NEWS
Dave Hall from
Urban Beach is the
undisputed king of
Bloody Marys.
Dorset ’s Best Bloody Mary
Hail Mary
Menu’s Miriam Phillips helped to pick the best in the
county – without the aid of a hangover…
I
f you thought a Bloody Mary was just tomato sauce and a splash of vodka you’d
be very wrong. This year’s competition to crown Dorset’s Best Bloody Mary saw
bartenders make use of samphire, jam, pine cones, horseradish and even cheese.
But only one winner could take the crown and that was Dave Hall from Urban
Beach in Boscombe. As one of the judges, I tasted a spectrum of drinks and rated
them on body, spice, garnish and overall taste, before the top five were chosen to
make their drinks in front of the panel. Winner Dave told judges: “I didn’t want to
change the Bloody Mary recipe but use the finest Dorset ingredients to enhance it.”
He used Dorset Naga Chilli jam, mushroom ketchup, Dorsetshire sauce, vodka
infused with Dorset wasabi and toasted pine cones, served in a rustic mug with a
pickled egg garnish. Now in its fifth year, the competition was created by awardwinning bartender and owner of the Larderhouse James Fowler. He said: “The
Bloody Mary is one of the most complex cocktails in existence as it’s about big fresh
flavours – as Dorset is home to so many great ingredients it makes sense to focus on
this drink.” The Dorset Mary is available at Urban Beach for the next year.
16
Italians do Iit Better
talians know their food, of that
there can be no doubt. So the
fact that Al Molo in Weymouth
has been recognised by the Italian
Chamber of Commerce with an
international award is impressive.
They’re the only restaurant in the
South West to get the Marchio
Ospitalità Italiana, which rewards
authentic, high quality Italian cuisine. Fine dining restaurant Al Moro was
opened in March by Giuseppe Vannucci and Tim Newton. “I got emotional
when I found out that Al Molo will be recognised with this prestigious
award.” says Giuseppe. “Only the world’s top Italian restaurants are award
the 'Marchio Ospitalità Italiana' and we are now one of them…”
Eat Their Words
From The
Wine Rack
Great wines for Christmas,
including a cheeky present
for yourself, courtesy of our
resident wine expert, Daniel
Griggs of No.8 Wine in Tarrant
Hinton. Check our their range
at www.no8wine.co
Manzanos, Rioja Joven, 2014
£7.99
This youthful expression of Rioja is
aged for just six months in oak
before bottling. Bags of character
and cracking value, perfect for
parties and unexpected guests.
Bella Modella, Prosecco
Spumante, DOC £8.99
Whilst supermarkets scrap over the
bargain basement bubbles crown,
we've discovered this gem. Festive
fizz to be met with a fanatic furore.
Our favourite cook book this month
Love Your Leftovers
by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (£20)
As he’s proved with that mountain of parsnips on his new TV
programme, Hugh can make pretty much anything delicious
while making important points about the sustainability of our
food. This is so much more than just some recipes to use up
your veg box kale though. Instead it uses leftover ingredients
as the creative starting point for your cooking, with a wealth
of money saving, waste avoiding tips to make you a more
resourceful cook. Some of the 100 plus recipes – chilli beef
noodles, beetroot and caraway seed cake, for example – are so
tasty you’ll be making leftovers just to sample them.
www.menu-dorset.co.uk
Gaja Brunello di Montalcino
2010 £44.95
The 2010 Brunello has been called
the 'vintage of a lifetime' and this is
testament to that. A dream of a wine
that, despite its ageing potential,
is almost impossible to resist now.
Treat yourself, it's the least you
deserve for the festive season.