The Lobster Pot on the waterfront in George Town recently got some positive press in the Wall Street Journal.
Tastings writers Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher found themselves on the shore of Grand Cayman while on a cruise.
One of their friends, Melanie, searched the web for good restaurants at each port of call on the cruise.
The April 27 WSJ article states;
‘When Melanie was searching for restaurants in Grand Cayman, she stumbled on a brief mention of a placed called the Lobster Pot by a Chowhound member named Sloppy eater. Sloppy said simply, ‘The Lobster Pot was excellent,’ and based on that and some other reviews, it made her short list…
‘But when we looked at the Web site of the Lobster Pot (lobsterpot.ky) we were struck that not only did it include its wine list, but also said, ‘Our own imports directly from Austria.
‘And indeed, what followed was one of the more remarkable lists of Austrian wines we’ve seen. As we’ve written, Austrian wine is coming on strong these days – especially its signature grape, Gruner Veltliner – but this was special. We don’t know about you, but we don’t often see lists that include a 1991 Blaufrankisch Eiswein. Clearly we had to go.
‘We walked down a main street for a long time, leaving the rest of the cruise people behind and soon wondered if we were lost. Finally, there, near a Burger King and a beach spot where fish caught that morning we being filleted and sold, was the Lobster Pot, an informal-looking upstairs haven on the water.
We had made reservations (Even on a Caribbean island and even if you’re getting off a cruise, manners, like making reservations and dressing appropriately are important). We went in and looked at the win list, which said at the very top: ‘Go ahead. Try some wines you’ve never had. Taste it. If you don’t like it, we take it back, no problem.’
Then we met Gunter Gosch, the restaurant manager and the Austrian responsible for the list (he didn’t know we are wine writers). When we enthused about his list, he disappeared and came back with small tastes of four Austrian whites: Welschriesling, Grauburgunder, unoaked Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
‘He explained that the restaurant orders wine directly from Austrian producers twice a year and that a shipment of 2,000 bottles had just arrived. The freshness showed. The wines were gorgeous, with tastes as pure as sunshine and ripe, flavourful fruit.
‘Although Austria is best known for its whites, and we were at a seafood restaurant, there was a red on the list that we had to order: Kapazunder Cuvee 2003 from the Johann Schneeberger ($51). The most amazing thing about this wine is that it’s made partly from a grape called Blauer Wildbacher that’s so rare it’s pretty much only grown in one part of Austria.
‘Being able to have this wine, which we would never see otherwise, was a treat, and it was indeed special; clean, fresh and vibrant, with great acidity. As we wrote in our notes: ‘Light yet earthy, very real and very, very clean.’ It reminded us of a light Pinot Noir, but with such pinpoint tastes it had the focus of a white wine.
‘When we got back home we called Mr. Gosch to ask why he had such great Austrian wines in Grand Cayman. He said he came to the Lobster Pot in 2002 after working in the restaurant and cruise industries for many years. At the time, the restaurant had a small, generic wine list, but he though the restaurant’s patrons – generally business people and long-time Cayman Island tourists – would be willing to try something new, especially if it was priced well.
‘So he began to bring in Austrian wines and told people they could send back any bottle if they didn’t like the wine. ‘We appreciate them taking the risk to order a wine they have no idea what it tastes like,’ he told us. ‘If you don’t like it, we’ll take it back – not that it has to be corked or anything. It takes the risk factor away.’ He added ‘We all enjoy Austrian wine here. If someone doesn’t like it, we’re happy to share it later in the evening.’ He can only remember one bottle being sent back. Now, he says, the Lobster Pot is widely known for its Austrian wines, which sell quickly.
‘We really had a wonderful vacation. We’ll always remember the promenade on the ship, the nights on our balcony and finally, after all these years, winning a game of bingo. But our most lasting memory will be about Austrian wine on a Caribbean island. To us, memories like that are what vacations are all about.’
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