Krug Champagne launches Lemon: A Rooftop Culinary Experience

Each year, the House of Krug pays tribute to a single ingredient to honor its individuality, and its parallels to the making of Krug Champagne. This summer, Krug celebrates the vibrant citrus fruit, lemon, as its honorary single ingredient. Perfectly timed to National Lemon Month, the event will feature a lemon-themed menu carefully curated by Chef Brian VanderGast to pair with the latest editions of Krug Grande Cuvée and Krug Rosé. The special, exclusive experience is now available for customers to book through OpenTable, for a limited time only.

I had the pleasure of experiencing the special menu, served on the rooftop of the Ned Nomad, set under the very apropos yellow lights of the glittering Empire State Building. Chef Brian VanderGast commenced the multi-course meal with an amuse bouche of Kaluga Caviar served on a potato mille-feuille with a dollop of sorrento crème fraiche, accompanied by a refreshing glass of Krug Grande Cuvée 171st Edition. The first course was a light Long Island Fluke Crudo, served with Lisbon lemon bien sûr, followed by a Ricotta Stuffed Squash Blossom, this time with classic Meyer Lemon, and a glass of Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition champagne. The entree was a Pan-Roasted Lamb Saddle, this time served with Italian Sorrento lemon, and a surprisingly crisp glass of Krug 27th Edition Rosé. Finally, Pastry Chef Sharon Vanegas served the pièce de résistance – a Sorrento Lemon Cheesecake, resembling an actual lemon, but once cracked open, revealing white chocolate crema and a raspberry rosé filling.

As part of Krug’s ongoing Single Ingredient Program, this is the year of Krug x Lemon - the first fruit to be elected as Krug’s single ingredient and a celebration of the individuality of the ingredient and its parallels to the making of Krug champagnes. A cornerstone of Krugs’ savoir-faire and individuality is the art of understanding that each singular plot of vines, through its wine, is in itself a single ingredient in Krug Champagne. Each year, the House of Krug honors this philosophy by paying tribute to a humble single ingredient and the many pleasures it can reveal when paired with a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée or Krug Rosé. This year, Krug is celebrating a beacon of generosity and vitality – the vibrant citrus fruit known as lemon. The first fruit to be elected single ingredient, its zingy character and electric energy bring tension and balance to a Krug pairing. Mouth-watering and acidic, nutritious and surprisingly complex – throughout the world, lemon garners praise for its abundant virtues.