The Clifton FoodFest and the Primrose Café

Receiving an invitation to the media preview week which would precede the Clifton FoodFest* simply has to be my top foodie 'win' of the year thus far. I mean, with no less than fifteen restaurants, cafés and delis taking part from within the upmarket confines of Clifton Village, this food-lover's festival would offer the public an opportunity to eat out for just £10 – bargain! As the brain child of the Business Improvement District (BID) for Clifton Village (formed in 2012 to support organisations within the region) and the first festival of its kind in the city, I saw it as an affordable means to explore the area's eateries. Plus, a reason to experience an establishment that I'd been meaning to visit for dinner (or specifically, for something a little more substantial than cake)...Cue the Primrose Café*, a picturesque and well-attended café-come-bistro that, given its location (on the cusp of the historic Clifton Arcade), allows for some pretty indulgent people-watching and more importantly, delivers what I'm told is first-rate fare. Let me be the judge of that....

Date and time: Wednesday 2^nd April 2014, 7:30pm

Name of Establishment: Primrose Café

Location: 1 Clifton Arcade, Boyces Avenue, Bristol

Reason for visit: The Clifton FoodFest and two-course-for-£10 offer

Stepping into the Primrose Café at dusk denotes a relatively different experience to a daytime sitting whereby coffee, cake and the hubbub of the passing crowd altogether encapsulates what has become an institution amidst Clifton's successful café culture. I'm not sure what I was expecting if I'm honest but fancy table dressings coupled with bistro-style formalities were really rather removed from what I'd grown accustomed to following previous visits. This was not to its detriment I'll hasten to add as sure enough, the familiar cosiness of this laid-back space had remained intact whereby the passive duet of chatter and jazz as well as the warm glow from the abundant candlelight created the perfect ambiance for an upmarket dinner – it could have almost been romantic, if my dining companion hadn't been my mum!

We dined from the 'Early Bird' menu which we understood would also serve those attending as part of the FoodFest. The menu offered three options for each course at a price of £10 for two or £12.50 for three. Mum and I opted for two and were glad that we did in light of the complimentary appetisers which accompanied the arrival of our drinks (small glasses of the house white - a French Sauvingnon - which you could opt to add to your meal for a mere £2.50 each). Here, espresso cups of mushroom and truffle soup were drizzled with crème fraiche and accompanied with homemade sour dough – a little too sizeable to be considered appetisers in my view but a real treat nevertheless. Main courses were served promptly afterwards; the asparagus and wild garlic risotto for me and the mackerel fillet for mum; a dish which she enthused, was expertly executed - the fish itself proving succulent and tasty with the odd bone discovery excused in favour of its fresh appeal. She particularly enjoyed the aubergine and spring onion medley which, basking in the oil from the meat above, had been well seasoned with coriander, ginger and the kick of fresh chilli. The risotto was well portioned and thoughtfully plated; by which I refer to my life-long inability to knock-up an attractive rice dish! Instead, the asparagus contributed a little colour to the plate's overall aesthetic and punctuated the decadently creamy rice with an adequate crunch. I felt that the garlic content could have been elevated somewhat and yet, this is simply due to personal taste, (no vampires on me folks!)

 

It's fair to say that we were suitably impressed so far – not only with the gastronomical element of the evening but also with the efficient yet friendly disposition of the serving staff who altogether enhanced the relaxed atmosphere of the space. Despite being rather full up, mum and I powered through to the dessert course, rather taken with the lengthy menu of cheeses from which to choose the basis of your cheese board. Mum selected an Irish Ardrahan which, sourced from the neighbouring Arch House Deli, was honey-coloured to the eye and flavoursome to taste – its fragrant bite perfectly contrasting the sweet chutney that neatly crowned the fruit and cracker assortment. I opted for a diverse ensemble of sticky-sweet maple and pecan ice cream and tart raspberry sorbet, both of which had been made on the premises and delivered their flavours in bursts upon the palate. 

In conclusion, I'd certainly recommend the Primrose Café as a dinner-time domain (or, in fact, for any occasion) and without the incentive to visit courtesy of the Clifton FoodFest, I may well have remained amongst those who consider this fantastic spot an ample choice for lunch without ever learning of its after-hours alter ego! I think badging an establishment as a café can sometimes skew one's perception of its intentions...not to mention its opening hours! That said, perhaps with incentives like the Clifton FoodFest, the public will further experience the Primrose Café’s culinary expertise which is undoubtedly of restaurant quality; professionally delivered yet affordable. Couple that with the great service and pleasant surroundings which pull in scores of Cliftonites each and every day and you'll realise that there's a lot more to this Bristol go-to than meets the eye! What's more, the Clifton FoodFest doesn't end until Sunday 13^th April so you still have a whole week in which to take advantage of the numerous money-saving meal options available in and around the village. What are you waiting for? Try somewhere new today! 

And now for the second option....
Mum gave the Primrose Café a rating of 10/10 and in three words, described her experience as 'impossible to fault'. Praise indeed.

References: 
*http://www.bidcliftonvillage.co.uk/Clifton_Foodfest.html  

For more  information about the Clifton FoodFest, including a full listing of the participating eateries and the deals that they're offering, click the link above.

*http://www.primrosecafe.co.uk/

Hi! Street presents…The Clifton Cake Crawl

Date and Time: Sunday 11^th March 2012 from 13:00

Names of Establishment (in order of appearance): Lahloo Pantry, Arch House Deli, The Primrose Café, Zazu's Kitchen, Cordial and Grace

Location: Clifton Village

Reason for Visit: An introduction to the Hi! Street ‘app’ via a bespoke BS8-based Cake Crawl; utter genius…!

Inviting me to join a team of cupcake enthusiasts for a sweet soiree amidst the café-laden metropolis of Clifton Village was rather like asking a desert-dweller whether they'd like an iced beverage...Initiated by Bonnie Colville-Hyde in light of the imminent launch of her extra-curricular venture, 'Hi! Street' (an 'app' which provides localised deals in regards to the independent retailers in one’s immediate area), the concept of a cake crawl was unsurprisingly met with unanimous approval. That said, I will hasten to add that whilst gorging on baked-goods, quaffing flutes of Prosecco and nattering with the girls involved a great deal of fun, it was also all in the name of research! And, to that end, our itinerary/findings unfolded as follows:

13:00 – Empty Stomachs and Introductions

First things first, I feel that I should 'out' the team and so, without further ado, we are:

Bonny Colville-Hyde (@hi_street) – The captain of our cake-based crusade and part of the Hi! Street production team (http://www.histreet.co.uk/)

Helen Pullen (@Boutique_33) – Involved in the promotion of http://www.boutique33.co.uk/, an up-and-coming boutique in the heart of Clifton Village

Emily Knight (@BristolBites) – The owner of http://www.bristolbites.co.uk/, the definitive guide to Bristol's foodie scene

Hayley Constantine (@Hayles) – The owner of fashion/lifestyle blog, http://www.ceriselle.org/

Sarah (@PrincessPurling) – A fellow foodie and Sunday Roast mastermind!

Rachael Simmons (@doeeyedcabbage) – The Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and (rather humble) kitchen whiz...

Sam Evans (Me - @samfraggle) – The notoriously sweet-toothed owner of http://www.canapesandcupcakes.blogspot.com/

13:00 Continued – Arrival at Lahloo Pantry (http://www.lahloopantry.co.uk/)

As an unpretentiously modern tea-room with a huge range of home-baked indulgences to choose from, Lahloo Pantry was a great place to kick-start our 'crawl' and, due to the extensive line-up of teas on offer, most accompanied their cake with a brew...the Wild Rose, White Peony and classic Earl Grey all proving especially popular. Most also opted to indulge in a home-made lemon and buttermilk scone which, albeit a rather sizeable starting point given the fact that we had four additional venues to visit, was just divine - the delicate balance of flavours further enhanced with the addition of a wonderfully tart lemon curd and passion flower preserve, yum! Others chose the Victoria Sponge (complete with genuine strawberry over-spill) and vanilla macaroons; both of which were reportedly delicious.

Verdict: The tea-lovers choice and my personal favourite in terms of good quality edibles...

13:45 – Arrival at Arch House Deli (http://www.archhousedeli.com/)

Here, we decided to share the desired edibles between us and, each donning a cake fork, well and truly tucked in! Our selections (and consequently, our findings) were:

Chocolate and Star Anise Sponge – an unusual combination whereby rich chocolate gave way to the aniseed aroma of star anise; an acquired taste…

Cherry and Coconut Polenta Cake – a light, well proportioned bake packed full of juicy cherries – a winner for me!

Honey Cream and Banana Loaf – An oddly flavoured sponge which, to be honest, I wasn’t overly fond of. Based on my rather established cake-related wisdom, I thought that the banana content required considerable oomph so to lend to the arrangement a little more in the way of texture and taste.

Jasmine Tea and Lemon Sponge – The overall favourite given its perfectly executed consistency and subtly sweet fragrance – pure joy!

Verdict: An extensive and imaginative line-up of bakes for those who believe that variety is the spice of life! Once again the 'Deli of the Year 2011' delivers...

Cherry and Coconut Polenta Cake

Four between Seven!

14:15 – Arrival at The Primrose Café (http://www.primrosecafe.co.uk/)

It's fair to say that at this point, we were all starting to feel a little 'caked-out' but soldiering on as we had originally intended, opted again for the 'sharing is caring' concept. Thus, the BFF and I split a slice of the Victoria Sponge between us which, packed with fresh raspberry compote, fared rather well but, in my view, less spectacularly so than the cakes sampled elsewhere. Also, although on this occasion we were rather grateful for distinctively 'modest' portion sizes, I'm not sure that we would have left as satisfied had we not been, suffering quite frankly, from our adventures thus far!

Verdict: A moderate 'cake-over' may have fabricated an accurate review of this particular venue and yet, considered something of a Bristol institution, I’m pretty sure that it won’t hinder the likelihood of a return-visit!

15:00 – Arrival at Zazu's Kitchen (http://www.zazuskitchen.co.uk/)

Starting to slip into a sugar-induced slump, it's fair to say that the well-made latte (on my part) and individually-sized Portuguese custard tarts all but saved the day; their almost savoury appeal mutually appreciated and immensely enjoyed. That said, the presence of a crème brûlée style burnt-sugar stickiness provided the angle required to define this input as a valid part of the crawl – not to mention the fact that it made for simply delicious eating! Furthermore, the buzz of a much-loved establishment made for a lovely, if not a little humid, atmosphere: recommended!

Verdict: The turning point: A much-needed diversion to prevent sponge-elicited sickness!

15:30 – Arrival at Cordial and Grace (http://www.cordial-and-grace.co.uk/)

With brightly-coloured, candy-striped décor, Cordial and Grace certainly looked the part...and upon being presented with a tasting plate of all the cake-affiliated luxuries on offer that day, it tasted the part too! We sampled the likes of Cinnamon and Nutella Sponge, Blueberry and Lemon Loaf and, my personal favourite, Chocolate and Peanut Butter Brownies, (so good I had purchase the rest of the supply to take home!) We also ordered savoury (pesto) scones in order to balance the palate somewhat, which were presented over three dainty bone-china tiers and accompanied with cream cheese and tangy home-made chutney. And, to complete the 'crawl', we toasted crisp Prosecco to the success of our afternoon, full stomachs and new-found acquaintances as the sun set over Clifton Village – idyllic indeed!

Verdict: My favourite venue in terms of overall ambiance and, with a quaint sewing parlour downstairs, the appeal of what is fundamentally, a rather girly space and a reasonably-priced range of afternoon tea options to boot, I absolutely can't wait for an excuse to re-visit...

"Let Them Eat Cake!"

VIP Guests!

In conclusion, a fantastic afternoon with engaging company and an opportunity to both experience new venues and secure old favourites. This was also a great introduction to the upcoming Hi! Street iPhone 'app' which will ultimately support independent businesses (such as those detailed above); offering localised deals and money-saving incentives to those who register...a commendable notion which, one might suggest, makes exploring one's neighbourhood, 'a piece of cake'!