Sherry Wine News

Copa Jerez UK Final 2014

In a closely fought battle, The Lyttelton restaurant at The Stafford London took the 2014 title as UK winners of the national heat for Copa Jerez, held in London on 21, July 2014. Widely acknowledged as the ultimate Sherry and food matching competition, Copa Jerez, now in its sixth year, is held bi-annually and organised by Sherry Wines UK.

Competing against teams from Chez Bruce and London House, Carlos Martinez, executive chef at The Lyttelton commented: “It is very good to be part of a quality competition and we are very excited to have been selected to represent the UK in the world final. I find working
with Gino very interesting as he has much knowledge and expertise about sherry. As a team we work very well together, and it was enjoyable going through the dishes and making tweaks here and there to create the winning menu.”

Martinez added: “I am proud to be working at The Stafford and having the full support of management here. I'm very much looking forward to travelling to Jerez to the final next year; Gino and I will be working together to take our pairings a step up to create that 'wow' factor.”

The winning Copa Jerez UK 2014 menu:

Starter: Crab and mango ravioli, squid ink rock.
Matched with: Almanecista, Manzanilla Pasada, Lustau

Main course: Oak smoked sirloin of beef, black autumn truffle puree, wild mushroom fricassee
Matched with: Leonor, Palo Cortado, Gonzalez Byass

Sweet course: Chocolate bread and butter pudding vanilla and Pedro Ximenez ice cream
Matched with: Nectar, Pedro Ximenez, Gonzalez Byass

Copa Jerez UK 2014 winners left to right: Copa Jerez UK winners 2014 Gino Nardella MS, sommelier &Carlos Martinez, executive head chef at The Lyttelton restaurant with Beltran Domecq, president CRDO Jerez. 1 of 2

Copa Jerez UK 2014 Finalist Gino Nardella MS is scrutinised by judge Ronan Sayburn MS. 2 of 2

Beltran Domecq, president of CRDO Jerez and chair of the UK judging panel this year praised the high standard of entries received this year in saying: ‘The teams who have cooked here today, and presented exciting and inspirational combinations of Sherry and food, have been worthy representatives of the very high standard of culinary skills that are in the UK today.’ He continued: ‘I would like to thank all of this year’s finalists who made it through to the competition this year. Such was the high standard, they have given us a real competition to
judge and we hope that today’s winners go on the international final next year and win!’.

The 2014 UK winners will now represent the UK, and compete against teams from seven other countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Russia, Spain and USA) to fight it out for the international title at the Grand Final, to be held in Jerez on 26 May, 2015.

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