It was another Saturday, so another Michelin starred lunch was on the menu. This time it was going to be a French inspired European tasting menu which also promised vegetarian alternatives. Where did we embark this time you might wonder? Well, it was L’Autre Pied (the other foot?) for the seven (yes, count them – seven) course tasting menu.
We arrived in eager anticipation of a decadent display of delectation. We were not disappointed. The restaurant is small glass fronted venue with luxurious bespoke internal furnishings. We were seated very swiftly at our table and offered the wine list and told about the tasting menu we had booked in for; the menu on the website being a sample menu only. I had my own vegetarian tasting menu and Gipsy Spread had the meat version.
We were brought warm fresh bread, still brimming with yeasty goodness. I greedily devoured my beautiful black olive and parmesan roll before the show even began. This was alongside the sweet aroma-ed, dry and crisp fino sherry aperatif that Gipsy Spread had ordered for us.
The amouse bouche was billed as a surprise and we waited eagerly for the delivery of all the dishes for us to devour. We were not disappointed on the arrival of said amouse bouche which was a cucumber foam with black onion seeds and cucumber oil. It was delightfully light and refreshing and was artfully creative.
The amouse bouche was billed as a surprise and we waited eagerly for the delivery of all the dishes for us to devour. We were not disappointed on the arrival of said amouse bouche which was a cucumber foam with black onion seeds and cucumber oil. It was delightfully light and refreshing and was artfully creative.
The next dish was the crisp radish and quinoa salad with herby jellied mousse, refreshing cucumber and celery. Again, this was dressed stunningly, as were all the dishes to follow.
It was after this dish that Gipsy Spread and I parted culinary ways. I had the baked beetroot with horseradish milk, balsamic, hazelnuts and herbs. Gipsy Spread had the mackeral with apple topioca, hazelnuts and miso. We both thoroughly delighted in the presentation of the dishes, the elegant flourishes and the robust flavours.
I then moved onto the celeriac linguine with black garlic, onion and herbs, whilst Gipsy Spread had the cod with purple sprouting broccoli, squid ink and pine nuts. I was astounded as to how they were able to create perfectly twistable linguine from a round celeriac - magic! The flavours were also rich and creamy and a wonder to behold.
Could the last course be followed with any better? Well, yes it could. It was the ras el hanout aubergine for me with spinach and onions which was meaty and spicy, whilst Gipsy spread had the perfectly cooked pork, with undeniably crispy crackling.
It was then time for the other surprise of the menu, which was the pre-dessert. Yes, we had two desserts! This was the punch-packing apple mousse and sorbet which helped cleanse our palates. In fact the sorbet was so creamy, it could have been mistaken for ice cream.
We followed the pre-dessert with the dessert, which was the coconut panna cota with toasted marshmallows, banana and passion fruit sorbet. This was another fabulous course bringing together a cocophany of textures and flavours to end the meal with.
There was a tasting menu wine pairing selection. Sadly on this occasion we did not opt for the five matched glasses of wine, but a carafe each of the white (for him) and the red (for me) which we planned to take our time savouring.
Gipsy Spread enthused that this was undoubtedly the best meal he has eaten in a long time. Almost sacrilegiously, he stated it was better than Benares, however, we only had the lunch menu there and not the tasting menu, so I don't think it is an appropriate comparison.
Regardless, the whole experience was truly joyous. The food was an extravaganza and the service impeccible. At £62 a head, this is also undeniably one of the best value Michellin starred tasting menus. It definitely comes highly recommended from me.
It was after this dish that Gipsy Spread and I parted culinary ways. I had the baked beetroot with horseradish milk, balsamic, hazelnuts and herbs. Gipsy Spread had the mackeral with apple topioca, hazelnuts and miso. We both thoroughly delighted in the presentation of the dishes, the elegant flourishes and the robust flavours.
I then moved onto the celeriac linguine with black garlic, onion and herbs, whilst Gipsy Spread had the cod with purple sprouting broccoli, squid ink and pine nuts. I was astounded as to how they were able to create perfectly twistable linguine from a round celeriac - magic! The flavours were also rich and creamy and a wonder to behold.
Could the last course be followed with any better? Well, yes it could. It was the ras el hanout aubergine for me with spinach and onions which was meaty and spicy, whilst Gipsy spread had the perfectly cooked pork, with undeniably crispy crackling.
We followed the pre-dessert with the dessert, which was the coconut panna cota with toasted marshmallows, banana and passion fruit sorbet. This was another fabulous course bringing together a cocophany of textures and flavours to end the meal with.
Gipsy Spread enthused that this was undoubtedly the best meal he has eaten in a long time. Almost sacrilegiously, he stated it was better than Benares, however, we only had the lunch menu there and not the tasting menu, so I don't think it is an appropriate comparison.
Regardless, the whole experience was truly joyous. The food was an extravaganza and the service impeccible. At £62 a head, this is also undeniably one of the best value Michellin starred tasting menus. It definitely comes highly recommended from me.
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