Name your favorite champagne and the familiar labels come up top-of-mind. But it's time to add one more name to your list and uncork a world of flavors. Let's talk Champagne Deutz. Better yet, why not indulge in a sumptuous champagne pairing dinner with the rich and vibrant flavors of Indian cuisine...
Champagne Deutz uncorks a world of elegant flavors at a champagne pairing dinner with authentic and traditional Indian dishes in Prana at Novotel Manila Araneta City for a unique and memorable dining experience. Indian cuisine isn't the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to champagne pairings, but Executive Chef Massimiliano Pauletto and Chef Rajan Veeranan of Novotel Manila Araneta City and Champagne Deutz Brand Ambassador Joel Payne have curated an exquisite champagne dinner pairing menu in a creative collaboration of bold, fresh and unexpected flavors. Read on and uncork a world of infinite and flavorful possibilities...
Prana at Novotel Manila Araneta City once again becomes the stage for a lavish yet pleasantly surprising dining experience with the masterful creations of Chef Rajan Veeranan paired with one of the world's finest champagnes. The seemingly contrasting bold and colorful spice blends of Indian cuisine comes together in an elegantly seamless and refined weave with the fresh, crisp and clean notes of the renowned Champagne Deutz from France.
I first met Chef Rajan Veeranan way back in 2016 at the Indian Station of the Food Exchange in Novotel Manila Araneta City and I've been a fan since. Yes, you can find authentic Indian cuisine in this part of the metro. With Chef Rajan at the helm of Prana, authenticity is a personal guarantee with his stamp of approval on each dish. That evening, Chef Rajan tempts your palate once more, this time paired with Champagne Deutz for a novel flavor experience (for more on Prana at Novotel Manila Araneta City, see my post A Passage to India: Prana Indian Cuisine by Chef Rajan Veeranan at Novotel Manila Araneta City from October this year).
The acclaimed French label founded in 1838 brings its signature sparkle to the evening's elegant dinner...
...opening up the palate with its refreshingly crisp and effervescent finish. The Brut Classic by Champagne Deutz is considered by many as the definitive cuvée from the prestigious label. Made from three different champagne grapes, it all comes together in a refined, flawless and harmonious blend with each sip crowned by its signature mousse, a characteristic of wines having benefitted from long maturation on the lees for intense yet soothing notes.
Light, smooth and easy on the palate, each sip brings fruity hints of apricot, peach, lemon zest and honey to the palate followed by its exceptional fine mousse finish. As the holiday countdown begins in earnest, you may want to add Champagne Deutz to your list of festive libations for the season.
Three elegant expressions of champagne were served that evening, including the Amour de Deutz Millesime and Deutz Rose in addition to the Brut Classic. Chef Rajan paired each exquisite expression with a medley of rich and bold notes from his kitchen at Prana for a unique and deep dive into unrestrained flavors complemented by a bubbly finish.
As more guests arrived at the exclusive champagne pairing dinner, Chef Rajan served a tasty selection of appetizers for a flavorful preview of the evening's feast...
...including creamy paneer, lamb and mushrooms paired with the Champagne Deutz Brut Classic. The richness of the paneer, lamb and mushrooms with its equally lavish blend of spices are perfectly complemented by the refreshingly clean, fruity and sparkling finish of the Brut Classic with each sip preparing your palate for another tasty bite.
Curious with the idea of pairing champagne with Indian cuisine, the tasty starters prepared by Chef Rajan paired with the Champagne Deutz Brut Classic becomes the first layer in a complex tapestry of flavors that evening. The deep, upfront notes of the savory bites with its rich blend of spices are tempered and balanced by the sparkling fruity freshness of the Champagne Deutz Brut Classic. One more sip washes away any doubts and instead the anticipation for the dinner pairing slowly builds up.
After a few more rounds of tasty bites and soothing sips, Chef Rajan Veeranan, Novotel Manila Araneta City Hotel Manager Darwin Labayandoy, Champagne Deutz Brand Ambassador Joel Payne and Executive Chef Massimiliano Pauletto invited guests to the main dining area of Prana for the champagne pairing dinner...
My glass of Champagne Deutz Brut Classic is promptly refilled as the first two courses of Panch Phoran Tandoori Jhinga or tandoori prawn simmered in yogurt, five spices and herbs cooked in a clay oven with broccoli cashew nut puree and Afghani Murgh Kebab or grilled chicken cooked in clay oven with mashed chickpeas, mixed cream infused with cashew, pepper, melon and poppy seeds were served.
The fragrant smoky hints from the tandoori clay oven brings a flavorful depth to the briny sweetness of the succulent prawn and delicate notes of the chicken. The blend of spices along with other ingredients add to the layers of flavors. The Champagne Deutz Brut Classic cleanses the palate, with another bite of the tandoori prawn and grilled chicken delivering even more intense notes.
Complex yet balanced, the play on contrasting flavors are perfectly orchestrated by Chef Rajan complemented by a soothing sip of Champagne Deutz Brut Classic. Next, the Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Millesime was served...
...paired with the Murgh Makhanwala Shoraba, a rich yet comforting soup with tender tandoori chicken simmered in a thick and smooth butter gravy infused with cream and spices in an indulgent and savory urchin almond broth. The broth with its mix of butter gravy, cream, spice, urchin and almond has to be one of the most elegant versions of the traditional butter chicken yet by Chef Rajan. Drawing inspiration from a traditional classic, Chef Rajan elevates it with his own creative and inventive take in a bowl.
The creamy richness of the soup course is matched in intensity with the Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Millesime with its bold yet refreshing hints of fruity and citrus hints from the blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. Each sip is followed by a mildly sweet finish, preparing your palate for another spoonful of the Murgh Makhanwala Shoraba by Chef Rajan.
For the main course, Chef Rajan served his Lamb Nihari with Saffron Biryani Rice paired with the Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Millesime. The traditional slow-cooked lamb stew with spices brings layer upon layer of savory notes capped by the savory richness of the fork-tender lamb. The fragrant saffron biryani rice soaks up all the flavors of the stew, elegantly washed down by the Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Millesime cleansing the palate with its crisp bubbly finish.
The contrasting yet pleasing sharpness of the Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Millesime just complements the richness of the slow-cooked lamb stew after each refreshing sip. From starters to main courses, the champagne expressions of Champagne Deutz keeps in step with the lavish repertoire of flavors from Chef Rajan's kitchen at Prana. Indian cuisine paired with champagne? Works for me.
For dessert, the Deutz Rosé with its distinctive hues and sweet strawberry and red currant notes is the flavorful cue for Chef Rajan's indulgent creation...
...of Chai Gelato with Hot Gulab Jamun...
...and Petit Fours for the perfect sweet ending at Prana. Once again, Prana shines with its repertoire of authentic Indian flavors. But the biggest surprise of the evening has to be the champagne pairing with Champagne Deutz and its elegant Brut Classic, Amour de Deutz Millesime and Deutz Rosé. The well-curated dinner highlighted authentic Indian flavors while Champagne Deutz showcased its versatility with a wide variety of notes. Champagne with Indian cuisine definitely works for a whole new flavor experience.
This holiday season, open up your palate to new flavor experiences. Like Indian cuisine paired with champagne for a refreshing change from the usual. And Champagne Deutz. It's time to uncork flavorful new possibilities, don't you think?
Deutz Champagne is exclusively distributed by Ram's House of Wine. You can visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/winehouseinc for more information and updates.
Prana is located at the Lobby Level of Novotel Manila Araneta City (beside Food Exchange Manila), General Aguinaldo Avenue, Araneta City, Quezon City. Prana Indian Cuisine is open for Lunch and from 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm Wednesday to Sunday and you can call +632 8990 7888 for inquiries and reservations.
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