Matt Sloane is the new Sommelier at the London Carriage Works restaurant, Hope street, Liverpool _158
Roast some parboiled new potatoes with some cumin seeds, get some English asparagus wrapped in bacon in the roasting dish. Heat a pan to within an inch of its life, sear those fillets for a couple of minutes.
Serve the lot with some red wine sauce and open your cleverly purchased bottle of South African Pinotage. Accept praise with dignity from your lucky dinner guest and feel free to doze and dream of England after a superlative dining experience.
Armed with these two, criminally overlooked, wines you should be able to keep yourselves occupied during the early barbecue season.
Steer clear of the very cheap stuff and especially anything calling itself “blush” or “white” Zinfandel. I shall be spending the next few weeks investigating the enigma that is English wine, God willing you shall have my report, good or otherwise, at the end of my adventure.