To celebrate the release of Vikings Season 2 on DVD and Blu-Ray (out today!), Swine & Co‘s head chef Michael Box has created a special Vikings inspired feast! Earlier this week, I was invited to get a taste of the unique meal, bringing together Vikings era ingredients with modern flair.
We started off, appropriately, with a drink! The cocktail saw a dark beer shaken with Jagermeister and Agave syrup, with Kraken Rum served on top to pour over. Surprisingly sweet and excellently delicious. Wine and beer would follow throughout the meal.
As we enjoyed the cocktail, we snacked on a selection of breads that we were told were common during the period, from a beautiful rye to a yorkshire pudding and a cheesy roll…
We started with a healthy portion for the Amuse Bouche, with a sardine presented with a sliver of a green olive and some dill olive oil drizzled over the top. The sardine was perfectly cooked and I enjoyed the presentation. For most of us, sardines aren’t a dish we eat every day, but the Vikings certainly loved them – and Michael Box has given the delicacy a smartly simple presentation here to show off the fish in all its glory, rather than try and hide it in amongst a salad or something else. The dill was a excellent touch.
Our entree saw a Pork Rillette with radish poached in butter as the focus. Olive crumbs, pickled baby carrots, toasted oats and shardbread helped bring the unique dish together.
The main was what they called the “Valhalla Swine”, a roasted pork belly, accompanied by a yellow beetroot puree, with more toasted oats (and a bit of rye too). The succulent belly, covered in a good amount of crunch, was dressed in a pork reduction (pork covered in pork… would you have it any other way?), with picked appled pieces (a must) and tarragon cream. A dish that was simple in theory but full of a huge amount of complementary flavours. The highlight of the meal.
We finished off with what was – presentation wise – the most extravagant dish on the four course menu. The spit roasted pineapple with wattleseed meringue were the focus points of the dish, but there was also Italian meringue and pineapple sorbet on board to help bring it all together.
Chances are pretty high that the Vikings never had a series of dishes like this. But inspired by their ingredients, Michael Box has created an excellent banquet that will feed anyone who loves sardines, pork, pineapple and an touch of modern flair.
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Swine & Co is located at 16 O’Connell St in Sydney. Every Vikings dish ordered at Swine & Co from today until November 7th will receive a free copy of Vikings Season 2 on DVD! Call (02) 9009 0990 for more information.
Vikings Season 2 is out on DVD and Blu-Ray today with special interactive features only available on Blu-Ray.
http://www.swineandco.com.au/
