Bordeaux Wine Dinner at Hotel Du Vin Cheltenham

Hotel du Vin. The name says it all really; a hotel with a focus on wine. Sweet deal. So why is it that I never think of going there for a drink? It is because it's a hotel chain (usually a soulless affair)? Is it because it's slightly (hardly) off the beaten track? Is it because I have already found myself a really good local wine bar? Who knows, but after two years of frequenting other bars and restaurants, I returned to Cheltenham's Hotel du Vin with a booking for their Bordeaux Wine Dinner.

Everyone's heard of Bordeaux, right? You can definitely spend big bucks on a flashy bottle, whether it's worth it or not is another question, and you can easily get suckered into buying a bottle of plonk just because of the label saying where it's from. Wine can be a mine field, particularly this French region, but with a representative from Bibendum and HDV's sommelier, we were guided through some delicious wines paired to a three course dinner cooked by Head Chef Paul Motram.

Underneath the twinkling wine glass chandelier, we began our evening with a refreshing Lillet Blanc, honey and lemon cocktail alongside a selection of canapés. Our host dug out her wine-cyclopaedia, giving us a brief bio of Bordeaux; I think we were all dreaming of traveling around the southwest of France as we nibbled our paté toasts.

Rather than picking the wine to match the food, here the wine comes first, and we started with Château Carbonnieux White. A blend of 60:40 Sauvignon:Semillon, it's aged in used oak barrels for just under a year. The Semillon grapes tame down the zippiness of the Sauvignon by giving them roundness and volume on the palate, whilst the subtle oak adds richness. There's a grapefruit acidity in the first sip, which develops into ripe peaches and finishes with a creamy mouthfeel. An excellent partner to our starter; pan seared sea bass, cod brandade gratin, fennel purée and preserved lemon sauce. Admittedly not the prettiest of dishes - a sea of beige and brown should only be seen at your local bakery - but looks can be deceiving. Send more of that silky brandade my way, the super saltiness was well balanced with the wine, and all that was missing was the French sunshine.

To accompany our mains we had a Bordeaux battle; two reds from the same year, one left bank and one right bank. Château Langoa Barton 2005, Saint-Julien vs. Château de Fonbel 2005, Saint-Emilion. Recognisable appellations, sure, and most winos will have their preference, but before this I couldn't have told you which side I was on. Whist all Bordeauxs are blends, Cabernet Sauvignon is the dominant grape in the left bank, whilst Merlot takes the majority on the right. The Saint-Julien was jammy, with ripe blackberries and a touch of tobacco, whilst the Saint-Emilion was lighter in body and had a more concentrated berry flavour. Both beaut, but I've discovered I'm a Saint-Julien girl. 

Our main course was not your usual hotel restaurant fayre; beef fillet and braised short rib, almond croquette, tenderstem broccoli and confit tomato jus. Just a nudge with a knife and the short rib collapsed in its thick, glossy sauce, and that fillet… Rich, meaty, delicious. 'Nuff said. Could've done with a few more greens, but I don't go out to eat for health. Both wines were great with it, though the Julien still edged it for me.  

After seeing ile flotantes (floating islands) on various cooking shows throughout the years, HDV were the ones to pop my cherry. A large poached meringue marooned on a vanilla crème anglasie with caramel and toasted flaked almonds on top. It's both light and heavy at the same time - a little boggling - and I don't think anyone could finish their bowl - it really was massive - but it was so good with our final wine of the night; a chilled golden glass of Sauternes! Made from grapes affected by Noble Rot, it has a sweet nectar/honey flavour, but a lingering acidity that keeps it fresh and stops your mouth from being sugared out. Yu-um. Pass the bottle.

We left Hotel du Vin feeling full and a little sozzled, and on our walk home made an "executive decision" that the £70 per person it cost was actually a really good deal. Not only did we have a snazzy cocktail and lots of canapés to start, but three courses with four wines, all of which were generously poured and equally as generously topped up! It does sound like a lot to fork out all at once - I'd certainly wince - but for what you actually get (including the explanations from Bibendum and the sommelier) it's good value.

If you're into wine, or want to get into wine, this is a great starting place. Not only will you gain some knowledge, but you'll taste some new things and get fed with plenty of delicious foods. From now on I shall never underestimate Hotel du Vin; it's worth a visit.

The next Wine Dinner is Friday 20th October at 7pm focussing on the Rhone (£80), or Friday 24th November with Portuguese wines (£65). Treat yourselves and book now!

Afternoon Tea at Malmaison Cheltenham

Us Brits do love an afternoon tea. It's an act steeped in history thanks to that early nineteenth century pro-snacker Anna the 7th Duchess of Bedford, and has always had this high society, upper class feel to it. Elegant and indulgent; sipping tea and nibbling crustless sandwiches and delicate fancies. Oh how the other half live!

It's no secret that I'm a lover of this ritual - at half past three, everything stops for tea - and have written about a few of my experiences before (see here). However, it really is one of life's little luxuries, and I only ever really go for afternoon tea on special occasions. Lets face it, if I were to scoff copious amounts of cake on a regular basis, I'd definitely start resembling the Michelin man in no time at all.

So, with that in mind, I was delighted when a little email arrived inviting me to Cheltenham's Malmaison to test out their afternoon tea (permission to gorge without cause granted). Soon enough, after a much needed half day at work on a Friday, off I went - friend in tow - to see what all the fuss was about.

In case you've been living under a rock for that past couple of months, Malmaison has found its home in what used to be Montpellier Chapter. From first glance, you can't really notice any change, other than maybe a couple of widescreen TVs in the lounge areas and a completely different menu coming from the kitchen, but that's fine; it was lovely hotel before anyway, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it - capiche?

It was gloriously sunny and were sat in the conservatory - slight risk of feeling like an ant under a magnifying glass on such a day - though surrounded by all the big leafy greens, with a gentle breeze coming through the open door, and a cold glass of Mumm Rosé Champagne in hand, we could hardly complain.

Malmaison's afternoon tea is a bit more contemporary than most - especially in comparison to the countrified Cotswolds versions. The triangular sandwiches have been ousted, instead being replaced by wraps and a burger; there's not a tart in sight, and we have a selection of gluten free goodies alongside a fruit smoothie?! Don't worry though, I very much doubt that there's an inch of health in that smoothie (healthiness doesn't come into question with afternoon tea - ever); it's basically a mini milkshake, and delicious it is too. Oh and there's a fruit scone, obviously.

Starting savoury, we headed to the burger first. A perfectly formed shiny bun, with a decent sized patty in the middle. Despite my doubts, it was super juicy and had just enough sauce, with a crisp lettuce leave adding a bit of crunch. Being a little pedantic though, we both felt it could have done with a bit more seasoning.

The wraps were a good touch - slightly less bread to fill up on - but I couldn't find much crème fraîche with my salmon. And with the chicken and avocado one, although the chipotle mayo had the right reddish hue, it wasn't smoky or spicy at all. C'est la vie.

The scones were crumbly and packed with fruit, but we were surprised that they came with mini jars of Bonne Maman - classic - but a jam made in-house or something local would've been more impressive. And we couldn't quite put our finger on what was different about the clotted cream either; it didn't have that thick gloopy texture you usually get, as if it was maybe a lower fat version…?! Clearly we're too used to Rodda's Cornish cream.

Struggling slightly, we worked our way through the sweet treats (admittedly not being able to finish everything). The lemon and polenta cake (GF) was just my cup of tea; slightly sharp, sticky and nutty. And I always approve of jazzing things up up with pistachios. The salted chocolate brownie was also gluten free, making it super moist and almost truffle like.

The pavlova was a welcome 'lighter' addition, and the meringue base held itself well; had it have been any more mallowy in the middle, I can imagine it'd have been near impossible to pick up and eat. The frozen summer berry smoothie acted as some sort of palate cleanser between each sweet, and I saved my favourite until last - the rhubarb cream. Tangy pieces of rhubarb in syrup lay at the bottom of a shot glass, topped with a set rich vanilla cream and a final layer of rhubarb jelly. A pick me up at the end of a weighty afternoon, although the tea spoons were a bit too big to reach the bottom of the glass - doh!

All in all, a hotel afternoon tea with a twist, and at £17.50pp with your pot of tea (more if you opt for champagne or cocktails), Malmaison has it at a really good price too. I'd say it's a lot more man friendly than most, and an easy crowd pleaser for the family. Perhaps not snazzy enough to take your mum for Mother's Day though - stick to Ellenborough Park for that.

Seeing Out 2015 Pt. 2

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 
Before we get too far into January, it's time to finish off telling you the tail end of 2015 (see my previous post here).

Avoiding the Christmas panic, The Chap and I took some time out for ourselves and spent a few well earned weekends doing the things we love most. 

Firstly, Brunch... Instead of heading out to a café, myself and another blogger buddy, Roseann from Honeybourne Line (check her out), arranged a brunch date at hers. Obviously, The Chap and her other half Kinglsey, of Kingsley Leather (check him out too), were in on it as well. 

We all first met at last year's Diamond Rush, boozily sipping Champers in Beard's after finding our gems, little did we know that we had so much in common! A few diamond winner dinners later, and here we are; a food blogger's brunch (accompanied by two hungry food loving fellows), and having each made a sweet and a savoury option, we had loads to go round. 

Roseann and Kingsley whipped up Jamie O's Pancetta Hash with Eggs & Apple Salad along with what's essentially a deliciously sweet yorkshire pudding - Dutch Baby with Fresh Berries. The Chap and I turned up with our make-ahead-transportable-goods, Ruby Tandoh's Broccoli, Gorgonzola & Walnut Quiche and the best readers' recipe from the OFM Awards 2015, Masala Chai Banana Bread with Coconut, Cream Cheese & Cardamom Icing. Washed down with tea, coffee, buck's fizz and prosecco, we somehow grazed our way through 4 whole hours! Job well done I'd say, and we'll definitely have to do it again.

Tivoli Wines Christmas Wine Fair is our annual indicator that it is in fact coming up to Christmas. Every year we lower the tone in The Bacon Theatre, stumbling around, trying as much as is humanly possible. Thankfully, The Chap's brother and sister in law joined us this year, so we weren't drunkenly chatting and embarrassing ourselves alone - haha! As always, it was a cracking night. Pop it in your diary now - the last Friday of November.

As a Christmas present to ourselves, we booked a trip to London to eat, drink and be merry in the places we love best. We stayed at the Town Hall Hotel in Bethnal Green, which I'd wholeheartedly recommend to anyone; it's stunning. There's a snazzy restaurant within the building - The Typing Room - and a shit-hot cocktail bar, Peg + Patriot. The Piccadilly Circus with daikon infused Nikka Whisky, fermented rice, purple shiso, Belsazar White Vermouth, sesame oil and dried seawater is incredible. 

Street Feast's #HawkerHouse has become a bit of a winter tradition between us, so we managed to get a visit in just before it finished it's residency at Canada Water. Whisky roulette, Smokestak ribs, Kamm & Sons cocktails, wine, and so much food made for a pretty special night. 

Oysters are a must on any Scott and Lucie adventure, and in two days we managed to have them twice! The brand new Noble Rot Bar & Restaurant was the top of our 'to do list', and having some seriously good wine paired with half a dozen oysters as soon as we arrived in the big smoke set the tone for the weekend pretty well. The other oysters came from Decatur at Druid Street Market; chargrilled Maldon rock oysters with butter, cajun spices and hot sauce. These totally sorted out our hangovers, and not having tried cooked oysters before, we're now desperate to give them a go at home!

Other eats in the Druid Street/Maltby Street area included the mega Reuben at Monty's Deli. We've tried various times to try the salt beef sarnies after seeing them on Tom Kerridge's TV programme yonks ago, and with a full on arch, rather than just a stall, we finally got our chops around one. It was everything we wanted it to be, I'm only sad that I had to share.

40 Maltby Street is a no reservations natural wine bar that serves up some wonderful food alongside some quirky wines. Avoiding the crappy weather, The Chap, my bestie and I pulled up a pew and spent a few hours sipping vino and munching on fried pheasant.

As you might have guessed from previous posts (and the start of this entry), brunch is a sure fire hit with me. I torture myself by perving on all the London Food Instagrammers on a daily basis, but it's so useful in gauging where's best to go when we're in town. Nine times out of ten it's bang on, but unfortunately we got struck with that 1/10 this time. Kopapa's Turkish Eggs are Instagram famous, but I felt the taste wasn't quite as good as the hype; the chilli butter could have been spicier, and paying a tenner for the privilege seemed a little steep. The Chap's experience was the clincher though, his pot of tea arrived cold and his Chorizo Hash came with two non-runny fried eggs. I so wanted it to be good, but I fear it's a case of Social Media making things look better than they are (see Jay Rayner's Observer article on this). 

The Grape Escape's December wine tasting was a Christmas special; 4 rounds - fizz, whites, reds and sweets - with 3 wines for each... Dreamy. Though it was even more significant for me, as I offered my services and rustled up some food to accompany each round! Coming back (hungover) from London on Sunday afternoon, I cooked a hoofin' turkey, and didn't stop in the kitchen until the tasting started on Monday night (note the last photo above). The menu was:

Fizz: Parmesan biscuits. Pork, apple, apricot & thyme sausage rolls. Stilton & walnut balls.
Whites: Smoked salmon blinis, Prawn cocktail lettuce cups.
Reds: Devils on horseback. Turkey, cranberry and stuffing sandwiches.
Sweets: Mince pies. Chocolate puddles. Clementine cake.

Had I not gone to London and had the whole weekend to prep, I'm sure it would have been a much easier task, but I'm still pretty chuffed with how it all turned out. And a thank you present in the form of Broc Cellars Carbenet Franc Fizz made the last minute stress all worth it.

Finally, after months of people prying, I asked my two favourite ladies to be my bridesmaids. Having not seen one of them since my birthday, we organised a day trip to Birmingham to celebrate, and what better celebration than Afternoon Tea?! The Edgbaston, which is a bit of a trek out of the centre, was recommended to me, and as soon as we got there and saw the black and gold Art Deco decor, I knew we were in for a treat.

We started with a cocktail (because their cocktail list is mega), and I had the Smoke & Mirrors, which arrived in a glass dome filled with smoke; Glenfarclas, Smoked PX Sherry, Cherry Liqueur and Chocolate Bitters. Yes.

Our afternoon tea started with an amuse bouche cloaked in dry ice; carrot cake crumble, carrot purée and spiced brandy ice cream. Being December, everything had a festive twist, and we even had a turkey and cranberry sandwich in our selection. The warm scones - one fruit, one plain - were crisp on the outside, sweet and fluffy on the inside, and piled high with jam and clotted cream, I was in heaven.

The patisserie/petit fours were the highlight though; green apple meringue Christmas trees. mini mince pies, passion fruit and coconut macaron snowmen, berry meringue mushrooms and a rum and chestnut tart (which was my favourite).

It's £25 per person for The Edgbaston's Afternoon Tea, or £33 to include a glass of Champagne. Money well spent.

So that's 2015 done and dusted. Here's to a more exciting year ahead! 

The Vineyard Stockcross with Daniel Galmiche

"Eating out is one of the greatest pleasures of life. I have made it my mission to communicate this."  

Daniel Galmiche

Last month saw The Chap and I mark our 6th Anniversary. In true Lucie & Scott fashion, a celebratory foodie jaunt was needed, and considering next year we'll probably be in full-on-wedding-saving-mode, we thought we'd be a bit extravagant.

Following a recommendation on good food and good wine, we found ourselves at The Vineyard in Stockcross, Newbury. It holds no Michelin Stars, but headed up by Daniel Galmiche (the French chef you might recognise from BBC's Saturday Kitchen, and whose quote above is one I wholeheartedly agree with), the food still gives you that fine dining, gastronomic experience you'd expect from such places. Described as being "the champion of classic cooking with a contemporary twist", and having seen him produce some intricate dishes on the TV, I was very much looking forward to seeing what was on the cards for dinner.

It's not just the food that lures people to The Vineyard though - the name's a bit of a hint - there's a ridiculous wine selection to boot. 30,000 bottles, 3,000 bins and 100 wines by the glass. See, ridiculous! And with a glass floored wine vault taking pride of place at reception, leading to a huge painting depicting the Judgement of Paris wine tasting that took place in 1976, this is a wine-lover's paradise.

Also, every weekend, the sommelier team hand-pick a special bottle of wine to open for guests to sample. Each 'Iconic Wine' is chosen for its prestige and critical acclaim, and is available by the glass at cost price. Ok, so cost price is generally around the £30-40 mark per glass, but you're not going to splash out on the bottle when it's over £200 on the menu, so it gives you the chance to try something pretty special without hitting the 3 figures.

We had the Icon Wine included in our overnight package and, on the weekend we were there, it was the Joseph Phelps Insignia 2000, Napa Valley. 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Franc. A rich ruby purple colour, it was full of black fruits, cinnamon, spice, roasted espresso and tobacco. With soft, supple tannins showed off the sweet blackcurrants, and despite a bit of earthiness, it had no hard edges on the finish. A whole hour passed before we finished our glasses; it was clearly so good that we had to savour every sip! 

An afternoon spent in the '5 Bubbles Spa' - where I had a rather expensive, but enjoyable massage - and some unexpected macrons delivered to our room (my faves!) then we were ready for dinner.

The restaurant takes a slightly more unusual approach to your typical tasting menu; essentially, you create your own! Split up into your starters, fish, meats, and desserts, you can pick 4 or 5 dishes from the list, with a minimum of one dessert, and then you get your custom-made dream menu. Got a sweet tooth? Get a couple of desserts. Not a fan of fish? Pick out of the other options. Choose whatever you like! 

The Chap and I had two of the same dishes, but everything else different, which meant we got the best of both worlds; tried a good proportion of the menu, but didn't get too much food envy! And for the first time, we went for an accompanying wine flight.

Our amuse bouche sums The Vineyard up; it was simply a glass of wine. Crisp, fresh, and somewhat peachy, the Californian Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2013 set the tone for the evening. 

My first course seduced me with it's prettiness; confit foie gras, gariguette strawberry, sesame nougatine and hazelnuts. Foie gras and sweet strawberries is a combination I'd not had before, God knows why, it was amazing! Paired with a tart and flowery Franck Peillot Altesse, Roussette du Bugey, 2012. 

The Chap had pressed rabbit and parsley terrine, confit carrot and mustard, with a gorgeous German Riesling; Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, 2012. 

It was *snap* with our second course - both obsessed with scallops, both love the flavour of truffle - hand dived Orkney scallops, baby artichoke, black truffle. Plump, caramelised, and possibly erring on the 'under' side of caution, the scallops appreciated the gentle punch of truffle with the floral/mineral Tuscan white; Frescobaldi Vermentino Ammiraglia 2013.

We then doubled up on our fishy dishes; me with Brixham lemon sole, shellfish emulsion, pak choi salad and a delightful 10 year old Muscadet - Pierre Luneau-Papin Muscadet L D`Or 2005 - and The Chap with a much more striking plate of line caught halibut, tomato, shallots and aioli. His wine was a stunner too, a tropical white Rioja, Inspiración Valdemar Tempranillo Blanco 2013. 

The super seasonal rack of spring lamb with asparagus, celeriac and morels was an obvious choice for us both for main course. Surrounded by springtime ingredients - wild garlic, those firm green spears, root veg and earthy morels - the lamb was still glistening rouge in the middle; a sight that puts a smile on any carnivore's face. It's partner in wine-crime was the Prats + Symington Post Scriptum de Chryseia Douro, 2012; cherries, plum, black tea and spice shined bright from this tasty Portuguese number.

I always find dessert a tricky option, mainly because I want ALL of the menu, or failing that, I'd ideally like to mix and match the various components. Having eaten and drank quite a lot, I surprised myself by choosing something light; confit apple, bergamot sorbet, arlette. So kind of like a "deconstructed" (yuck - I hate that word) tarte tatin - glossy caramelised apples and a piece of sugar crusted pastry - served with a fragrant, zesty sorbet, and a bit of cream that tied the whole dish together.

The wine match was a honey hued glass of Ferrari-Carano Eldorado Gold 2008, California. Never having dessert wines when we go out, this felt like a mega treat; oh how the other half live (.. I'm just jealous). Dried apricot, nutmeg, and maple aromas complimented the sticky apples, and the caramel, pear and vanilla flavours rightly out-sweetened the sorbet. Need I say more? Mmmm.

The Chap had the other dessert that I was contemplating - rhubarb and vanilla parfait, rhubarb roulade, tarragon dressing - a rhubarb riot! The contrast between sweet, sharp, and semi-savoury (thanks to the tarragon) was playful, and it's fun candy pink and white appearance suited it down to a tee. Paired with it was Justino's Madeira Colheita 1998, Portugal; dark brown sugar, dried fruits and toffee notes were balanced by a surprising acidity, making it slip down all the more easily.

Petit Fours arrived at our table; a lovely touch seeing as they're usually an additional cost. More macarons (not that I'd ever complain about that), intensely rich dark chocolate truffles, and chocolate shells filled with a tingly mint ice cream.

Having a lady tinkering on the keys of a grand piano throughout the night, and with the restaurant being full of people nattering away, having a great time, dinner at The Vineyard felt like a very relaxed affair. Not an ounce of stuffiness, not a single raised eyebrow, just service with a smile, and smiles that were very much reciprocated.

The next morning, we just about managed to drag ourselves out of our comfortable bed to check out the breakfast. That extra effort was duly rewarded with some crackin' Eggs Royale and a hefty continental spread.

Before saying farewell, we had a quick tour of the wine cellar, making us green with envy... The flat below ours surely wouldn't mind us knocking through their ceiling to create a snazzy cellar, would they? I really want one!

Anyway, one visit to The Vineyard is certainly not enough. As soon as we got into the car we discussed the possibility of returning the following week for their Californian Wine Weekend (though sadly we couldn't go). We have, however, agreed that the Judgement of Paris wine flight and dinner combo is something to be added to our bucket list, so we will make it back at some point. It is only an hour away after all...

Fine Dining at Ellenborough Park

When you're looking for somewhere to go for dinner, no doubt you'll be asking friends who've been there, what it's like, who's written reviews about it, who the chef is, etc, etc.. At Ellenborough Park they've taken these "who"s to another level; a who's who of what's on your table - cutlery n'all! Stylishly presented in a handy infographic, this is different territory for a restaurant of this standard. It can sometimes be a bit daunting when you're face to face with a perfectly laid out table - with barely an inch to perch your elbow - so this is a refreshing stance.

The main man behind this idea - king of Ellenborough Park's kitchen - is proud Welshman David Kelman. You might recognize his name; he was one of the 24 chefs within the ninth series of the Great British Menu. Having achieved many respected and acclaimed awards over the years, David has just been named Chef of the Year at the Taste of Glos Awards 2014; he won the same accolade in 2013, so he's clearly doing something right. His restaurant, The Beaufort Dining Room at Ellenborough Park, proudly holds an accomplished 3 AA rosettes; this is awarded to outstanding restaurants where cooking is underpinned by the selection of the highest quality ingredients, consistently excellent timing, seasoning and judgement of flavour combinations and supported by a well-chosen wine list.

I'm yet to go for dinner, but The Beaufort Dining Room is one of Cheltenham's finest restaurants. It's situated away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, past Prestbury, at the foot of picturesque Cleeve Hill. With original oak panelling, Tudor fireplaces and stained glass Oriel windows, it provides the perfect setting for celebrations and special occasions. The A La Carte menu features classic British dishes with a modern twist, all using the best local produce - think Pan-fried Loin of Spring Lamb, Peas, Broad Beans, Leeks and Asparagus, Wild Garlic Potato Purée, Young Carrots & Honey Glazed Sweetbreads - drool. Two courses are available for £45, or three for £55, though a triumphant three course Sunday Lunch is £30 per person; great value!

I have visited Ellenborough Park once before, to sample their Afternoon Tea, and let me tell you, it was by far the best I've had in and around the area. Not only were all the elements executed to such a high standard - a serious choice of tea, quality sandwiches, fluffy scones (the blueberry and buttermilk was a winner), perfect patisseries - but even the plates/cups/teapots/cutlery were well considered. Apparently, the fine bone china was specially commissioned for the hotel; the designs echo the original features of the building, ensuring that the history is carried throughout the whole Ellenborough experience.

If you haven't planned your trip to the hotel yet (why haven't you?!), then perhaps following one of David's recipes might be of interest to you instead? Fellow Cotswold blog Rich in Flavour has shared David' luxurious take on boiled egg and soldiers, complete with asparagus, peas and air dried ham; I need to make this ASAP... Or how about fillet of cod with baby vegetables, saffron potatoes and tomato dressing? I'll salute my fave local foodie mag, Crumbs, for that one!

So how's this for size; thanks to David Kelman and Ellenborough Park, you can serve up these dishes at your excellently laid out table! Job done.

131 The Promenade

Roll up, roll up.. If you haven't already heard, Cheltenham has a super swish new hotel/restaurant/bar, and, hooray, its really good (it is also stumbling distance from home - bonus). 131 The Promenade, home of Crazy Eights, comes from the Lucky Onion group, which is responsible for The Tavern, just around the corner, and the increasingly popular Wheatsheaf in Northleach. Clearly, a huge amount of money has been invested into it's beautiful restoration, so, fear not, it won't be one of those places that pops up, gets a lot of hype, then gets forgotten about; it's here to stay and its going to be BIG, but maybe take a trip there soon whilst it's still out to impress and gleaming.

Situated opposite The Imperial Gardens and The Queens Hotel, the epic Georgian building, which had been left derelict for so many years, now stands proud (the additional topiary is a nice touch too). There are eleven luxurious rooms, each individually decorated and furnished, and the restaurant and bar are split over two floors, with private dining rooms, sitting rooms and a small library. Although it's a vast building, it feels very cosy, almost den like; you could easily hide away in here for days. Attention to detail has been the key here, 131 has managed to retain it's Georgian heritage, whilst boasting a very contemporary identity. Antiques and oddities fill every room, plush chairs and sofas invite you to sit down, and statement pieces of art make great talking points.

Anyway, its been just over a month since we ventured there for dinner and drinks - we've been back since (.. on more than one occasion as you'd imagine) - and it was the first night 131 was open to the public, strictly reservations only though. We plonked ourselves at the bar, on the stunning teal/turquoise leather bar chairs, and hit the cocktail menu. All on one page, which is my personal preference, it comprises a list of forgotten classics and interesting combinations, Beer & Smoke, for example, sees mezcal, lime, celery bitters, cholula and Bobby lager mixed together. I started safe, and opted for a Pisco Sours, whilst the chap chose a Penicillin (scotch, peated scotch, lemon, ginger, honey). 

No sooner as they had slipped down, we were seated for dinner. The food is British seasonal fare, and, where possible, locally sourced, with a heavy emphasis on seafood and steaks. There's good value to be had on the menu, with mains around the £15-£20 mark, though some dishes are pretty steep (the 1.2 kilo steak titled 'The Axe' comes in at £125). Another round of cocktails - this time I had a Chrysanthemum (dry vermouth, benedictine, absinthe, orange bitters) - and some Hobbs House sourdough with butter, then we just about managed to decide what we wanted to eat. It was hard, the venison wellington was very tempting.

The chap had a steak, rare, I dont remember which one, with stilton hollandaise and a side order of duck fat chips. A classic Friday night dinner and an award winning combo if you ask me; sweet tender meat, salty creamy sauce, crisp fluffy centred chips, and a good handful of refeshing watercress to balance it out.

With steak tatare on the menu, lets face it, I was never going to choose anything else. Steak, finely chopped with shallots, capers, herbs and the likes, with a golden egg yolk on top; it was served with super thin, super crisp toasts, and I had a side order of green beans to top up my 5-a-day. The idea of this dish - raw steak, raw egg - isn't for everyone, but for me, it was perfect; indulgent but not heavy.

We couldnt fit in desserts, but they had things like apple and date crumble with custard, hot chocolate pudding with clementine sorbet, brown sugar parfait with anise poached quince (all £6), and the obligatory cheese board supplied by local Neal's Yard Dairy (£9/12).

131 is the place to come for a decent drink in a stunning setting - maybe with a cheeky charcuterie plate from Trealy Farm (£6/12) - and as for dinner, it's quite the occasion place, so get planning for your birthdays. Shamefully, I haven't had the bright blue 131 cocktail yet (gin, blue raspberry syrup, lemon, egg white), so that means I'd better get back there pronto, right?..