L'Autre Pied

After dining at Pied A Terre a few years ago and experiencing some of the most divine tasting food ever to grace my pallet, I've been wanting to visit their sister restaurant, L'Autre Pied, for some time. With Valentine's Day lurking and a half price offer on Groupon for the tasting menu, it seemed like as good a time as any to sample the winter menu.

It's a chilly Thursday evening, and I've met my other half at a nearby pub for a swift pre-dinner drink, as we had to book in advance and the earliest sitting was 9pm. Luckily I usually eat late, so it's not an issue, but I'm ready for some food. We're seated next to an illuminated pillar and shown the menu, and we decide to opt for the matched wines whilst our waiter fills our water glasses. I'll apologise now for the terrible picture quality - the aforementioned illuminated pillar cast an eerie green glow over everything, which wasn't an issue at the time, but has somewhat hampered any hope of decent photography.

The first course is a celeriac mousse with lemon and puffed wild rice. The mousse is deliciously light and creamy, and the crispness of the rice topping is unusual but works well as a contrast in texture. The lemon flavour is quite pronounced, and overshadows the flavour of the celeriac slightly. It's a very tasty dish to start the meal though, and leaves me eager for the next course.

I'm so eager to dive into the next course that I forget to take a green-tinged picture, so you'll have to imagine the appearance of this salad of heirloom carrots, radicchio, creme fraiche and black quinoa. Unfortunately, my excitement for the second course is a little short lived, as this course just doesn't do it for me. Raddiccio is very bitter, and the other flavours in the dish just don't seem to work with the overpowering taste of the leafy vegetable. It tastes slightly pickled too, however the dressing seems to highlight the bitter flavour, rather than complementing or counteracting it. The creme fraiche provides a light mellowing element to the vegetables, but there isn't enough of it to restore any balance to the plate. I can't really tell where the black quinoa is, so it doesn't seem to add anything to the dish either with flavour or texture. This course isn't inedible by any means (I finish it all!), but it also isn't a dish I would choose again. I think perhaps the potential exists to make these ingredients work together, but the way it is executed really isn't to my taste. Our paired wines begin with this course, and the first is a Portuguese vinho verde - the 2015 Alvarinho-Trajadura Minho Leira Seca, which is quite dry with a distinct mineral element. It's hard to say how well it matches the dish as the food isn't working for me, however it is at least a fresh and crisp way to begin the wine matching experience.

Our next wine is a 2012 Gavi Di Gavi, which is immediately fruitier and softer than the previous white. It has a sweet peach undertone which works well with the more characteristically acidic notes of the Italian Cortese grape variety. This wine also accompanies our next dish perfectly. The fish course is a cod fillet, with Fowey mussels, charred leek, lemon and rye. The cod is cooked to perfection, it's creamy and falls apart with the lightest touch of a fork. The mussels add a more pronounced fish essence to the broth, and complement the flavours of the cod and leek beautifully. The lemon in the sauce is not overpowering, and the textures work well together to create and exciting and delicious plate of food.

Following the fish is a main of roast Gressingham duck, with peppered swede, baby turnips, apple and mustard leaf. I read on a TripAdvisor review that the current Head Chef Graham Long has designed the menu with a nod to comfort food, and this dish definitely fits that remit to a tee. The hearty winter vegetables marry perfectly with the richness of the roast duck, and the subtle sharpness of the apple. There are a lot of strong flavours going on, but they work together to create a bold and flavoursome dish. The matched wine, a 2014 Valdeorras Mencia - Bodega Maria Teresa Nunez, is surprisingly light and floral to go with the big flavours of the food, but it works well, with subtle tannins and dark fruit flavours offsetting the rich and complex elements of the dish. It's not my favourite wine ever, and I probably would have chosen something a little spicier and more robust with this plate of food, but I'm no wine expert and it's good to try new things. We're offered bread throughout the savoury courses, which I continue to accept with pleasure. There's a brioche style mini bun, a rustic mini baguette and a fruit filled sliced loaf, all of which are fresh and tasty, and a welcome tool for soaking up the sauces of the fish and meat courses. 

Next up is the cheese platter - always one of my favourites, and due to our inability to make decisions, we're lucky enough to be given a port and a red wine to go with this course. I can't remember the exact cheeses we were given, but there are 2 from France and 2 from Switzerland. There is a hard cheese that may or may be a Comte, a very ripe soft cheese, a soft and creamy blue and a sharp medium hard cheese with a very bitter rind. The blue is my favourite, the hard and sharp cheeses are delicious, and the soft cheese is enjoyable in small quantities, but just on the verge of being a little too powerful in flavour for my palette. We agreed that the port goes better with the Swiss cheeses, and the red is better matched to the French selection. The port isa little less sweet than I'm used to, and whilst pleasant, it is eclipsed for me by the red, a 2014 mixed grape wine from the Clos De Paulilles estate in the Collioure region of Southern France. I'm not usually a fan of Southern French reds, as I tend to find the tannins far too heavy in contrast to the depth of flavour. This wine is spectacular though, with a balanced roundness and beautifully subtle tannins which only serves to add to the aromatic, full bodied flavours. It is definitely one of the highlights of the meal for me.

A light pre-dessert of a chocolate mousse allows us to finish our port / wine at a leisurely pace, and I'm even happier to discover that the delectable Collioure also goes nicely with the sweet and bitter chocolate / caramel elements of this light treat in between courses.

The final course is a rhubarb cheesecake with mandarin sorbet. The colour on the jelly rhubarb topping is particularly vibrant, which looks quite odd in my green hued pictures. Brightness aside, the dessert is wonderfully light and fresh in flavour, with the right amount of sweetness to counter the sourness of the rhubarb. The citrus element of the mandarin sorbet adds a gentle layer of contrast to create an interesting and very pleasant end to the meal. Our wine with this course is a 2012 Chateau Villefranche Sauternes. I'm generally a fan of a white Bordeaux and this golden French offering is no exception. The typical sweetness of this region's wine pairs well with the creamy cheesecake, with the slight acidity matching well with the tarter fruit flavours.

We finish the meal with a coffee and some little truffles, a nice addition to the end of the evening. The service was good, we weren't rushed but didn't feel forgotten either. Our greeting upon arrival was very friendly and welcoming, and at no point were we made to feel any less valued as customers for using a Groupon voucher. It's certainly a compact restaurant, we were seated very close to a little service area and there was rarely a moment when there wasn't a small huddle of floor staff dishing up or clearing plates from the tables around us. It didn't bother me particularly, but I can imagine this being a little off-putting for someone who wasn't as easily able to switch off from their surroundings. There are other tables in the restaurant that look a little more sheltered, as it were, so I'm sure that one of these could be requested for those who are more space aware. The sommelier was friendly and helpful, and seemed genuinely interested to discover whether we preferred the red or the port with the cheese course. Overall, I was really pleased with the evening. It doesn't feel as exclusive as the sister restaurant Pied A Terre, and that's because it's not. But that's ok, in my opinion L'Autre Pied is the perfect little sister - it's more relaxed than its fine dining counterpart, but the food is still well thought out and exceptionally prepared. If you want the culinary experience but can't quite stretch to the budget of the 2 Michelin starred Pied, I would definitely recommend L'Autre Pied for an altogether very pleasant experience. 

The Rib Room Knightsbridge

It's my Birthday, hurrah! What better time, then, to treat myself for dinner at somewhere new and interesting. I did a good bit of online research, primarily on Opentable.com, to find the best deal for my swankier-than-usual Tuesday evening meal. After shortlisting a few places close to work, I opted for the £29pp deal for 3 courses and a glass of champagne. After all, it is my Birthday!

I've hopped on the bus from work which drops me a short walk from the restaurant, incorporated within the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel. After a moment's brief confusion looking for an entrance on the terrace, we locate the restaurant's reception tucked at the end of the hotel lobby. Slightly more confusion as the receptionist looks for our reservation  (she was looking at the wrong day) and we're seated in a comfortable booth by the window. 

Presented with menus and a fancy electronic wine list, we are offered water and champagne (Tattinger), which we happily accept. The set menu isn't huge, with 4 options for each course, but as an unfussy eater it still takes me a while to decide which appeal the most. We both opted for the braised pig cheek to start, then I went for the roasted sea trout for main, with my other half choosing the roasted rib of beef, with a portion of minted jersey royals to share. After chuckling at the £7000 wine available, we select a South African Stellenbosch Syrah at £39 - we're both not so keen on white and my usual choice of a Pinot Noir was waaaay over budget!)

We're given bread and butter, which is a little disappointing - the crust is slightly tough rather than crispy. It's only a little thing but I am a huge fan of good bread and butter, and I am trying to write an honest review! Luckily, the starters that follow more than make up for the not-quite-perfect bread offerings, elegantly presented and deliciously aromatic before we've even taken a bite. The pork itself is tender and succulent, with the rich bacon jam and sharp sweetness of the apple working exceptionally well together. Interestingly, the artful combination of flavours on the plate also compliments the taste of the champagne, which was a little sweet on its own.

Our plates are cleared and water refilled as we wait for our mains. The service is relaxed but professional - we're given ample time to digest between courses but the waiters are attentive and polite without being intrusive. I tend to drink a lot of water when I eat out, so I'm particularly thankful for my never ending glass of iced water, topped up regularly and subtly throughout the meal. There's often a worry that restaurants attached to hotels might be lacking in character or identity, but I don't feel that here. The decor is traditional, verging on dated in style and quite dimly lit overall, but the seating, table positioning and general atmosphere are pleasant and enjoyable. 

The mains arrive, cleanly and simply presented, with the gravy for the beef and razor clam broth for the fish being added by the waiters at the last minute, which is a nice touch. I'm not actually sure how much this affects the flavour of the food or whether it's just for show. Food critics of the world - can you enlighten me? The beef was on the medium side of medium rare according to my partner, but the meat was tender and full of flavour nonetheless. The rib was served with a traditional Yorkshire, but it was the minted potatoes that really stood out for him as an accompaniment, with the punchy fresh mint perfectly complementing the rich flavours of the meat and gravy. My trout is tasty, although noticeably overcooked. The crispy skin works very well with the sweetness of the chargilled Grelot onions and spring vegetables but is a touch under-seasoned. Since the broth was very tasty and not too salty, a bit more of a rock salt crust on the trout, and a little less time roasting and my main would have lived up to the high standard set by the starter. As it was, the fish was sadly a little dry, and I also found the Jersey Royals slightly floury, although the powerful mint worked well with the flavours of my dish.

The main course plates are cleared, our table is brushed down and we are presented with the menus for our dessert choice. I'm not a big fan of heavy puddings, but the blueberry & violet souffle with yogurt sorbet sounds too tempting to pass up. My man opts for the traditional custard tart with poached prunes in Armagnac. The menu states that the souffle has a 15 minute wait, which is totally fine as we've still got half a bottle of wine left. The wine is tasty, coincidentally. It took a little while to breathe, but was full of the typical full body and deep fruity, spiciness of a New World Syrah. 

We're still sipping away when the puddings arrive, which look consistently neat and classic, in keeping with the other courses. My souffle is standing proud, risen high above its ramekin and a bright violet colour. I'm so excited to tuck in that I forgot to take a picture, so you'll just have to imagine what our puds looked like. The souffle is wonderfully flavoursome, although I could've sworn it had a sharp raspberry rather than blueberry acidity along with the rich egg, floral violet and sugary sweetness. Either way, the yoghurt sorbet is a welcome counterpart to the warmth of the souffle and I savour every morsel. The custard tart is tasty too, with rich vanilla standing out against the boozy prunes. 

We finish our wine at a leisurely pace and are presented with a selection of truffles - lime, salted caramel and peach. It's a nice gesture - the half empty tray is even replaced as we finish off our wine. the truffles aren't quite to my taste - there's a lot of thick liquid / jelly inside a thin shell and I'm not overkeen on the texture. But as a complimentary treat after the meal I can't complain. Service is added to the bill, so the total including service, wine and the side is almost exactly double the cost of the deal. That's the one thing to watch with any restaurant deals - the moment you add aperitifs, sides, coffees etc can effectively cancel the saving made on the food itself. We've been mindful of this though and I would definitely say that the overall cost is excellent value. 

To sum up - The Rib Room Knightsbridge served well presented, traditional food with great flavours and and impressive wine selection to match. The starters and desserts were the highlight, and it's a shame that a few minor faults with the main courses slightly lowered the high quality of what was, overall, a very tasty, reasonably priced meal. I'd recommend the Opentable deal for anyone looking for a special meal on a limited budget in one of London's most affluent areas. 

Bobo Social - Charlotte Street, London

New blog, new review. Out for dinner and a catch up with a couple of lovely ladies on a pleasant spring evening. After a couple of drinks at a nearby Sam Smith pub, we wander up Charlotte Street to the unassuming Bobo Social. It's one of those charming locations, of which there are many across London, where the shape and structure of what was presumably once a city home is clearly still apparent. The main eating area is effectively a sizeable front room, but manages to nail "cosy" without being cramped. The rather lovely single toilet is fitting for a plush townhouse, complete with individual hand towels and shabby-chic decor. But enough about the interior, we came here to eat and drink, and that we did.

We started off with a cocktail each to help peruse the small but appealing menu. I didn't get off to the best start, opting for the Black Basil Cosmopolitan, which was sadly rather tasteless, lacking the flavours of black cherry and basil as promised on the menu. My companions went for the London Buck (pleasant but a little too subtle - would have been better with ginger beer rather than ginger ale for more of a kick) and a Margarita (very well balanced and enjoyable, by far the best of the bunch).

We decided to share 2 of the small plates between the 3 of us to start, selecting the Salt & Pepper Crispy Squid and Fillet Steak Strips. Although they possibly should have been listed as very small plates, what they lacked in size they certainly made up for in flavour. The morsels of squid were succulent and tasty, with a light breaded coating and a generous amount of lemon aioli. The steak was delicious, just seared to seal in the flavour and served with a subtle avocado salsa.

As this is a burger eatery, literally the only choice for main is a burger. They all sound tasty, but I couldn't resist the lure of the lobster and crab burger with dill caper cream and wasabi fried onions. The others went for a capsicum burger (beef burger with chorizo, manchego, chillies and tomato salsa) and a custom Bobo beef burger with maple cured bacon and Colston Bassett Stilton. We chose the skin-on, beef dripping Bobo chips, sweet potato chips with truffle salt, and apple slaw with toasted pumpkin seeds to accompany our burger selection. The burgers are served on traditional blue and white china plates, with the sides presented in China tea cups. It's just quaint enough to be endearing without trying too hard. The burgers are a very decent size, and the sides are just the right amount to make a good hearty meal. My crustacean burger is soft, well seasoned and incredibly moreish. The dill and wasabi flavours are not overpowering and really complement the favour of the meat. In fact we all enjoyed our burgers so much that there was no sharing of mains to be had! So I think it's safe to say that the beef options were as enjoyable as the seafood. We went for wine by the glass - it pays to look closely at the menu - a bottle of Malbec was actually a few pence more expensive than 3 large glasses. The ladies went for the Malbec Leduc to go with their beef, and shunning convention, I also went for a red - a Biferno Montepulciano Aglianico Camillo de Lellis - with my lobster and crab. Both wines were extremely enjoyable and nicely matched to our dishes. The Malbec was round and spicy, the Montepulciano light and fruity with some lovely topnotes of blackberry.

I'm not much of a pudding person, but I couldn't resist the sound of the Cohiba dessert cocktail. A heady mix of Havana, bourbon, cherry brandy and an unconventional addition of tobacco liqueur. In a pleasing contrast to my first cocktail, this one was packed full of flavour, the sweet woodiness of the tobacco complementing the rich flavours of the spirits. My friend went for the cheesecake, which was very tasty if slightly on the rich side, and there was another Margarita and an espresso martini enjoyed all round.

I've not mentioned the service thus far, but by no means is that a bad thing. Aside from being offered drinks twice on being seated, for me the service was excellent. Attentive without being smothering, polite and friendly but never forced. The staff were rather attractive too, although one isn't supposed to comment on such things in this day and age.

One last thing worth a mention - the special burger each week is created from the Experimental Burger Society held on Monday evenings. For £35 a head, members of the public can create their own burger with exotic meats. The best burger of the evening then gets added to the menu for the week. A meat pairing and wine tasting starter are also included.

So, Bobo Social - slightly pricey but totally worth it burgers, very tasty sides and variable cocktails. Great service, relaxed atmosphere and some lovely wine to boot. I'd be more than happy to go back, and would definitely consider the experimental evening as something a little different. Besides, I forgot to take any pictures of the food so I'll just have to go back for more!