Gato Gordo: Pop-up sherry bar will take over Fat Mao Noodles

Sherry might be the joke-y drink enjoyed “wink-wink” style on the sly by old ladies in even older movies, but the truth is it’s a chic adult bev that’s enjoying a more nuanced spell of attention. To celebrate International Sherry Week, Vancouver’s Fat Mao Noodles will be home to Gato Gordo, a pop-up sherry bar, for two days this month.

Riffing on the current name of Chef Angus An’s popular noodle shop, “Gato Gordo” means “fat cat” in Spanish. And Spain is the native land of sherry. For the Gato Gordo pop-up, wine expert Kurtis Kolt has curated a selection of sherries, available by the glass or in flights.

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“With Gato Gordo I want to illustrate how enjoyable and food-friendly Sherry can be, and to dispel any myths about it always being sweet,” Kolt indicates in a media release.

To that end, An has put together a Gato Gordo menu of Thai-inspired tapas dishes, and Kolt can offer suggested sherry pairings. Among the dishes on offer will be a tuna and mussels ceviche, a beef laksa, and a confit duck wrap.

A photo posted by Fat Mao 大發貓 (@fatmaonoodles) on Oct 25, 2016 at 6:07pm PDT

The Gato Gordo pop-up sherry bar will be first-come, first-served (no reservations) at Fat Mao in Chinatown for dinner service only on November 12 and 13.

Here are the full food and sherry menus:

Sherry

• Hidalgo Manzanilla La Gitana
  Tasting notes: crisp, dry, salty sea air, muddled lemon, chamomile
• Gonzàlez Byass Tio Pepe Fino En Rama
  Tasting notes: Crisp, dry, salty sea air, roasted almond skin
• Alvear Amontillado
  Tasting notes: nutty, hints of toffee & orange rind
• El Maestro Sierra Oloroso
  Tasting notes: dark fruit, cardamom, still finished, dry-ish
• Lustau East India Solera
  Tasting notes: stewed figs, dates, cloves
• Gonzàlez Byass – Pedro Ximenez Dulce Nectar
  Tasting notes: sweet, flavours of Christmas pudding

A la carte menu

Ceviche of Tuna and Mussels
Fried Egg Salad
Beef Laksa
Confit Duck Wrap
Clam and Leek Chawanmushi
Steamed Oysters with Black Bean Vinaigrette
Crispy Garlic Prawns
Sweet Potatoes and Chinese Sausage with Curry and XO

Gato Gordo  Pop-Up Chinatown Sherry Bar

When: November 12 and 13, 2016, 5 to 10 pm
Where:  Fat Mao Noodles – 217 East Georgia Street, Vancouver