steak frites

A French Brunch at Les Nénettes, London

May 2, 2017 by cheriecity

Bank Holiday weekends are made for brunching and happily, I didn’t need to go far for a bit of a treat. Just a short walk from where I live in Hackney is Les Nénettes, a little gem of a French bistro and terrace that only opened just over a month ago.

It has a lovely neighbourhood vibe and it’s easy to get lured through the door with the aromas of good coffee and freshly-baked pastries on the counter. The design is ever so stylish too with a typically French bar, chequered floor, an illustrated mural L’Hexagone, retro chalkboards and plenty of French wine bottles.

It was super busy when we arrived (obviously everyone else had the same idea), but the staff were so welcoming, efficient and charming. Shortly after ordering, we were served a deliciously smooth and creamy Latte and a proper pot of English breakfast tea.

The menu is quite varied, with a big focus on eggs, and you can choose between brunch and lunch dishes up until 5pm. However, we knew exactly what we were coming for, as we’re always on the hunt for an authentic Croque Madame.

Steven’s Croque Madame was exemplary with slices of rustic white bread, juicy ham, nutty Gruyère cheese, béchamel spiked with a bit of nutmeg (the magic ingredient) and a soft fried egg on the top. It was rich, gooey and really satisfying – everything a Croque should be but most often isn’t.

My Eggs Benedicte were also a hit – in fact, they were the best I’ve tasted in a long time. The eggs were perfectly poached with bright orange yolks and were accompanied by thick slices high quality roast ham, golden toasted English muffins and a tangy, velvety Hollandaise sauce.

Of course, even brunch should end on a sweet note, so we shared some Warm Madeleines, which were baked fresh to order. They were absolutely exquisite – springy and crisp on the outside with tiny vanilla seeds and orange blossom flavours. They’re sure to put a smile on your face!

Les Nénettes is great spot in Clapton for affordable, delicious French dishes in a cosy, relaxed setting. I can’t wait to go back for dinner and try the steak frites, duck magret, gratin Dauphinoise and maybe a cheeky Ile Flottante.

All photos by Chérie City

Hotels, Paris

A Great Stay at La Clef Tour Eiffel Paris

December 12, 2016 by cheriecity

Whenever I go to Paris, I dream of living like a local in a cute little Parisian apartment. Recently, my dream came true when I stayed at La Clef Tour Eiffel, a wonderful collection of luxury serviced apartments by Ascott The Residence.

Location

Located in the elegant 16th arrondissement, La Clef Tour Eiffel is in a prime position on Avenue Kléber, close to the Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro, Palais de Chaillot and the Seine. It’s also quite a cultural hub, surrounded by the city’s best museums and galleries, as well as chic terrace cafes, designer boutiques and quaint boulangeries.

La Clef Tour Eiffel is one of The Ascott group’s two luxury properties in Paris – the other occupies an equally prestigious spot near the Louvre and La Clef Champs-Élysées is set to open in 2018.

Check-In

On arrival, La Clef Tour Eiffel appears grand yet understated and has a secure key card entrance. We were warmly greeted at check in and enjoyed a pot of tea in the sprawling marble lobby lounge before heading up to our Parisian apartment.

The lobby has a relaxed atmosphere with comfy seating, coffee table books and games for that homely feel. Running through the public areas is a fashion and movie theme with interesting artworks and scultpures. There is also a self-service hot drinks machine, so you can stay cosy with complimentary premium tea and coffee 24-hours a day.

The Apartment

Our Deluxe One-Bedroom Apartment on the third floor was absolutely heavenly. It has a chic Parisian style with soft grey wood panelling, parquet floor, high ceilings and signature Haussmannian windows that open on to Avenue Kléber.

The living room boasts contemporary furnishings such as a large LCD TV, dining table with two chairs, writing desk, wool sofa, coffee table and a plush designer rug. The high-tech, gleaming kitchen has just what you need to prepare simple meals, decked out with a large fridge, microwave, cooking utencils, a full set of china, Nespresso machine with espresso capsules and a kettle with plenty of tea.

We were very kindly welcomed with bottles of still and sparkling water, Alain Milliat fresh juices and the most delicious Jean-Paul Hévin chocolate – exactly what my dream Parisian apartment would be stocked with.

We found the bedroom cosy and tranquil with another LCDTV, fitted wardrobes, a luxurious queen bed with high quality linen and lavender pillow mist.

Past a sliding door in the bedroom is the stunning grey mosaic-tiled bathroom with an enormous walk-in shower, double sink, a proper hairdryer, a full set of L’Occitane verbena bathroom products (complete with three mini hand creams in different scents) and bathrobe and slippers.

Exploring Paris

After settling in, we headed to the nearby Avenue Wilson food market to drool over the farm-fresh produce, gourmet delicacies and pretty flowers. Our lunch plan included the famous rotisserie chicken and potatoes, but it was so popular that it had run out by the time we arrived. However, there was no shortage of tasty dishes at this market, so instead, we shared a hearty Beef Bourguignon.

Either side of the market are my favourite institutions in Paris – the Palais de Tokyo and fashion museum the Palais Galliera. The Palais de Tokyo was packed full (it was Saturday, after all), so we had just enough time to pop in to the bookshop before heading back to La Clef for tea time.

Afternoon Tea

A perk of staying at La Clef Tour Eiffel is the amazing tea time, which is complimentary for all guests and is served from 3pm to 5pm in the lounge. We expected a simple treat but the offering was seriously Marie-Antoinette level!

We grazed on dainty mini macarons, home-made candied fruit loaf cake, mini croissants and the most exquisite petits fours including financiers, eclairs, clafoutis and madeleines. While hotel tea time is becoming a trend in Paris, this level of luxury is rare and really, it should be a dealbreaker when choosing where to stay.

After warming up over afternoon tea, we headed back out to Les Villages de Noël. This glorious Christmas market brings a touch of festive sparkle to the Champs-Élysées with wooden huts offering everything from hand-crafted products from regions of France to mulled wine and roasted chestnuts.

We couldn’t resist picking up some authentic Bordelais canelés to munch on later back at our apartment – as if we hadn’t consumed enough baked goods already that day!

The grand Concorde square looked so Christmassy with the historic buildings and ferris wheel illuminated, and we rediscovered romantic Paris with a stroll along the Seine. We usually spend time searching for hidden gems in the city’s hip (and not always so pretty) neighbourhoods, but this time it was fun to remember what made us fall in love with Paris.

Dinner at Cafe Kléber

Of course, a classic day out in Paris should end with a traditional French supper of Steak Frites. We went to Cafe Kléber, a typically Parisian brasserie with a nice family atmosphere and charming old school waiters, conveniently on the corner of our street. The food was pretty good and really hit the spot when liberally doused with a yummy Béarnaise sauce.

If you don’t want to venture too far out for dinner, there are some good choices around Avenue Kléber such as Monsieur Bleu at Palais de Tokyo, flashy hotspot Le Coq and Carette for its tempting cakes. Or right on the doorstep, there’s Hexagone, Chef Mathieu Pacaud’s acclaimed and beautifully-designed gastronomic restaurant.

Breakfast

Even though La Clef is a serviced apartment concept rather than a hotel, guests can enjoy a prepared breakfast in the lounge. The breakfast buffet is generous and very high quality with the usual hot items, fresh baguette, mini pastries, candied fruit muffins, cereal, luxury farm yoghurts, French cheeses, charcuterie and a choice of tiny jams and sauces.

Our time at La Clef Tour Eiffel was truly indulgent and memorable and I’m convinced that it’s one of the most comfortable ways to enjoy a short or extended stay in Paris. From the dedicated staff to the relaxed atmosphere and stylish design, La Clef Tour Eiffel has it all!

For more information and booking, visit: www.the-ascott.com

Cherie City was a guest of La Clef Tour Eiffel

All photos by Cherie City

London, Restaurants

A Great Dinner at Hawksmoor Knightsbridge

December 14, 2015 by cheriecity

With so many renowned London institutions to strike off the list, it’s likely that a few will slip through the net. After visiting this weekend, I’m now kicking myself that I didn’t experience the beauty that is Hawksmoor much earlier!

When I first started blogging in 2009, Will Beckett and Huw Gott’s British steakhouse Hawksmoor was on the lips (and keyboards) of London foodies, who raved about its superior steaks and burgers punctuated with small nuggets of bone marrow. It’s fair to say that this grassroots acclaim has paved the way for Hawksmoor to expand to six locations across London and one in Manchester. The original restaurant is based in Spitalfields, appropriately named after Nicholas Hawksmoor, the architect of nearby Christ Church.

After a leisurely afternoon of Christmas shopping, we arrived at Hawksmoor Knightsbridge for an early dinner. The subterranean restaurant is discreetly tucked away on Yeoman’s Row, just a short walk from Harrods, V&A and Hyde Park. Designed by Macaulay Sinclair, it has a retro clubhouse feel with reclaimed walnut panelling, brass lamps, touches of grey marble and stunning amber-hued Art Deco windows.

It’s a slick, polished operation yet the ambiance cultivated is unpretentious with a cool indie soundtrack and friendly staff mostly dressed in plaid shirts and glasses. There’s also an intimate cocktail bar away from the main dining room where you can graze on burgers, steak sandwiches and lobster rolls.

Dining at the pre-theatre time of 5pm may seem early, but since Hawksmoor Knightsbridge is a popular restaurant, it was already buzzing and filled up quickly. The set lunch or dinner is an excellent way to get a taste of Hawksmoor’s signature dishes at a very reasonable price – two course for £24 or three courses for £27.

I started with a very generous portion of Tamworth belly ribs with vinegar slaw. The pork was so tender and flaky, with lean meat packed between layers of melt-in-the-mouth fat. They were nicely charred on the outside and coated in a punchy dry rub with aromatic flavors of cumin, star anise and chipotle chilli.

The paper-thin ribbons of red cabbage doused in a tangy vinegar added freshness and helped offset the unexpected spiciness – my mouth was left tingling after I finished.

Steven tried the Potted smoked mackerel, which was a simple classic done well. The mackerel had a bold, clean flavour with a layer of clarified butter on top and served with dill cucumbers and crispy toasts. The other dish on the set menu was Roast beetroot salad with goat’s cheese, which looked colourful, fresh and inviting.

For the main course, I was happy to find two steak options, avoiding any potential squabbles over who would order the meat. For a £5 supplement I enjoyed the most heavenly, medium-cooked Fillet tail (200g). The presentation was minimal without any leaves, herbs or garnish in sight, but that didn’t really matter, as the steak certainly impressed.

Fillet is my favourite cut of steak and this one was excellent with a pink, succulent centre graduating to smoky, chargrilled edges and with a pure, natural flavour. I always ask for my steak medium, but with this thick cut, you could easy go down to medium-rare for a little more juiciness.

The set dinner also includes one side and I highly recommend the Baked sweet potato. The potato flesh is so soft and tender, it simply falls off the buttery skin and is the perfect accompaniment for the steak. The only thing missing is a choice of sauce, but you can order a side of Béarnaise, peppercorn or Stilton Hollandaise for an additional £3.

Steven’s Rib-eye (250g) was just as tasty and beautifully-cooked with a mature, aged flavour. The layer of fat and softness of the meat gave it richness – well-suited to those who prefer a more complex taste. The thick-cut Triple cooked chips were golden, hot and crispy and served with a delicious home-made tomato ketchup that had a sweet hint of cinnamon. Other options are Hake or Ricotta dumplings with autumn vegetables, but really, it’s all about the meat.

We found the steaks to be just the right size for a filling, satisfying meal, however the steaks on the main menu go up to a whopping 500g! You’ll need to loosen your purse strings a little more, but then again the quality is undisputed, with steaks from ethically-reared traditional British breeds.

For dessert, I went all out with the indulgent Peanut butter shortbread, which was even better than I expected. A freshly-baked pastry star was filled with molten dark chocolate sauce and velvety peanut butter, finished with salted caramel ice cream and crushed peanuts. It was simply heaven on a plate, ending my meal on the sweetest note.

Steven’s Lemon and yoghurt cheesecake was zingy and refreshing, but I found it too creamy. The whipped cheesecake filling was a bit overwhelming and lacked the tartness that a cheesecake should have, plus the biscuit base was mixed in so there was no crunch. Go for the Peanut butter shortbread (or perhaps the other option of Passionfruit pavlova) instead.

I can safely say I’ve been initiated into the cult of Hawksmoor and am already planning our next steak jaunt, perhaps to the Spitalfields restaurant closer to home. The set dinner is excellent value with a great selection of winning dishes and you’re sure to leave feeling happy and well-fed.

For more information and booking, visit: www.thehawksmoor.com

Chérie City was a guest of Bookatable

Photos by Chérie City and Hawksmoor Knightsbridge

Ghent, Restaurants

A Great Lunch At Belga Queen Ghent

October 22, 2011 by cheriecity

If you’re looking for an ultra-stylish brasserie for a memorable meal in Ghent, Belga Queen should be top of your list.

Designed by bon viveur Antoine Pinto, Belga Queen is a high-end hot spot, located in a former 13th century grain storehouse on the Graslei canal, just three minutes walk from where I was staying at Marriott Ghent.

Described as a ‘Belgian Wonderfood Place’, Belga Queen serves contemporary Belgian dishes using locally sourced ingredients, many featuring beer.

The restaurant

Belga Queen is a real dining destination set over three floors with variety of casual and more formal spaces including a brasserie, cafe, restaurant, club bar and terrace.

The imposing stone building with wooden beams and authentic features has been given a modern twist with touches of chrome, plush leather chairs and cool statement lighting. Add to that lashing of black and gold and Belga Queen signature crockery and you have one swish restaurant.

The terrace

The terrace at Belga Queen occupies a perfect spot right on the buzzing Graslei and is the place to be spotted in Ghent. In the summer, it’s the perfect place to spend a few hours, enjoying good food and wine.

The dishes

I started with a chilled tomato parfait with a rocket and parmegiano reggiano salad, basil-infused crumbs and a warm basil soup.

The tomato was refreshing and went well with the rocket and the thick creamy soup was an interesting, delicious after-thought.

This was followed by Belgian Charolais tenderloin with an Orval sauce (a kind of béarnaise sauce made with Belgian beer) and a cone of Belga Queen fries.

The steak was tender and juicy, cooked perfectly medium, and came with sautéed mushrooms and hot, crispy slim fries. It was perhaps a little heavy on the mushrooms, but there was also a generous amount of steak, which I struggled to finish.

We finished with a Café Gourmand featuring five mini desserts. I loved the praline cake with chocolate ganache and another highlight was the Cuberdon – a blackcurrant sweet local to Ghent, that’s hard on the outside and gooey in the middle.

Instead of coffee, I had a fresh mint tea, which came in a glass teapot and was the perfect end to the meal.

Belga Queen is all about indulgence and the high glamour dining experience, so you’ll need a hefty travel budget to dine there, but the food won’t disappoint.

All photos by Chérie City.

Chérie City was a guest of Belga Queen and Ghent Marriott

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.

London, Restaurants

A Great Dinner at Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte London

March 20, 2011 by cheriecity

When you’re in the mood for steak frites, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is the place to come for a reliable meat fix, served up with a touch of nostalgia. In fact, its singular approach to dining feels somewhat comforting in a world full of choice.

Le Relais de Venise in London offers diners a set menu of a green salad with French dressing and crushed walnuts followed by steak frites covered in their ‘secret sauce’ (£21 each). Steak is served just three ways – rare, medium or well-done – but strangely enough, there is an overwhelming amount of desserts to choose from.

A Paris institution, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte opened in 1959 near Porte Maillot and quickly became so popular that it has been replicated, down to the last interior detail, in New York and at two London locations – Marylebone and The City.

Le Relais de Venise has been on my wish list since I moved to London, so I was excited to review the restaurant and try to guess what was in the ‘secret sauce’.

The Restaurant

We arrived just before 8pm and there was already a queue inside the entrance, however it moved quickly we got a table within five minutes. Le Relais de Venise has a strict ‘no bookings’ policy, even for its owners, so be prepared to wait if you go during peak times.

Much larger than expected, the restaurant was already buzzing with an international City crowd and clued-up tourists all packed together on small tables with leather banquettes.

We were served immediately by one of the lovely waitresses dressed rather primly in a black dress and white apron who gave us a menu, for what it’s worth, and took our order of how we’d like our steak cooked.

The Wine

We ordered a bottle of Le Relais de Venise Côtes de Bordeaux red wine (£15.95) and a large bottle of Evian still water. The reason for the set menu concept was that Paul Gineste de Saurs, founder of Le Relais de Venise, wanted to keep the focus on the wines produced by his family’s Château de Saurs winery based in Toulouse.

The wine was dense with lots of tannin – a typical Bordeaux. It complimented the steak and was a nice enough house wine on its own.

Starting with Salad

The salad arrived piled high on a small plate and was meticulously dressed with a creamy mustard vinaigrette and a sprinkling of crushed walnuts. The dressing was a bit heavy on the mustard but it still worked and a few tiny splinters of shell testified to freshly cracked walnuts.

It was a good, light start to the meal and the accompanying sliced baguette was fresh and crisp.

Soon after followed the steak frites, piping hot and covered with the famous sauce and we weren’t disappointed!

Pommes frites were golden, slim and nicely salted – just what you’d expect from a good Paris bistro. The fries are made using Bintje potatoes specially brought in from France and hand-chipped daily in the restaurant.

The entrecôte steak was completely free from fat and was cooked to perfection – medium, just how I had asked.

The Secret Sauce

The base of the delicious pea green-coloured secret sauce is hard to identify, leading to much speculation in the press, but I definitely noted tarragon, meat juices, butter and perhaps some shallots.

Some food critics have bemoaned the thickness and overwhelming presence of the sauce, but I found it to be light and buttery in texture and but with a pleasantly intense flavour. It was still possible to tell the excellent quality of the steak, which is provided by Donald Russell, the Scottish supplier to HM The Queen.

After working our way through the first plate, we were quickly served the rest of our steak with another mountain of frites.

It’s hard to tell just how big the steaks are when they come sliced in two portions, but it seemed to be a modest size and very well trimmed.

Dessert

The only decision-making required was for dessert and there were so many lovely traditional French treats to choose from. In the end, Steven went for the crème brûlée and I chose the Gâteau du Relais from the dessert trolley.

The crème brûlée was creamy and velvety with a thick layer of crunchy burnt sugar. The Gâteau du Relais was a nutty and dense slice of flourless chocolate cake – soft in the middle with a delicate, crumbly crust. What I thought was an extra rogue slice on the side was in fact a piece of the most divine chocolate fondant. As if that wasn’t enough, it was served with a big swirl of Chantilly cream – how decadent!

We finished off with strong, rich roasted cappuccinos that came with chocolate-covered espresso beans.

Impressions

We found it refreshing that Le Relais de Venise is uncompromising when it comes to tradition and playing by their own rules. It’s all part of the fun and we noticed that many of the tables were returning guests, who were already familiar with this very particular style of hospitality.

The only thing that may put off some diners is the rapid turnover. I had barely put down my fork and already my plate was whipped away by the hawk-eyed waitresses and the next course swiftly served. Even though the food is so tasty that you’re inclined to wolf it down, linger a little over each course, otherwise you may find the experience over rather quickly.

With buckets of charm and a reassuring sense of the ‘good life’, Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte is a place that you have to try at least once, however like our dining neighbours, you might find yourself coming back again and again.

For more information and opening times, visit: www.relaisdevenise.com

Chérie City was a guest of Le Relais de Venise.

London, Restaurants

New Year’s Eve at La Vie en Rose

January 1, 2010 by cheriecity

Over the past week, I’ve overheard so many people saying how much they hate New Year. Christmas is easy, you spend it with your family or close friends and don’t have to try so hard, but for New Year there seems to be this feeling of imposed merriment.

The last New Year that I spent at Glasgow School of Art seemed to be cursed. I spent it with some of my best friends, but the massive queues for the bar, hefty ticket price and both me and my friend catching a stomach bug made it a less than joyful start to the new year.

So, this year I decided to have a decadent, boozy dinner with the boyfriend. Most London restaurants capitalise on New Year and offer these special menus that cost upwards of £50 each and what’s worse is that you don’t even have the choice of the full menu and end up enduring faux-posh offal concoctions like pan-fried chicken livers with a foie gras sauce…bleugh!

La Vie en Rose in Hackney was my first choice, as it’s about 15 minutes walking distance from my flat, there are plenty of good pubs on Broadway Market and it wasn’t bothering with any daft New Year’s Eve menus.

La Vie en Rose

When we arrived, the restaurant was about half full and we got a good table next to the window, overlooking the cobbled street. We ordered from the two course set menu (£14.95) and as usual, we both chose the same dishes.

We started with a generous portion of home-made vegetable croquettes with aioli and sweet chilli sauce. My only vegetable nemesis is courgettes, which I feel should be sent to room 101 indefinitely, so you can guess what the main filling of the croquettes was!

croquettes

Steven enjoyed his very much and once I scraped out the offenders, the rest of the filling had a creamy, garlic taste and the breadcrumbs were crispy and light. This disappointment did strengthen my case for ordering a dessert though, so all was not lost.

Next up was Rump Steak with home-made frites and a peppercorn sauce – you can’t go too far wrong with that! We ordered the steak medium and it was absolutely perfect – tender, pink in the middle with a slither of red juice oozing out. The chips were just in between frites and fat chips, and were definitely home-made, as they were just like my grandma used to make them. Even the peppercorn sauce was full-bodied and seemed to have been made with the juices of the meat.

steak frites

This was perhaps one of the best steak frites we’ve ever had, even in France, as it was cooked to perfection, came with delicious accompaniments and was a large cut with only a thin layer of fat. We ordered a bottle of Les Routiers 2005 (£14.95) – a rich Cabernet Sauvignon from Gasgognes that is really good with meat and very easy to drink.

As it was New Year’s Eve, we finished off the night of indulgence with Flourless Chocolate Cake with Ice Cream (£5.50) each. Something tells me that the chef likes to show off with his desserts, as it went beyond a humble slice of cake and was a culinary work of art! There was a half passionfruit, surrounded by a carefully placed strawberry and blueberry, a trail of crushed almonds and the most amazing dark chocolate and vanilla marbled ice cream, all topped off with a drizzle of raspberry coulis and a vanilla pod….incredible!

chocolate cake

Flourless chocolate cake can often be dense and rich but this one was a lot lighter and more chewy that expected and it worked really well with the cocoa ice cream. The fruit extras were delightful and lifted the flavour so much that we polished off the whole plate!

La Vie en Rose seems to have had mixed reviews on some foodie sites and the biggest gripe seems to be the relaxed and very French service. Don’t expect staff to give you an Auvergne-style, ‘welcome to the family’ welcome (it’s not that kind , but our food arrived at a good speed – we weren’t waiting for anything and didn’t feel rushed along. The restaurant is usually busier in the summer and during the market hours on the weekend, but as last night was pretty quiet, everything went without a glitch.

Our total bill came to around £55, for a three course dinner with a bottle of wine, which is very reasonable for the quality and presentation of the food and the location. Now, if they can get the Croque Madame right, then I’ve found my new favourite French restaurant – on this side of the channel!