Josper Grill | cheriecity.co.uk

Bistro du Vin Soho Launch Party

July 2, 2011 by cheriecity

The opening of Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell by Hotel du Vin was an epic foodie feast so I anticipated that the launch of Bistro du Vin Soho would be replace The Box as the place to be that evening.

Luckily, I arrived right at the opening time and managed to check the place out, take some pictures and get a head start on my appetiser before the hungry press and guests arrived en masse.

We were greeted at the door by two buff Calvin Klein models wearing beach shorts and not much else. Hey, it’s Soho and it’s summer – no further explanation needed!

The main dining area at Bistro du Vin Soho was set up like a gourmet market, where we could help ourselves all of the locally-sourced delights.

I started with a plate of charcuterie, brie and comte with quince jelly (my new fave combination). Bistro du Vin Soho have collaborated with Cave à Fromage, based in South Kensington and for the launch night, they brought a tower of cheese macarons. The combination of sugary meringue and smooth cheese is unique and quite unusual.

The seafood towers, packed with chilled lobster, shrimp, crab and poached salmon were impressive indeed!

The real highlight was the kitchen counter laden with wooden slabs of lamb chops, grilled steak, prawn skewers, boudin blanc, goats cheese souffle and asparagus wrapped in parma ham with parmigiano reggiano.

The Donald Russell steak at Bistro du Vin really is exceptional and its perfectly charred taste comes from being cooked in the Josper grill.

I learned from my last encounter at Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell and left plenty of room for dessert. We shared a dessert platter of mini plum tart, Turkish Delight, a coffee macaron, a chocolate brownie bar and lots of delicious, fresh strawberries. My absolute favourite dessert was the choux buns with pink glitter icing, filled with vanilla bean creme patisserie. Cloud-like, creamy and ultra girly – I could happily munch on these every day for the rest of my life!

Bistro du Vin Soho has quite a different atmosphere to its Clerkenwell sister and the brightly-coloured private dining area made me think of a quirky Soho hotel and makes it more than just a bistro. It feels like an all-day destination, rather than just an evening dining spot and I can’t wait to spend a few hours there, without battling the crowds to protect my beloved choux buns!

If you’re tempted by the foodie extravaganza at Bistro du Vin Soho, enter Cherie City’s 2nd birthday giveaway! One lucky reader will WIN a 3 course lunch at Bistro du Vin Soho and an overnight stay with breakfast at Malmaison London.

2nd Birthday Giveaway, Competitions, Hotels, Hotels - Design, London, Restaurants

WIN Lunch At Bistro du Vin Soho & One Night Stay At Malmaison London

June 30, 2011 by cheriecity

Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell has quickly become an established part of the Clerkenwell dining scene and now Soho gets its very own Bistro du Vin on Dean Street.

Bistro du Vin focuses on simple modern British dishes using locally-sourced ingredients and the new Soho restaurant features a delicatessen-style Cave à Fromage, showcasing over 70 varieties of cheese. Chérie City is a big fan of the Bistro du Vin burger and steaks, so prepare for a grilled meat feast (although there are some real treats for veggies too)

Tucked away on the cobbled Charterhouse Square, next to the historic Smithfield Market, Malmaison London is a stylish boutique hotel packed with character (its former incarnation was an asylum)!

Malmaison London is close to picturesque Clerkenwell and the Barbican and a short distance from the shops and museums in central London.

To celebrate Chérie City’s second birthday, one lucky reader will win a 3 course lunch at the brand new Bistro du Vin Soho and an overnight stay with breakfast at Malmaison London.

HOW TO ENTER:

Follow Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook and leave a comment in the box below (not on Facebook), sharing your favourite type of wine.

The winner will be selected at random and the competition will close at midnight on 31st July 2011.

Terms & Conditions:

– Closing date: 31st July 2011 at midnight.
– Entrants must become (or already be) a follower of Chérie City on Google Friend Connect or Facebook, otherwise entry will be void.
– Entrants must be 18 or over.
– Entry is limited to one per household.
– The winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries received by the closing date.
– Prize consists lunch for two at the new Bistro du Vin Soho – 3 courses including coffee and a bottle of house wine – to be taken before 31st October 2011. Bed and breakfast at Malmaison London, subject to availability, to be taken before 31st October 2011.
– All additional charges incurred will be met by the competition winner.
– Prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.
– Travel costs are not included.
– The winner must claim the prize within 48 hours of contact, or a new winner will be selected.

London, Restaurants

Dinner at Bistro du Vin Clerkenwell

April 23, 2011 by cheriecity

The long-awaited Bistro du Vin opened in Clerkenwell a few weeks ago with a bang. Buzzing and packed full of hungry foodie types, the open kitchen bar was laden with wooden slabs of chargrilled meats, antipasti, oysters, individual baked dishes, salads and breads.

Dessert wasn’t forgotten, as there was a table covered with freshly-baked madeleines, tarte au citron, baked cheesecakes and waffles with thick Valrhona chocolate sauce.

The wine was flowing and we started the evening off with the most delicious Limited Edition Chase Marmalade Vodka Martinis and Miller Harris Iced Tea.

That evening, the bar was set spectacularly high and any reservations about a ‘chain restaurant’ moving in on the much-hallowed St John Street were surely quashed with the outstanding food and the agreeable design.

A week later, we came back to try Bistro du Vin to try the menu without the crowds. Bistro du Vin had a bustling atmosphere, even at just 7pm, and is filled with artwork and artefacts paying homage to France, wine and ‘the good life’.

We were seated at a small table, although you can also dine at the bar, and were immediately brought a large basket of home-made bread and had our water glasses filled.

The Sommelier came to greet us and handed us an epic wine list, which will delight wine buffs and perplex even those with a basic knowledge of wine, so the best idea is to ask the experts!

We tried a half bottle of Nuits-Saint-Georges 2007 Pinot Noir (£40) from the Côte de Nuits subregion of Burgundy – a light, fruity and easy to drink wine.

One of the most exciting features at Bistro du Vin is the wine dispensing machine, where guests can choose wine by the glass using a pre-paid card.

I started with the Asparagus in Sauce Ravigot (£7.95) – an oily sauce made from Dijon mustard, capers, shallots, egg, white wine vinegar and herbs. The asparagus was fresh and cooked just enough and smothered in sauce with tiny pieces of chopped egg white.

Steven ordered the Cornish Crab with Toasted Sourdough (£9.50) – a round, layered section of meaty crab and paté, which he declared delicious.

Our main courses just had to be variations of red meat charred in the quaintly-named Josper grill. The Josper is a special kind of grill that has a front door to lock in all the moisture and flavour – basically, the crème de la crème of grills.

The burger at sister restaurant group Malmaison Brasserie holds almost legendary status, so I was tempted to see if the Bistro du Vin Burger would live up to expectations, especially as I’d already tried the steak at the opening night.

The BdV Burger (£14.50) was absolutely huge and came speared with a wooden cocktail stick on a wooden slab with an overflowing cone of fries and a mini copper pan filled with delicious red pepper relish.

The thick chargrilled burger was accompanied by flavoursome bacon, mature cheese, chunky tomato, lettuce, red onion and more of that yummy red pepper relish. The fries are the best I’ve ever tasted – hand-chipped, soft and crispy.

The burger is priced at the higher end of the London gourmet burgers, but it is so worth it! For me, it’s up there with my top burgers from Dollar Grill and Tom’s Kitchen.

Steven ordered the Onglet Steak Frites 250g (£12.95) and the waiter recommended it with Café de Paris Butter, a sauce made from butter, anchovies, capers and herbs.

The extra-lean Donald Russell steak was cooked perfectly medium and had a soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture. The steak was surprisingly big and excellent quality, especially for such a reasonable price.

Somehow, we found room for dessert, although it required a long walk home from Clerkenwell to Hackney!

I chose the Chocolate Pavé, which was velvety and rich with a soft sponge base, topped with chocolate pebbles and with a side of Chantilly cream.

Steven went for the Black Forest Sundae, which was a spectacular mix of black cherry sorbet, vanilla choc chip ice cream, brownie bites and cherries. Both desserts were delicious and the large portion sizes make them big enough to share.

At Bistro du Vin, it feels like they have meticulously sourced quality ingredients and niche brands just for the love of good food and drink.

The starters seem a tiny bit expensive compared to the very reasonable steak frites, but then again, Cornish crab and asparagus are top-notch produce that are always going to incur higher costs.

The service is impeccable and warm, even though Bistro is still in its early days and the seasonal menu focuses mainly on grilled meats, so there aren’t too many unnecessary distractions.

The butcher’s window and wine tasting room show Bistro du Vin’s investment in their two best offerings and they know exactly what they’re doing!

Chérie City was a guest of Bistro du Vin.

All photos by Chérie City.