Chef Gary Mehigan’s Whisky-Paired Pop-up Dinner: Find out what the experience was like

One of the best dinners I’ve had thus far has to be at the hands of Chef Gary Mehigan, of course! The celebrated former MasterChef Australia judge treated diners to an alchemy of flavours that came through delightfully through a seven-course dinner across major metros in the city. I was fortunate enough to get to experience it for myself at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore.

The curated experience

This extraordinary dining experience with celebrity Chef Gary Mehigan in association with Conosh, Ardmore whisky and The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore was an evening of pure delight and indulgence. Each of the seven courses were expertly paired with Ardmore whisky coupled with a connoisseur walking diners through the myriad flavours and notes that perfectly compliment the incredible dinner.

Let’s dive in to the experience which is truly worth putting on your bucket list of experiences that will make your life richer with flavour, warmth and happiness through gourmet treats created by none other that Chef Gary Mehigan himself.

The seven courses of heaven served on a plate

Each course was paired with Ardmore whiskeys, starting out from lighter, peaty notes to ending with stronger elixirs, the dishes were completed with the thoughtful pairing of fine whiskeys throughout the 7 courses.

The first course was Snack Attack featuring the best caviar, Yellowfin Tuna and salmon for non-vegetarians. Vegetarians were treated to delicious bites of mushroom, avocado and hints of pumpkin - so yum!

The second course was the best cheesecake one could ever have! The Savoury Basque Cheesecake with clever use of Indian elements like puffed rice [Bhel] combined global ingredients with masterful technique that served magic and comfort on a plate.

The third course was an array of textures that were brought together in the Kataifi Prawns - the crunchy vermicelli coating, the soft prawn, the smooth, honey-drenched yogurt base with bursts of sesame were simply divine!

The next course featured ravioli which was always a dreaded dish on MasterChef, but Chef Gary's Ricotta Ravioli was obviously perfect. Drizzles of burnt, Saltbush garlic and a smooth, thick, mellow sauce coated the beautiful, ravioli that was so enjoyable to eat.

The fifth course was a nice leg of Confit Duck - an ingredient that's hard to come by in India, this was a delectable mix of crunchy outer layers, soft meat and a sweetish sauce that embraced the meat so well, it resulted in the perfect Umami flavours.

Course six was Australian lamb served with black garlic and Tzatziki - a creative blend of Australian and Greek elements, it's no wonder Chef Gary is considered a mastermind of food. The perfectly cooked lamb was joined by a Samosa of lamb as well.

The final course was dessert that made me love mangoes even more. The Thousand Leaf 'Alphonso Mango Mousse' served with coconut ice cream and Lemon Myrtle Syrup was the perfect end to an incredible Dinner to Remember by Chef Gary Mehigan!

It’s not everyday that you get to savour a top notch dinner served by geniuses such as Chef Gary Mehigan. The celebrated chef not only cooks up a storm, but also makes his way exploring countries as a jet-setter on a mission to uncover the best food trails and gourmet experiences. He collaborates with Conosh for pop-ups with quite a few bringing him to India. So the next time you come across an opportunity to experience an extraordinary dinner, be sure to sign up for it because every moment spent tasting the heavenly food by Chef Gary Mehigan adds life to your years on this planet! I’m so fortunate to have been able to experience this and learn of his travels.

Check out the photos of the dishes from my experience here.

Stay tuned for more stories on my Instagram.

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