Anthony's Leeds
The 1207 from Mirfield was cancelled. The train operator didn't tell us as the PA system at the station had technical difficulties so they couldn't tell us. They did however manage to put up a poster saying that the PA system was down. So a quick change of plan meant a taxi to Leeds for this long awaited lunch.
And as usual when you are late for an eventr events conspired against us. Held at red lights for ages, learner drivers in front of us and of course that good old standby a tractor towing a trailer. We made it to the restaurant 5 minutes late.
Once inside all this didn't seem to matter at all. We entered a world of gastronomy and leisure and emerged 3 hours later well fed and very content.
An amuse bouche of rabbit & pistachio terrine with olive breadcrumbs, baby girolles and celery grass. Brilliant.
Three types of butter were proffered with the home cooked bread. Salted, Parmesan and noisette all beautifully shaped into perfect temperature cylinders on a black slate tray.
Braised pig cheek with crispy pigs ear, peas and endive in a cream and rum sauce. Served in deeeeeep white bowls that went down forever. Wonderful.
En passant a thick shiraz cabernet from Australia served in huge glasses with room to breathe.
Main course of Confit Lamb Breast, juicy roulade type dish served on Lime Bulga with spring onion and rocket salad. Strangely a smoked sprat was also on the plate and though tasty enough it didn't seem to add to the dish. Gorgeous entrée.
Dessert was strange. The Cherry and almond pud was served with sour glacé cherries, almond ice cream and was good but reeked of marzipan which for me was a drawback.
We opted to take a cheese course as well and were stunned to be offered the cheese menu. 33 yes 33 different cheeses to choose from. We could have 5 or 7 or 11 on a tray to share. A blue and a goat and 3 chef's choices and we received some brilliant cheese. A touch miserly with the portions but the quality was superb. I particularly remember the Livarot. In addition to the cheese there was Raisin bread, Pickled celery, spiced jelly and pear poached in red wine.
Coffe and petit fours included 4 different types of sugar, a strawberry chocolat each, a jelly & peanut chocolate and an orange cream. The cups had no handles but the coffee was good.
Overall it was an excellent lunch. A calm ambience, not too many diners and no pressure at all. Extra bread and butter was provided on request, a second bottle of wine was no problem. The waiters (one catalan and one english with big hair) politely explained each dish to us. Just over £100 for two but it was big occasion (Divorce party) and if you knock off the wine it was £30 for a very high class lunch.
The train home was late but I didn't care.
And as usual when you are late for an eventr events conspired against us. Held at red lights for ages, learner drivers in front of us and of course that good old standby a tractor towing a trailer. We made it to the restaurant 5 minutes late.
Once inside all this didn't seem to matter at all. We entered a world of gastronomy and leisure and emerged 3 hours later well fed and very content.
An amuse bouche of rabbit & pistachio terrine with olive breadcrumbs, baby girolles and celery grass. Brilliant.
Three types of butter were proffered with the home cooked bread. Salted, Parmesan and noisette all beautifully shaped into perfect temperature cylinders on a black slate tray.
Braised pig cheek with crispy pigs ear, peas and endive in a cream and rum sauce. Served in deeeeeep white bowls that went down forever. Wonderful.
En passant a thick shiraz cabernet from Australia served in huge glasses with room to breathe.
Main course of Confit Lamb Breast, juicy roulade type dish served on Lime Bulga with spring onion and rocket salad. Strangely a smoked sprat was also on the plate and though tasty enough it didn't seem to add to the dish. Gorgeous entrée.
Dessert was strange. The Cherry and almond pud was served with sour glacé cherries, almond ice cream and was good but reeked of marzipan which for me was a drawback.
We opted to take a cheese course as well and were stunned to be offered the cheese menu. 33 yes 33 different cheeses to choose from. We could have 5 or 7 or 11 on a tray to share. A blue and a goat and 3 chef's choices and we received some brilliant cheese. A touch miserly with the portions but the quality was superb. I particularly remember the Livarot. In addition to the cheese there was Raisin bread, Pickled celery, spiced jelly and pear poached in red wine.
Coffe and petit fours included 4 different types of sugar, a strawberry chocolat each, a jelly & peanut chocolate and an orange cream. The cups had no handles but the coffee was good.
Overall it was an excellent lunch. A calm ambience, not too many diners and no pressure at all. Extra bread and butter was provided on request, a second bottle of wine was no problem. The waiters (one catalan and one english with big hair) politely explained each dish to us. Just over £100 for two but it was big occasion (Divorce party) and if you knock off the wine it was £30 for a very high class lunch.
The train home was late but I didn't care.
posted by Julius Caesar at
2:25 pm
