Theo Randall is located within the InterContinental Park Lane. It is massive and you will not be able to miss it.
The Deal
Yuri Gualeni, our warm and energetic Sommelier, is the mastermind behind designing this Italian cheese and wine pairing package. For £24 per mouth, you can enjoy four of Italy’s finest cheeses, along with four precisely matched wines. The selection is dependent on season, and you can expect to be shown a very diverse range.
The Cheeses And The Wines…es
A platter of beautiful (and generously sized) wedges of cheese were placed in front of us. I positioned my nose accordingly. We got a full spectrum, from a mild and creamy people-pleaser to a spicy little demon of a gorgonzola.
These is pleasing cheeses
So we began with the Robiola, an unusual mix of cow, goat and ewe’s milk cheese. It was the impossibly smooth texture I loved about this cheese – the taste was a little unadventurous for my overly enthusiastic cheese-loving palette. When I took a sip of the Roero Arneis, a sparkling pink wine from Northern Italy, I was transported to a classy picnic on a summers day. Quite a feat seeing as this took place on a freezing cold night.
Next up was the most exciting duo –Pecorino Ubriaco di Pienza, a powerful ewe’s cheese that combined so well with the Principi Corsini Bonacossi Birillo it was like foodie chemistry. The wine was rich and dry, not far from sherry, and we lamented with Yuri over the lack of popularity wines like this see. Bring back the sherry-loving 1970s!
The least exciting (but probably best for a dinner party) was selection #3. This was the Taleggio di Valsassina, a mature and delightfully salty soft cheese; paired with Ronchedone from Cá dei Frati, a fruity red in an elaborate bottle. I think this could have gone before the Pecorino/Principi Corsini combo, as it was a little overshadowed by the prior palette-whopper.
Finally, we ended with the daddy of blues, a real Gorgonzola Piccante, and a heavenly sweet Moscato Passito di Strevi. This was my favourite for sheer decadence – the herby bite of the Gorgonzola was offset by the honey-like viscosity of the Moscato. Seconds please! And thirds… [Ed: legit]
And here’s the wines, in order of serving from left to right…
The Atmosphere
Theo Randall can’t be appreciated without acknowledging where it sits: tucked into the entrance of the giant InterContinental Hotel Park Lane. Naturally, you are seated with suited and well-coifed gentlemen, and ladies with heels I can’t fathom walking in. That said, I didn’t feel it was overly formal or pretentious, and everyone who greeted us, especially our friend Yuri, were very welcoming.
This is Yuri and Yuri’s ‘winning smile’. Because Yuri is winning at something. Probably wine.
The Verdict
Like cheese? Like wine? GO. Yuri’s passion and knowledge of the cheeses and wines are intoxicating (as the items themselves!) and will even make insightful references to Disney classics. Spying the other diners’ plates, I would be interested in trying the À la carte menu too. May be an Italian cocktail at the impressive bar to start? Oh, and let’s throw in a night in the hotel for convenience?
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