500 exhibitors showcasing astonishing wines.

The Decanter award wines was a certain go to booth especially after we meet Ana who is their sales person and even more so Dusan Jelic who I meet in person for the first time, we meet on line in wine forums many years ago so super fun that he recognized me...

strolling around and drinking wine (I did not spit here naughty me) with Christina for a hour or two was just pure enjoyment and pleasure, also to meet wine people who love their job and their wines.

Until next year my lovely wine nerds and ziveli 

Friends visiting Cairo

 Everyone who I know should take the opportunity to visit me here in Cairo as long as I am here and housing and guiding is of exceptional quality!! 

Marie and Stefan my long time Habibis did just that, a long weekend her with me and Christina and let me tell you that they where and are still surprised, chocked, mesmerized and blown away of this city, we had great fun visiting all the important sites, good food and good times, we even got the chance to do a river cruise all organized by Mr Mike, beer on the Nile is not to bad having the sun kissing your cheeks. thank you for coming and always welcome back 

 

More from open Balkan

 Amazing days deserve more attention and even more photos so here it comes and I even did a TV show as usual at TanJug national television, always a blast.