Posts in: 'United Kingdom'
The nightmare before Christmas….
Posted: 21 December '09 by Kelly
Christmas dinner at The Holiday Inn
Right, I am now going to have a moan!!
Friday night was my works Christmas party at the Holiday Inn in Belfast. We had it planned for months and we had all been really looking forward to it. So, early in the day, we went to our room to get into our party dresses and enjoy a well deserved glass of champagne.
Now I know that Christmas work party dinner isn’t usually a culinary delight, however I think that’s it’s only fair to expect the food to be edible – especially whenever you pay £35.00 for the ‘pleasure’ (and believe me it was FAR from a pleasure).
To start we had melon with forest fruits. Now I know what you are thinking… ‘you cannot go wrong with a piece of fruit can you?’ Well you would think not, but apparently so. The melon had not been cut properly and I ended up getting a mouthful of melon rind… nice!
The melon was followed by what I thought was vegetable soup while others were convinced that it was pea… we were later informed it was potato and leek!! Anyway whatever it was I just couldn’t stomach it so I had a crusty roll (which turned out to be the highlight of my meal).
We then were served the traditional turkey and ham with stuffing in which the meat was so thin I could of sworn they had mistakenly substituted it for parma ham (I wish it was!!). Another odd thing were the vegetables… we got the usual (cooked to within an in inch of their lives) carrots and brussel sprouts, but with the added bonus of ONE mange tout, random! The last component of this repaste were the potatoes which brought back the horrors of the school canteen from my childhood – they had obviously been cooked earlier in the day and re-heated in a microwave or under the salamander.. Not a taste that I ever wanted to experience again! The only good thing about the meal was the stuffing – in truth it was nothing special, but I like most stuffing so it stood out from the rest of the ingredients…
I doubt that many others at the party could identify with my description – the make-up of most plates seemed to be very different with some getting no potatoes, others getting no carrots, and a few others being handed their main course after the majority of diners were served their desserts.
The dessert, meringues with berries and cream, was actually OK. The meringue was gooey inside, just the way I like it. However the strawberries were hard and sour and were pushed to the side of my plate.
As I said, I know that the meal served at a works Christmas party isn’t going to be spectacular, but I honestly believe that there was no excuse for what the Holiday Inn served to paying guests. It was sub-standard and at times completely inedible – when it finally arrived.
Our verdict:
From my point of view I would never ever darken their door again!
Our rating: 1 out of 5
Holiday Inn
22 – 26 Ormeau Avenue
Belfast,
Co. Antrim
BT2 8HS
W: www.holidayinn.com/belfast
E: reservations-belfast@ihg.com
T: (028) 9032 8511
F: (028) 9062 6546
You can also find The Holiday Inn Belfast (Ormeau Avenue) on Google Maps.
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews
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Restaurant review: Made in Belfast
Posted: 02 November '09 by Niall
Made in Belfast
After doing some serious food shopping in St. George’s Market on Saturday, Kelly and I dropped in to “Made in Belfast” for a bite to eat. We’d both heard (largely) good reviews about the restaurant – or “resto-lounge” as they dub themselves – and thought it was high-time that we tried it for ourselves.
Stepping inside the doorway was a sensory experience in itself – Julie London was singing in the background, and amidst the mis-matched and haphazardly hung wallpaper, exposed pipe-work, grafitti, sofas, and assorted bric-a-brac, we found ourselves slightly disoriented. It works though – “Made in Belfast” has a relaxed, bohemian vibe that is at odds with the hussle-and-bustle of the city-centre at the end of the street, a small bubble of relaxation.
As much as the decor, I think the waiting staff make or ruin a good first impression – although they were relatively busy, one of the waiting staff came over to us straight away and showed us to our table – a small, painted table and (typically) mismatched seating – a metal-framed chair for Kelly, and plastic patio furniture for me. The staff really did add to the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere – nothing was a hassle, they were attentive, and were more than willing to talk about their personal recommendations for dishes and drinks.
From the fairly impressive day-time menu (which had some really appetising and quirky dishes on there: venison pie with root chips, chicken liver parfait, and fish finger sandwiches to name a few) Kelly chose the Belfast crab on toasted wheaten bread, while I opted for the pint of prawns. The crab was really delicious – lots and lots of sweet white meat held in a crisp lettuce leaf, with a generous dollop of lemon mayonnaise, on a doorstep of wheaten bread. As usual, Kelly gave me a forkful of hers, and I have to admit, I was disappointed I only got one. My prawns were served on thick chopping-block of a wooden tray on which was balanced a pint glass stuffed with rocket leaves, six of the plumpest prawns that I have ever seen, a slice of soft black olive bread, and more of the fresh, zingy lemon mayonnaise. There are times when having to extricate a prawn from it’s shell is just too much like hard work – but not in this case! You’ll find yourself attacking the meaty crustaceans and discarding heads, shells, and serviettes with abandon.
We enjoyed a very leisurely lunch, and never once felt like we were being hurried out of the door, much to the restaurant’s credit.
| Lunch: | |
|---|---|
| Belfast crab on wheaten bread | £6.95 |
| Pint of prawns | £7.95 |
| Sundries: | |
| Glass of pure orange | £1.70 |
| Bottle of peroni | £3.00 |
| Total: | £19.60 |
Our verdict:
A quirky, distinctive restaurant in which you could happily while-away the afternoon – or spend a night enjoying.
MIB isn’t perfect – We ordered a dessert which never materialised, and I thought that the food was slightly over-priced, but nothing that should discourage you from visiting, and is quickly forgotten when you sample the delicious food and feel yourself unwinding. Having said that, the helpings are fairly generous – while both Kelly and I could have eaten more, it was nothing to do with the size of the portions!
There are lots of positive things, however. We’ve already decided to return some evening, and are planning to bring friends from England who are visiting – which speak volumes. A definite “Chilli and Chocolate” recommendation.
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Made in Belfast
Units 1 & 2 Wellington Buildings,
Wellington Street,
Belfast
BT1 6ET
T: +44 (0) 28 90246712
E: emma@madeinbelfastni.com
W: www.madeinbelfastni.com
You can also see Made in Belfast on Google Maps.
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
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Currying favour at the Bengal Brasserie
Posted: 19 October '09 by Kelly
Bengal Brasserie
On Saturday night Niall and I headed out to the Bengal Brasserie on the Ormeau Road for a long-awaited curry.
We’ve been going to the Bengal Brasserie for ages – from when it was a shabby-but-much-loved place down near the Ormeau bridge, to the latest incarnation as a contemporary, plush new eaterie at the Newtownbreda end of the road. Despite the radical change in appearance, the quality of the food and the service has never faltered.
The perfumed cloud of Asian spices had our mouths watering as we made our way to the entrance and, on entering the almost permanently busy restaurant, we were welcomed by a member of staff who took us to our table – while we eyed the largest bottle of Sangre de Toro we’d ever seen the whole way! It should probably be said at this point that the service at the restaurant is just great – friendly, very helpful with food combinations and amounts (you’ll be tempted to order all of the side dishes on the menu!), and extremely courteous – opening the door for you as you leave and wishing you a good night is a nice touch, as is the slight nod of recognition for a returning customer.
As good as the staff are, it’s the food that’s the star – there’s something for everyone on the menu: sweet and creamy Kormas; sizzling Tandoori skillets; and fiery vindaloos. Ordering some poppadoms with sauces and relishes is a must, giving you plenty of time to look over the menu – my favourite relish is a tangy, onion-y concoction that is very more-ish, but all four offer something very different and disappear quickly.
I was surprised with the wine list the first time I saw it, in all honesty. My experience of these things in curry houses is a bad one, without exception. But the Bengal Brasseries list is pretty good – some New World, some Old World – plenty to choose from. We opted for a punchy Cote du Rhone from the always-dependable Chapoutier stable – a fantastic red that was able to stand up to the myriad flavours in the dishes without overpowering them.
For our starter I ordered the King Prawn Sukka (meaty king prawns on a chapati with a rich tomato and chilli sauce) and Niall ordered the Chicken Pakora (strips of chicken in a light, spiced batter). Both were fantastic – just the right amount to whet your appetite for the meal yet to come – and left us disagreeing over who had chosen the best.
Harmony, or at least silence, was restored when the main courses appeared. Niall’s Lamb Palok is a big favourite of ours – a mild enough curry based on LOTS of spinach and slices of garlic, with tender portions of lamb. My Murg (chicken) Bhuna is a tomato-based dish – some heat, a little sweetness, and lots of those aromatic tumeric and coriander spices – and just delicious. The two dishes were very different, and made a nice contrast – Niall’s earthy spinach curry against my tangy tomato dish. Both dishes came with portions of rice, which I like – it’s a slight bug-bear of mine that, in some restaurants, rice has to be ordered in addition to the curry – a kind of “hidden” charge. We also ordered a Keema Naan (flat-bread with marinated, minced lamb between the layers) and Palok Bhajee (more spinach, but totally irresistable).
Unsurprisingly, we didn’t manage a dessert, despite repeated, wistful glances at the menu.
Saying our goodbyes to the staff, we walked off into the night, happy and contented.
| Starters: | |
|---|---|
| King Prawn Sukka | £3.95 |
| Murg Pakora | £3.95 |
| Main Courses: | |
| Murg Bhuna | £7.45 |
| Lamb Palok | £7.45 |
| Sundries: | |
| Keema Naan | £1.95 |
| Palok Bhajee | £2.95 |
| Bottle of Cote du Rhone | £22.50 |
| Total: | £50.20 |
A fantastic restaurant that others have called “the best curry house in Belfast” – and we’d be hard-pressed to disagree.
A restaurant to introduce your friends to – for which they’ll be eternally grateful.
Bengal Brasserie
455, Ormeau Road,
Belfast
County Antrim
BT7 3GQ
t: 028 90647516
w: www.bengalbrasseriebelfast.co.uk
You can also see the Bengal Brasserie on Google Maps.
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
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L’Etoile – Non, je ne regrette rien
Posted: 09 October '09 by Niall
L'Etoile French Restaurant
After a VERY long day at work, Kelly and I needed a bit of a pick-me-up, and dining out was the order of the day. But where to go, where to go..
We’ve both read reviews of “L’Etoile” on Belfast’s Ormeau Road which were unanimous in their praise, but had been put off by the net curtains and (frankly) shabby exterior. Driving by we did notice that it’s had a bit of a face-lift so, armed with a trusty bottle of Bordeaux (the restaurant is “Bring Your Own”), we entered unchartered territory..
Inside the restaurant is small but cosy – French postcards adorn the walls, the lighting is low, and unintrusive music plays in the background which you could just hear over the murmur of conversation among the happy diners – a comfortable, welcoming, and relaxed atmosphere. The waiting staff were chatty and informal which immediately put us newcomers at ease, and both were French (yes, I know I’m superficial, but I think that sort of thing always helps!). No bright lights, no minimalist glass and steel decor – the sort of eatery that is now a rarity in Belfast now, much to our loss.
Like the restaurant itself, the menu is also small but reassuringly familiar – there’s a definite nod to the familiar French bistro dishes from the 70′s – and includes classics like Pate a la maison, Duck a L’Orange, and Beef Bourguignon. Added to these old favourites you’ll find Frogs’ Legs, Monkfish, and Pidgeon – along with vegetarian choices.
Kelly chose the Chicken Liver Pate with red onion jam to start, and it was delicious – rich and meaty, and the sweet jam was a perfect accompaniment. I had the Frogs’ Legs – a plate with 4 pairs duly arrived, delicate and slightly sweeter than chicken, drizzled with garlic butter and with a side salad. There is an unspoken competition between us as to who has ordered the best meal and, as we shared the starters, I was big enough to concede that Kelly’s Pate was the star.
For the mains Kelly went with the Fillet of Beef – requested as medium-rare and cooked to perfection. As good as the steak was – the meat just melted in your mouth – the garlic potatoes were wonderfully crisp and drenched in pungent garlic butter. Delicious. My Beef Bourguignon was rich and satisfying, the dark meaty-ness of the beef and sauce complemented by the small sweet silver-skin onions, and accompanied by a tower of white rice. My one complaint would be that you didn’t get that much beef but, given how tasty the dish was, I certainly wouldn’t let that put me off.
Now, I have said that desserts aren’t my thing BUT I’ll qualify that – if anywhere serves profiteroles and chocolate sauce with fresh cream like L’Etoile, I’ll make an exception! The chioux pastry was light and delicate, the chocolate sauce dark and sweet and rich, with a slight bitterness – so so good. Poor Kelly was bursting at the seams by this point, but man-fully managed the trio of ice-cream (vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry).
| Starters: | |
|---|---|
| Chicken Liver Pate with Red Onion Jam | |
| Frogs’ Legs | |
| Main Courses: | |
| Beef Fillet with Garlic Potatoes | |
| Beef Bourguignon | |
| Desserts: | |
| Trio of ice-cream | |
| Profiteroles with Chocolate Sauce | |
| Total: | £52.55 |
Our Verdict:
Like your favourite sweater – familiar, comforting, and comfortable. You won’t get fine dining, but you will get a good meal, good service, and a good atmosphere. An escape from the cold and wet weather, and the stresses of your workaday life – the sort of restaurant that you don’t tell your friends about because you want it all to yourself.
L’Etoile French Restaurant
407, Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 3GP
t:028 9020 1300
You can also see L’Etoile French Restaurant on Google Maps.
Categories: Northern Ireland > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
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Restaurant Review: St John Restaurant – It’s offal-y good
Posted: 20 September '09 by Niall
St John Restaurant
I think that the first time I heard about Fergus Henderson and the St John restaurant was in Anthony Bourdain’s “Les Halles Cookbook / A Cook’s Tour”, and I’ve wanted to go to the restaurant ever since. I check the online menu on a weekly basis, bought Fergus Henderson’s “Nose to Tail Eating” cookbook and salivated over the recipes, and talked dreamy-eyed about how good the food would be.
So you can imagine how excited I was to FINALLY be going to St John on a recent trip to London.
The sun was getting low as we walked up to St. John Street from the Farringdon tube station, and the expectation was building.. All of those reviews I’d read, and the glowing references from Bourdain et al, were running through my head. But as we turned the corner I’ll admit to being somewhat surprised. For a Michelin-starred restaurant (which usually means some pretension and shirty-ness) the relaxed and friendly atmosphere was immediately noticeable – the large double-doors were wide open, and people from the bar casually chatted out on the pavement in the summer sun.
The restaurant is located, rather fittingly, in what was previously a bacon smokehouse next to London’s most famous meat market, Smithfield. The interior is minimalistic and bare, with white tiles and black paint-work predominating – it’s been described as ‘abattoir-chic’ by those in the know. From the description it might sound austere and sterile, but far from it – it’s cosy, comfortable, and honest, and leaves you in no doubt – you’re there to eat!
The crowd in the bar looked to be casually enjoying a drink in their local bar, and that was exactly the easy-going, welcoming vibe that I picked up. But as we made our way up the small staircase to the restaurant proper, the atmosphere changed – a buzz of conversation from our fellow diners, and the sound of some serious digesting going on. The dining room put me in mind of a Victorian refectory – rows of wooden tables, white walls, and grey flooring.
The focus is entirely on seasonal and traditional British dishes, simply cooked and presented. I’ve read elsewhere, and from experience it’s important to bear in mind that, what is states in the menu is exactly what you get – for example, “crispy pigs’ tails and green salad” means you get pigs’ tails and salad, no more, no less. As you can already tell, the menu is an eye-opener: dishes that have fallen out of fashion, with ingredients that might make the meat-comes-in-cellophane-from-the-supermarket types blanch but which are full of flavour and don’t waste a single speck of the animal, are in abundance. The waiters all seem to be extremely approachable, and are certainly knowledgeable – ours explained dishes and suggested accompaniments as we navigated through the menu, which was really appreciated.
Starters
Kelly choose Foie Gras with Sourdough toast to start. Luckily for me that we have a long-standing agreement – we always get to taste each other’s dishes – and the foie was certainly worth it. The rich, butter-y, slightly game-y flavour was complemented perfectly by the tangy sourness of the bread for an indulgent “pate on toast”.
I chose Fergus Henderson’s signature Roast Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad. Eating there for the first time, I think it’s a “must have”. Four roasted bones duly arrived, served oven-hot with a fresh salad of parsley, capers and shallots and two slices of toasted sourdough. Our waiter provided me with a fork-like utensil with which to extract the unctuous marrow, and placed sel gris onto my plate. The rich, meat-y aroma was almost too much to endure and I eagerly attacked the plate. Half the fun of the dish is rooting around in the bone to find every morsel of marrow, and I made sure that they were picked clean by the end. The combination of marrow, parsley salad, sel gris and toasted sourdough is simply phenomenal: sticky, rich, fatty marrow, against the fresh and bitter parsley, the sweet shallots, and the sharpness of the capers and salt is heaven. Your tastebuds literally explode!
Main Course
I LOVE offal, but it’s something that you rarely see on menus in Northern Ireland – and one of the reasons why St John is such an attraction for me. The Tripe, Sausage & Chickpea main course confirmed that we really are missing out here – the bowl-like dish was swimming in a rich, meaty, tomato-based broth, with tender, spicy sausage (very like chorizo) and chickpeas bobbing on the surface, and a bed of tripe in the centre. I’ll admit, tripe has a bad reputation, but I’ve always found it to have a subtle liver-y flavour which, with the spicy sausage and tomato was just heaven. Even the slighty sponge-y, honeycombed texture gives the dish a new dimension – a tactile treat as your tastebuds savour the combination of flavours.
Kelly’s Chitterlings (or “Chitlins” in America) with chicory and butter beans was a new one on me – neither of us knew what to expect – but we needn’t have worried! Chitterlings are pigs’ intestines and have a sort of creamy tenderness to them – the texture reminded me slightly of Calamari, but more meaty in texture. The flavour is also difficult to describe: there’s a subtle pork taste, some mild saltiness. Together with the butterbeans they were delicious – I was lucky to get a taste, to be honest, as the next time I looked Kelly mopped up every morsel.
Dessert
Kelly has a real penchant for anything lemon (and vodka!), so the Lemon Sorbet and Russian Vodka leapt out from the menu. The combination was certainly interesting: the bitterness of the vodka was balanced by the slight astringency and lingering sweetness of the sorbet; the cold of the sorbet giving way to the warm blast of alcohol from the vodka. It was also a great way to end the meal – satisfying but light enough so you didn’t feel as if you’d need the waiter to roll you out the door.
For me, the dessert has never really been the attraction – I much prefer savoury flavours, and usually go for a cheese-board rather than some confection. But, just like the Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad the Eccles Cake & Lancashire Cheese is a part of St John’s personality – and hey, it has cheese in it! The cheese was good – a wedge of salty, soft and mellow Lancashire cheese served at room temperature to release the aroma and flavours. It was also a perfect partner for the pastry: a puff of crisp and butter-y pastry filled with a thick layer of intensely sweet, gooey raisins. By themselves the two components were extremely good – together, they were superb.
Wine
Cotes du Rousillon (2008) – You can read the review of the Cotes du Rousillon (2008) here.
| Starters: | |
|---|---|
| Bone Marrow and Parsley Salad | £6.90 |
| Foie Gras & Duck Liver with Toast | £6.70 |
| Main Courses: | |
| Tripe, Sausage, and Chickpeas | £14.90 |
| Chitterlings and Butter Beans | £15.00 |
| Desserts: | |
| Lancashire Cheese and Eccles Cake | £6.50 |
| Lemon Sorbet and Russian Vodka | £5.70 |
| Sundries: | |
| 2 Bottles of Cotes du Rousillon | £24.15 ea. |
| Total: | £104.00 |
Our Verdict
St John is excellent – really. Everything you should admire and love about good food and eating out. Go. Eat there. Again and again and again.
St. JOHN Bar & Restaurant Smithfield
26 St John Street
London
EC1M 4AY
Tel: 020 7251 0848 (reservations)
Fax 020 7251 4090
w: www.stjohnrestaurant.com
e: reservations@stjohnrestaurant.com (reservations)
You can also see St John Restaurant Smithfield on Google Maps
There is a sister restaurant called “St John Bread and Wine” in Spitalfields (94-96 Commercial Street, London E1 6LZ)
Categories: England > Restaurant Reviews > United Kingdom
