Why Bother with Food and Wine Pairings?
If you haven’t already worked it out, here at Humble Grape we really like food, but we LOVE wine. If you were to ask us which one of these we couldn’t live without, we know what the answer SHOULD be… but it might take us a little while to admit it. Wine really is the passion that drives our team and our vision forward every day.
As such, pairing our incredible menu with the finest wines isn’t just something we do for fun – it’s an art designed to bring the experience full-circle for every one of our diners and guests. And the way it works is pretty simple.
The Humble Grape approach to food and wine pairings
Whether you talk to our wine team or our Head Chef, the answer will always be the same.
Food and Wine pairings are designed to enhance the experience and bring out a greater array of flavours in both the food you’re eating and the wine you’re drinking. In fact, it is mind-blowing how much of an impact one can have on the other when you get your pairings right – showcasing the layers within a fruity wine and drawing the ingredients and flavour elements out of a complex dish of food.
When it comes to any dinner, whether in our restaurant or being cooked in your own home, our team are always on hand to advise and provide insight into the perfect pairing between dishes and wines – but at the end of the day the customer’s choice will always prevail.
“We get to know our wines well – hosting regular dinners with our wine producers so that we can work with them to identify the flavours present and spotlight the best foods to draw those flavours out. We then pass this knowledge on to our guests – but the final choice is always up to them. Flavour is such a personal and subjective thing, so what works well for one diner may not always be the perfect pairing for another.” – Dane, Head Chef
The Top Food and Wine pairing of a Wine Geek
A quick conversation with Humble Grape wine specialist Nicola uncovers a genuine passion for wine that is made the old school way, with Nicola’s roots and upbringing making him one of our most dedicated experts in supporting the old methods of creating and producing great wine.
Nicola’s favourite food and wine pairings involve light foods and aromatic wines which compliment and allow each ingredient in the dish to shine – rather than overshadowing them with the wine. A pairing of Asian food with aromatic wines is one such example; the infamous Orange wine paired with a Pumpkin Risotto is another firm favourite.
The Top Food and Wine pairing of a Foodie
Head Chef Dane is a fan of red meat, so it’s only natural that his chosen food and wine pairing involves a steak and a complex red wine. Another of his favourite pairings from the regular Humble Grape menu is the lamb ribs dish, enjoyed alongside a chilled glass of Zinfandel.
Some other classic pairings enjoyed by our team and guests alike include fresh seafood with a light white wine, such as our Chardonnay; a grilled salmon dish with a fruity Pinot Noir; or a chocolate dessert paired with one of our sweet dessert wines.
How you can find your perfect pairing with Humble Grape
Every visit to a Humble Grape venue delivers an experience rather than a mere meal, with both the wine team and the Chef’s committed to educating customers on the flavours they are drawn to and how they can combine food and wine to draw those flavours out and enhance the complete meal.
We also welcome home cooks and dinner party guests to our wine bars, where our resident Wine Specialist Nicola will advise you on the best wines to serve based on what you are planning to cook.
To find your own perfect pairing and discover which foods are best suited to your favourite wines and vice versa, head to your local Humble Grape wine bar in London and enjoy an immersive and experiential dinner – created from scratch by food & wine experts.
