Bringing people together for more than 90 years.
Bringing people together for more than 90 years.
You'll enjoy and learn about fine wine, expertly paired
You'll enjoy and learn about fine wine, expertly paired
with elegant food, made from the finest ingredients.
with elegant food, made from the finest ingredients.
All in the company of good friends, both old and new.
All in the company of good friends, both old and new.
Begin your own journey of Wine, Food & Friends!
Begin your own journey of Wine, Food & Friends!
Select your region below and learn more about
Select your region below and learn more about

Branch News

AMERICAS

CHICAGO – THE SHOW DID GO ON

The Chicago branch has been at the forefront of arranging events during these very difficult times in the Americas. They arranged their first virtual dinner within a mere 17 days of lockdown and built on the success of the first by arranging a total of five virtual dinners between April 7 and June 9. Quite an achievement! They quickly adopted Zoom as their partner to facilitate the events and enjoyed French classics ‘at’ Les Nomades and then ‘at’ Silencieux, molecular gastronomy ‘at’ El Ideas, providing vital support for recently opened restaurant, Tzuco, and then finally ‘at’ Alinea which has been voted several times as being the best restaurant in the United States.

For this last dinner, and keen to up their game, they worked out a way to distribute branch cellar wines to the members with the meal. 8-ounce bottles were found and sterilised and then several branch cellar wines were decanted into them which were then distributed by the restaurant with the meals. All in all members were able to continue with their branch events, albeit within the regulations, but more importantly they provided vital support for their local restaurateurs at an unprecedented and very difficult time. They have since been able to hold ‘real’ events – the most recently being their 855th dinner at George Trois.

 

ASIA PACIFIC

TAIWAN LEADS THE WAY

Events are beginning to take place again in Asia Pacific.  Taiwan restarted their events recently with all five branches able to come together for a dinner.  Edo and Nagoya branches in Japan are running online tastings and branches in Australia are busy catching up on missed events.  Plans are also still to run our festival in Singapore in June – we hope to bring you more details in the new year. Watch this space.

 

EUROPE AFRICA

WEST YORKSHIRE – DINING & RECRUITMENT SUCCESS

West Yorkshire branch have also embraced Zoom and held three events during the first lockdown in the UK and even managed to recruit new members along the way….. At their first “Friday Night Lockdown Takeaway” they learned that they could replicate the intimate atmosphere of physical gatherings by using the “rooms” function to create small “virtual tables”.

Their second event was more daring – a 3 course Lockdown Banquet prepared by Josh Whitehead, award-winning Chef from the Harewood Food and Drink Project.

They organised a “hub and spoke” network to reach 42 members and guests.

Over dinner Josh described the preparation of each course by video.

Their third event was a tutored tasting of pinot gris and pinot noir. To keep costs and measures sensible, they made tasting packs with 25 cl jars.

What have they learned (apart from Zoom functionality!)? Although initially a challenge, they have found that chefs and suppliers have risen boldly to take on the “new normal”, coming up with ingenious ideas to share their wares and expertise. Their members have enjoyed the new approach, and they have gained 6 new members from the guests who took part.