On 23rd March, the skies of The Plaza, specifically within Salt Grill, were filled with beautiful people and celebrity stars as Luke Mangan and friends hosted an exclusive dinner event with matching wines. The entire main floor of Salt Grill was closed off for the evening as celebrated patrons and VIP guests were welcomed into this prestigious culinary event.
Joining Luke Mangan at the event was Chris Salans of Mozaic Bali, Will Meyrick of Sarong Bali, Mama San and E&O Jakarta, and Salt Grill’s very own Executive Chef, MJ Olguera. Each of the renowned chefs served their own signature dishes and handpicked the wines to go with them, which resulted in a wildly sensational combination of flavours and, as the chefs mingled with the guests, a hearty social ambience.
Chef Will Meyrick started off with his Sri Lankan cured scallop with mint, ginger flower, shredded coconut, lime juice and salmon roe. The warm aftertaste of ginger and the freshness of the scallop were exquisitely matched by the 2012 Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling.
The evening continued as Chef MJ Olguera, Luke’s own prodigy of 11 years, served his iconic poached Tasmanian salmon with confit potatoes in Indonesian yellow curry sauce and Asian crab salad. Chef Olguera went with 2011 Luke Mangan Chardonnay to complement the mild spiciness of the dish.
Luke Mangan himself prepared wakame wagyu sirloin with pumpkin puree, curried leeks and grilled asparagus in coconut broth, an exquisitely tempting main course paired with 2011 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz. The tenderness of the wakame wagyu combined with a few small sips of the cabernet gave a stimulation of rich flavours worthy of the Luke Mangan name.
Closing off the dinner experience with a bang was Chris Salans’ Valrhona ‘Jivana’ milk chocolate mousse with cinnamon gel and candied kumquats presented with Spanish saffron syrup. The sumptuous dessert already contained a wide spectrum of sweetness, and when paired with the Penfolds Grandfather Tawny Port, the result could have been likened to a blissful ride to candy land.
The Luke Mangan and Friends dinner event was a huge success, with all the guests carrying home a unique experience of rubbing shoulders with global celebrity chefs, and with their palates delighted with unparalleled cuisines.
