Working in IT as I have for the past 10 year’s the IT crowd isn’t exactly known for it’s partying, bright lights and nights out so Beaujolais day was unbeknown to me until last year with a short stint working for a business networking company down in Newport last year as they were putting on their own event.
I didn’t sign up myself as I thought it was just for the members of the networking group and chatting about work outside of work…well that’s a big no no as far as I’m concerned because when I’m out having food or the drink that’s the last thing on my mind.
I did nip into town in the evening to pick a mate up from the Chapel event and that’s when I realised how big the day was and how many people went out to celebrate it. I then came to the realisation that it wasn’t just for brown nosing the boss or you’re next big contract win, it just looked like a good excuse to guzzle a shed load of red wine and chow down on some decent grub on a school night without feeling guilty so I vowed next year I want some of that!
You might be thinking what the hell is Beaujolais day anyway? Well Beaujolais wine is made from Gamay grapes from the Beaujolais region in France. It is celebrated on the 3rd Thursday in November when 12.01 midnight the wine goes on sale just weeks after it’s fermentation and sets off on a race around the globe to it’s eager wine fan’s waiting to sample the young wine. The wine is said to be easily drinkable due to it’s method of fermentation called carbonic maceration and contains less tannins that standard red’s but it’s these tannins that preserve the wine so it shouldn’t be left to savour for long periods and is best consumed within a few months.
So this leads me on to what’s going on this year and who is celebrating Beaujolais Nouveau Day in Cardiff and the surrounding areas in 2016.
Arbennig Restaurant
Price: £35
What do you get?
3 courses and a glass of Beaujolais wine.
Menu items including Chicken liver parfait Burnt onion butter, sourdough toast, pickle starter, Bavette steak, Cafe de Paris butter, black cabbage, Parmesan main and Chocolate mousse Peanut butter, salted caramel dessert.
Bar 44
Price: £49.95
What do you get?
Tapas style 3 courses and half a bottle of Beaujolais and traditional spanish music for entertainment.
Menu items including 20hr roast fresh iberico ham and fillet beef pinchos, mojo verde.
Chapel 1877
Price: £49
What do you get?
3 courses, a glass of beaujolais and entertainment.
Park Plaza
Price: Sold out
What do you get?
3 courses, a glass of beaujolais and entertainment.
Pier 64
Price: £45
What do you get?
3 courses, cheese platter, a glass of beaujolais and entertainment plus shuttle bus to the afterparty at Peppermint from 7pm.
Menu items including chicken liver & foie gras parfait and Grilled Medallions of Welsh Beef.
Madame Fromage
Price: £35
What do you get?
Featuring cheeses and wines from the burgundy and Rhone regions for tasting.
Arrival drink and nibbles, Beaujolais wine on the tables, Beef Bourguignon dinner and apple tart dessert.
Chez Francis
Price: £24.95
What do you get?
3 courses and a glass of Beaujolais.
Menu items including pate de Champagne and Boeuf Bourguignon.
Potted Pig
Price: £30
What do you get?
3 courses and a glass of Beaujolais.
Menu items including cod cheeks with puy lentils and sauce verte, whole roast poussin with orb of joy & matchstick fries.
Park House Restaurant
Price: £45
What do you get?
3 courses of fine dining and half a bottle of Beaujolais wine.
Le Monde Fish and Bar Grill
Price: Sold out
What do you get?
3 courses and a glass of Beaujolais wine.
The Pot Bistro
Price: £27.50
What do you get?
3 courses and half a bottle of Beaujolais wine.
Menu items including baked sardines, Bouillabaisse and Tarte au Pommes.
Bully’s Restaurant
Price: £29.50
What do you get?
3 courses and a half a bottle of Beaujolais wine.
Menu items including Moules mariniere frites, Boeuf bourguignon, pomme puree, roasted root vegetables and Pear tarte tatin, pastis ice cream.
Giovanni’s on Park Place
Price: £26.95
What do you get?
3 courses and a glass of Beaujolais wine.
Menu items including Cozze – mussels in a creamy, garlic and white wine sauce, Anatra all’ arancia – pan fried duck breast served in a delicate orange sauce.
Mojo Bar – Newport
Price: £36 for 3 courses or £55 for 6 courses
What do you get?
3 courses and half a bottle of Beaujolais wine.
Menu items including Mussels with lemongrass, chilli, cream and fresh herbs, Pan fried duck leg, crispy breast on a bed of sauteed spinach, blackcurrant and Baked vanilla egg flan with Armagnac marinated prunes.
