Fitz & Food for Mother’s Day

When I thought about the menu for this pairing, I could have thought about what I was going to cook for my mum or her favourite dishes. Every time I did, however, I was compelled to think more about ‘home’ and food. That’s really subjective for everyone and whatever I settled on, I knew it would be something that we could do together.

Baingan ka Bharta (Smashed aubergine)

This dish a firm Punjabi favourite and yes, you’ve guessed it, probably my mum’s favourite dish.
It’s become a tradition to have some banter about whether or not peas should be included and if so, how much. I have to say it was pretty awesome (if a little smoky). Mum thinks I thought that during the pairing that there was a smokey flavour to it as a friend on Twitter earlier in the day referred to it as ‘smoked’ whilst I was sharing my progress pics! Smoked smashed aubergine works too!

Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken)

Full disclosure. My mum is vegetarian and I don’t think we have ever made this dish at home – until now! However, I associate it with home for these reasons:

• It originates from Northern India
• My brother makes it incredibly well
• I’d put it down as a special occasion type dish, yet very homely (it’s called butter chicken for a reason!)
• To this day, it never ceases to amaze me how many Indian women who have always been vegetarian manage to cook incredibly tasty meat dishes, having never eaten meat and that reminds me of my childhood.

Pairing: Fitz Classic
This wine is made using the Charmat method and I found it to be similar to Champagne on the nose initially. An apple like flavour and bubbles subsiding quite quickly.
It may well have been in my head, but the smokiness of the aubergine on this occasion often overpowered the wine and felt like a mini explosion of flavour on the palate. I’d suggest it would pair well with this dish normally.
With the chicken, the sauce was to die for and we’ll be making it again really soon – the wine was a fabulous complement to a relatively mild dish.

So there you have it. Here’s hoping this Mother’s Day produces a sense of nostalgia and the feeling of home, whatever you decide to cook and drink!

Author: Rupa Datta – [email protected]