I first came across the acronym BYO on my first trip to Australia and New Zealand in the eighties. Wine producers with access to seemingly endless wine loved to take advantage of ‘bring your own’. And why not, who hasn’t looked at a restaurant bill and wondered how it turned out so high and possibly been told off for ordering that last bottle?
How lucky are we to have a restaurant in Chorleywood with a big blackboard outside inviting you to take your own bottle. We were therefore delighted when Jill suggested a casual catch up at Mezze Mangal the Turkish eatery in New Parade. Get some wine locally we can taste together and recommend as accompaniments to the lovely, freshly prepared dishes that they specialise in, mainly from their authentic chargrill were the instructions. I kept it simple, shopping at Budgens. A fresh, delicate Sauvignon Blanc 2015 vintage from Concha Y Torro in Chile, a very large outfit but dedicated to quality and this light, zesty citrussy white, was perfect with the Hallumi cheese starters. Great value at six quid a bottle on offer too. We were less successful with our red selection but luckily I had a back-up (just in case) with an M&S favourite, Vinalta Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina. Malbec has become incredibly trendy in such a short time and not hard to see why. This rich, robust spicy red has notes of plum and black pepper and its rich concentration the perfect match for the grilled lamb and chicken combinations. Eight pounds a bottle. (25% off when you buy six for the month of November).
Other cost-saving wine gems? The Golden Hind Marylebone Lane. Great fish and chips and BYO. Vinoteca Seymour Place Marylebone, great wine bar/restaurant with wine at shop prices all day Mondays. Hawksmoor Steak Group, six London sites, perfect steaks and BYO for five pounds corkage, all day Mondays.
Wackus Bacchus
White. Budgens: Sauvignon Blanc 2015 Chile Concha, Y Torro £6
Red: Marks and Spencer: Vinalta Malbec Mendoza, Argentina £8
Mezze Mangal : Tel 01923 354379