What a meal and what a place. My wife had chosen to come here on her birthday and when she mentioned it to me I agreed, this being a town we have passed through once (possibly) but having a two star Michelin restaurant. We have eaten at a single starred restaurant, well more than one, before. You can taste the difference. Our room is fantastic, the only issue being the shower which is either hot or scalding. The service here is exemplary, friendly and warm. That last bit is important as we have eaten at The Wolseley before and found the service to be efficient, but cold.
My wife, on her birthday had a wine tasting menu to accompany this while I, still tired from our drive here stuck with one bottle of wine. The sommelier recommended a rosé wine for me and after a rest in the garden, we were taken to our table.
The first dish was amazing, as was the glass of wine paired with it. When I say the first dish, it was five tastes. I almost cried when my very posh take on a Pork Scratching crumbled, but luckily my napkin caught the crumbs which I ate after this course. Already we knew we were in for something special.
After this, we had a bread bowl brought to us and afterwards a scallop each. The picture of the bread bowl is missing half the bread as we ate it before I took the picture. Needless to say, it was good bread, very good bread. The scallop was divine.
Our next dish, appeared simple, but was so full of flavour. The potato was sweet, the ‘ash’ it was served with was divine.
After this, it was to the standout dish. Well, I thought that it was at the time. So full of flavour, I did not think that it would be possible to surpass the salmon tart. I was to be proven wrong later, again by fish.
After this, it was a trip into the garden were we were taught about the herbs grown on site and had a sourdough pizza made in front of us. This was probably the least astounding meal of the day, but it was still very good. It was accompanied by an IPA and then we were taken back to our table.
After the salmon, I did not think that I would taste anything as good. When I say that the artichoke did not taste as good, that does not do service to this divine dish. Again full of different flavours that complemented themselves on my tongue.
But now comes the next ‘best dish so far’ this being my fish. My wife chose the lamb, which was good, but my fish was so much better. I probably should have taken another picture once the covering had been partly eaten. I had to leave one bite for my wife and we shared the last bite so I got to taste the difference. She said that I was giving her too much of mine, but the portion size I gave her allowed her to appreciate the dish properly.
Next came the crossover, this dish was not very photogenic. Made using liquid nitrogen, in order to appreciate it, you have to eat all the layers at once. An amazing palate cleanser.
And next was the chocolate. I love chocolate, but my wife loved the olive oil jelly the most. The picture really does not do the dish justice.
And in the final stages, another amazing dish, failed by the picture that I took. The top of this is broken and when done, this releases amazing flavours.
But this dish, eaten as one mouthful, made me have to hold my head. Candy floss with a Thai flavoured centre. They saved the best till last.
