FOOD + DRINK
Lunch at Bistro du Vin
You know those days when the rain doesn ’ t cease , and the drizzly breeze irritates you to the point of madness ? And then unexpectedly , through your frizzy hair and smeared eyeliner , the sun peeks out , the wind dies down , and within a matter of minutes life couldn ’ t be better ? It was one of those days when I visited Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells Bistro du Vin , and though the sunshine played a part in my day ’ s happiness , it was the food that really hit the spot . by Polly Humphris
Walking into Hotel du Vin ’ s bar area is what I would imagine walking into the Tardis would be like . The reception area , though not small , doesn ’ t give any hint of what lies around the corner to the right . The bar is what I would describe as swanky chic ; tactile , reclaimed darkstained floorboards , restored fireplaces , framed pictures and paintings , soft lighting and comfortable chairs .
Being a weekday and all , I wasn ’ t there for the bar ( unfortunately ). But fortunately , I was there for the food . Back across reception brought me to the Bistro du Vin – the hotel ’ s classy and comfortable eatery . As I mentioned , it had been chucking it down earlier , but somewhere between elevensies and lunchtime , Mother Nature had decided to grace us with her sunshine – and what a treat , as we were offered a table right by the window , so we could bask in the warmth of the sun ’ s rays while we enjoyed our food .
We ordered a bottle of sparkling water and settled in to have a look at the new bistro menu , which only launched last month . French inspired , it includes interesting starters such as scallops ceviche , and crispy porc joue terrine ,
alongside comforting mains including braised Herdwick lamb breast , and smoked salmon bâtonnets with a Bloody Mary chutney . The Bistro recently relaunched their Al Fresco menu too , so diners can choose to grab a table outside , and eat , drink and be merry under the welcome heat of the summer sun .
My guest and I decided on the scallops ceviche and the Provençal fish soup to start . If you enjoy ceviche , you ’ ll know it ’ s a pretty easy dish to get wrong . Hats off to the chef here though , as the scallops were beautiful ; not just in looks alone . Presented thinly sliced and placed back in their shells dressed in a zingy concoction of lime juice , salt , sugar , pomegranate , chilli and baby coriander , the flavours sang sharp enough to surprise your tastebuds with every bite , but never to the detriment of the scallops ’ delicate sweetness . The fish soup was refreshingly light in texture – sitting somewhere between a broth and a bouillabaisse – with a deep , seafood flavour and a welcome hit of Mediterranean tomato .
With offerings such as moules frites , canard and boudin noir saucisson , and a classic salad niçoise , the
selection of mains on the menu made me feel as though I was at a traditional French bistro , but in a gorgeous modern setting . Torn between two dishes , my guest and I opted to share a fillet steak and a superfood salad topped with chargrilled Normandy chicken . Served with crisp , salty chips , and a thick Béarnaise sauce flavoured with tarragon , the steak was beautifully tender and cut like butter . The salad of baby kale , edamame beans , quinoa and sprouts – though colourful , inviting and extremely tasty – came a close second .
Who wants dessert ? I do ! I do ! Not one to ever say no to a sweet happy ending , I opted for the Manjari pot au chocolat – a wonderfully rich dessert made with Madagascan Manjari chocolate , which is slightly bitter with lovely hints of soft fruit . I ’ m very possessive of my chocolate , and had to fight off my dining partner for this one – in the end I had to remove all cutlery from the table apart from my own spoon , to prevent cheeky chocolate thievery .
Finishing off with a freshly brewed coffee , it was nearly impossible to make myself leave . But … sigh … work beckoned – so off I went , daydreaming about returning on the next sunny day in Tunbridge Wells , when I shall bask , in the spacious outdoor area , under the early summer sunshine .
Hotel du Vin & Bistro Crescent Rd Tunbridge Wells TN1 2LY 01892 320749 www . hotelduvin . com / locations / tunbridge-wells
@ HdV _ Tunbridge
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