Sizzling Spanish Soirée organised by Wine Daddy (20 September)

On a late Friday afternoon like any other end of week, the traffic is steadily building up to gigantic proportions, as everyone rushes for their first taste of the weekend. And, in our kiasu culture, when we know that everyone is rushing for something, we try and get there ahead of them!

In the normally quiet and peaceful Wine Daddy lair at Sanctuary@7, something is a-cooking. Literally! Bubbling away on the stove are huge chunks of lamb shanks, flavoured with smoked paprika and cumin. To help them achieve just the right degree of deliciousness, the chef throws in her secret ingredient - almost a full bottle of red wine.

She glances at her kitchen tabletop. A beautiful specimen of squid, Spanish chorizo sausages, colourful vegetables, potatoes, manzanilla olives, serrano ham, sweet piquillo peppers, more spices...what should she do with all these exotic ingredients? A-ha...why not build up a tapas platter, fit for a king? Or for the evening's guests, seeking a sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Let's leave our chef for a few minutes, and greet our guests. On a Friday evening, after a long week of work, what is the first thing you feel like having when you reach our paradise of a sanctuary? A cold glass of bubbly! More precisely, a cold glass of the Muga Conde de Haro Cava!

The cava, with comforting yeasty notes on the nose, and refreshing citrusy lilts as it tickles your tongue and smoothly slides down your throat - is the perfect match for the wide spread of tapas that our ingenious chef has conjured up.

Guests also try out pairing the various small dishes with a dry white, the Celler Pinol Nuestra Señora Del Portal Blanco 2010. It's always a fun party game trying to guess the grape varietals in some of the more exotic European wines. In case you're wondering, this dry white is made from predominantly White Garnacha. The first red of the evening, the Carlos Serres Reserva 2005, also comes out to provide a contrast to the whites.

But wait...while the guests are happily munching and sipping away, the chef isn't resting on her laurels just yet. There is the highlight of the evening to be plated. And here they are, lonely lettuce leaves awaiting their hunky lamb shank partners.

Happy faces all around, impatient to dig into the lamb shank, the accompanying couscous with bell peppers and thyme, and fresh garden salad. More Carlos Serres Reserva 2005 to moisten everyone's throats. Two more wines made from the same grape varietal, Tempranillo, are brought out, inviting comparisons - Montecastro y Lianahermosa Tinto Ribera del Duero 2007, and Altanza Lealtanza Rioja Reserva Gaudi 2005. I know what you're thinking, what a mouthful right?

And, for the grand finale...a cheese platter of Manchego, smoky Saint Simon, and a mild Blue Cheese, perfectly paired with a dessert wine - the Celler Pinol Mistela Josefina Pinot Tinto 2009.

The rest of the evening becomes a blur as the wines pour freely, tongues are loosened, and food, wine and travel tips are exchanged. The Carlos Serres Reserva 2005 is quite the hit, as is the sticky finale.