Discerning Caribbean wine enthusiasts converged at Must and Lees, a quaint wine shop nestled in Fitzrovia, a leading cultural hub in London, for an intimate patty and wine tasting event last Friday. Shall We? The Patty, Paired is a new culinary series, conceptualised by creative strategist Brian Walker, that pushes the boundaries of food culture.

“The Jamaican patty is a key cultural staple that shows us as we are: A creative and resourceful nation. The patty is known traditionally as a budget-conscious meal, but the key question is – why should the story end there? ‘Shall We?’ is an invitation to do things differently, feed our curiosity and live deliciously. This ethos is inspired by what the super-talented Rousseau Sisters call Modern Heritage Dining. We’re embracing the past, with a clear eye on the future,” said conceptualiser Walker.

Guests were greeted with a glass of the Simpsons Wine Estate White Cliffs – an English sparkling wine. They then tasted their way through four wines paired with beef, chicken, vegetable and lamb patties baked by Golden Flakes in London. The chicken and vegetable patties were paired with white wines: Sauvignon Blanc (Enclos de Maimbray, Sancerre 2023) and Riesling (Bischofliche Ayler Kupp Riesling Spatlese Feinherb 2021) respectively. The beef and lamb patties were complemented by red wines: Gamay (Domaine de Colonat Morgon, Les Charmes 2023) and Syrah (Paul Jaboulet Aîné Le Grand Pompée Saint Joseph Blanc 2023), respectively.

Giordan Burt, manager of Must and Lees, relished the opportunity to move on this wine-pairing experience. He was unsurprised that the chicken patty and Riesling pairing emerged as the favourite.

He shared, “This cool climate Riesling worked well with the chicken patty as it perfectly balanced the intense heat, spices, and savoury fats of the dish. This Riesling sits at 10.5 per cent alcohol by volume and ensured the Scotch bonnet heat in the curry remained pleasant and aromatic rather than intensely hot.”

Alexander Williams, Jamaica’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, hailed the event as a step in the right direction for Jamaican food culture.

Williams said, “I thoroughly enjoyed attending Shall We? The Patty, Paired. It was an excellent night of patties and fine wines. It showed how Jamaican food can be showcased in an elegant setting without missing out on the casual nature [that defines] so much of our food. It was a wonderful effort, a tour de force and I hope it goes from strength to strength.”

An assortment of lamb, beef and chicken patties from Golden Flakes Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme

A pour of the Simpsons Wine Estate White Cliffs, the evening’s welcome drink (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

Guests were in good spirits ahead of the wine-tasting session. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

The Bischofliche Ayler Kupp Riesling Spatlese Feinherb 2021 was a crowd-pleaser. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

Giordan Burt, manager of Must and Lees, explains his thinking behind the pairings. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

Alexander Williams, high commissioner of Jamaica to the United Kingdom, listens keenly while sipping the Domaine de Colonat Morgon, Les Charmes 2023. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

Alexander Williams (second left), Jamaica’s high commissioner to the UK, is flanked by his wife Dr Carol Watson Williams, principal consultant, reThink Social Development Ltd; Brian Walker (right), conceptualiser of ‘Shall We?’; and Giordan Burt, manager of Must and Lees. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)

Dr Sasha Henriques, director of equity assurance, Genomics England, was pleased with her check-in. (Photo: Mariochukwu Washington-Ihieme)