ASDA's 'Extra Special' Vino Collection - Winter 2013

It has to be said that being invited to sample ASDA’s ‘Extra Special’ wine collection – expertly selected for the festive season - really kick-started those ‘warm and fuzzies’; y’know, the ones so commonly affiliated with this time of year and the selflessness of giving! Thus, rounding up my nearest and dearest, I did what any aspiring wine buff would do and conducted a strategic series of high-brow tastings whereby the four red and two white wines I had been given were proficiently analysed …Not really; my friends, family and I had a great deal of fun; sipping, slurping and swishing our way through all six bottles, mopping up the alcohol content with a grotesque amount of cheese but most importantly, identifying several favourites that would no doubt see us through to the New Year...

White wine Tasting Panel: The Girls
‘Extra Special’ Fiano 2012 (Italian wine, 13%)
Reminiscent of 'a woodland walk on a crisp day', this was described as rustic and flavoursome; channelling notes of passion fruit, lemon and ripe apple. It's fresh finish heightened its appeal; making for an easily-drinkable wine. Delicious. 4/5

‘Extra Special’ Pinot Grigio 2012 (Italian wine, 12.5%)
With an undeniably acidic quality and tart apple aroma, this was quite a contrast to the oh-so-smooth Fiano. Yet, we agreed that whereas the delicate nature of the Fiano would be lost somewhat alongside a hearty dinner, the Pinot would cut through it, slapping you in the face with its almost abrasive twang Not a favourite. 1/5

Red wine Tasting Panel: The Parentals
Extra Special’ Nero d’Avola 2011 (Sicilian wine, 13%)
A pleasant red with rich, fruity aromas and ripened cherry notes. Establishing a rather dry after-taste which suitably contrasted the initial cheekiness which could have been mistaken for a shallow disposition which simply wasn’t the case – lovely! 4/5

‘Extra Special’ Cotes Du Rhone 2012 (French wine, 13%)
Is ‘mellow’ another word for bland? Perhaps so given that this particular tipple wasn’t especially well-received; it’s palatable peppery undertones proving its only redeeming feature. A ‘typical French plonk’ mused Dad with Mum adding, rather diplomatically, that it simply did not live up to its ‘Extra Special’ label. A shame… 2/5

‘Extra Special’ Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 (13.5%)
I've got a real thing for Chilean reds and this certainly didn't disappoint with admirable depth to its berry hues and an almost chocolaty after-taste, (trust me on this one)...Curious. 4.5/5

‘Extra Special’ Old Vines Garnacha, Syrah 2011 (Spanish wine, 14%)
Inadvertently, we saved the best for last…unusually unanimous in our decision that this was by far, our favourite! Full-bodied with a decadently, fruity bouquet, this was a fantastically balanced wine which we considered a suitable accompaniment to all nature of cuisine yet palatable enough to drink on its own – the latter proving all too tempting for Dad who finished off the bottle! Wine with the wow-factor! 5/5

When you stop asking yourself whether I'm actually an alcoholic (I'm not, I was just very thirsty), you'll no doubt check out ASDA's 'Extra Special' wine range for yourself. Currently priced from just £5 a bottle, there are some absolute corkers which are perfect for the upcoming festivities. Furthermore, as 'Extra Special' denotes the partnership that ASDA have with Leith's School of Food and Wine, you know that you're in good hands – go on, get the party started...cheers!

References:
Website: www.asda.com
Tweet: @asda

The Bertinet Bakery, New Bond Street Place - Bath

For me, the joys of December cannot truly begin until my annual trip to Bath's popular Christmas Market* is under-way; a shoe-in to the festivities whereby over 140 traditional wooden chalets – selling the likes of locally-sourced edibles, decorations and gifts - adorn the cobbles near to the city's iconic Abbey. On this particular visit, the girls and I decided that to kick-start the proceedings, a spot of brunch was in order and fortuitously stumbling upon The Bertinet Bakery Shop and Café at the height of our hungriness, we ascended from the hustle and bustle (not to mention, the wonderful sights and smells) of the bakery to the intimately-arranged dining area on the first floor...

Date and Time: Sunday 2^nd December 2012, 11:30

Name of Establishment: The Bertinet Bakery Shop and Café*

Location: 6 New Bond Street Place (on the corner of Upper Borough Walls), Bath

Reason for Visit: A little respite from the cold and preparatory replenishment for the afternoon ahead..

After the success of his cookery school, it's fair to say that the newest outlet for French chef and baker Richard Bertinet - the quaint-looking establishment on the corner of Bath's Upper Borough Walls - is an asset to the city's café culture; offering a thoughtful assortment of sweet treats and savouries which you can opt to eat-in or take-away. Overall, this is a calming yet quirky space; unmistakably underpinned with an air of 'Le Français' which is channelled through the likes of a crisp colour scheme and its minimalistic décor. That said, punctuating the sophisticated ambiance with distressed wooden furniture, cushions made from Hessian flour sacks and framed images from Richard's cookery-book; 'Pastry', just about managed to promote a homely feel which would have been otherwise lost to the winter whites and cool greys that for me, also seemed to reflect the service which was at best; a little stand-offish and at worst; really rather rude. In line with this, one of my dining companions reported that she had been unapologetically bumped by a member of staff whilst she stood in line to pay for her fare – an experience that unsurprisingly tarnished her opinion of the venue before she had even sampled its wares. Furthermore, there was a right old kerfuffle in regards to our order which had obviously been incorrectly noted given that even our drinks took an age to make an appearance and were not quite right when they did so...

Calming yet quirky

Help-yourself!

Though table service has been eschewed in favour of a pay-at-the-till arrangement, I rather liked the help-yourself ethos when it came to toasting the contents of the 'Bertinet Bread Bucket' (£3.25) and portioning jam into little ramekins for a spot of free-hand spreading. In fact, this is exactly what I finally decided upon and although I was disappointed by the sliced, white twosome that skulked between the crinkled sheets of parchment paper, the sour dough was fantastic; thickly cut, fresh-tasting and quite frankly, delicious. I think it would have been preferable to be offered a choice of breads - especially given the varieties in abundance downstairs and the fact that, on the large part, white bread is nutritionally useless, (plus for me personally, pretty hard-going). Friend 'H' ordered the Croque Monsieur (£5.25) which although looked the part, was ruined somewhat by the amount of vinaigrette that had been added to the side-salad; soaking the bottom-half of the sandwich which resulted in an unpleasant acidic sogginess. She suggested that the overall ensemble would have fared rather better had the salad-dressing been included in the self-serve remit as the ingredients were essentially of a good quality, generously portioned and attractively plated. In light of this, we harboured some pretty serious food envy having noticed the couple on the table next to ours tucking into a rather spectacular cheese board (£7.50), especially upon discovering that this featured a number of my favourite cheeses: namely, Trethowan's Gorwydd Caerphilly and Homewood's Old Demdike.

Croque Monsieur

Bucket of Bertinet Bread

When it came to the all-important matter of cake and confectionery however, it was quite a different story; the 'cloud meringue' (served with a choice of decadent toppings) or salted butter caramel tartine proving particularly appealing. Besides this, there is a tempting array of scones, croissants and pastries on offer which can also be purchased 'to-go'; something which only the strong-willed can resist upon exiting the shop!

To wash down our fare, we found ourselves split between tea-drinkers and coffee addicts...and, firmly within the latter camp, I sipped at my authentically continental 'Cappuccino' which had been well-executed and richly-roasted – just lovely! Tea was served in sizeable pots alongside dainty, floral tea-cups made of the finest bone china yet disappointingly brandished with the odd dirty mark which ruined the appeal somewhat. That said, we liked that milk had been provided in old-fashioned bottles and later discovered that kiddies (or the young at heart) can opt for flavoured milk (caramel, chocolate, raspberry, strawberry or vanilla) which comes complete with an old-fashioned paper straw. It was also lovely to find that the Bertinet Bakery Café offer a 'breakfast bowl'; a typically French concept that I happen to be rather partial to having been introduced to it in Toulouse as a teenager. Here, this basically constitutes a choice between coffee or hot chocolate which is served in...yep, you guessed it...a soup bowl which is destined for some serious dunkage – a croissant proving (for me at least) the perfect accompaniment to this novel way of enjoying what is commonly considered the most important meal of the day!

Time for Tea!

In conclusion, there was definitely a hit and miss feel to The Bertinet Bakery Café; although many aspects of the experience looked the part, when it came to the conflict between style and substance, the latter seemed to fall a little short. Collectively, we felt that although the attention to detail made for an aesthetically pleasing visit, a little care needed to be applied to the delivery of the fare and most importantly, the standard of the customer service which was arguably, the most prominently French aspect of the venue overall! Criticisms aside, it's fair to say that if you're after affordable edibles and/or something to satisfy your sweet tooth; this is, without doubt, the place for you – though at present the shop fares rather better than the café, with a few tweaks here and there, I'm sure it could improve considerably; you might say, allowing its clientèle to have their cake and eat it...!

And now for the second opinion...

Friend 'H' gave The Bertinet bakery Café a rating of 6/10 and chose, 'pretty questionable service' as her three-word summary!

References:

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

*http://www.thebertinetkitchen.com/

Le Parisien Café and Restaurant – Milsom Place, Bath

Before committing to embark on my first Christmas shopping trip of the season, I thought it best to sit and gather my thoughts over a spot of breakfast and when in Bath, where better to seek an aspect of calm amidst the hubbub of city centre than Le Parisien Café and Restaurant; a stylish venue with a distinctively continental ambiance...

Date and Time: Sunday 20^th November 2011, 10:15

Name of Establishment: Le Parisien Café and Restaurant*

Location: Milsom Place*, Bath

Reason for Visit: Momentary solace from the rush of the weekend (and Christmas) shopping experience!

Situated in the prestigious Milsom Place complex, Le Parisien lends to the vicinity an air of independence given that its neighbouring eateries include top-end chains; YO! Sushi, Jamie's Italian and Côte Brasserie. The cobbled exterior courtyard which leads to a two-storey café-come-restaurant with a firm focus on all things 'le français', certainly draws in a dedicated clientele; no doubt those wishing to partake in the popular street-side café culture or in other words, watching the world go by from behind the rim of one's coffee cup. Consequently, the outside space, sheltered from the elements with burgundy awning, is rather better attended than the restaurant itself which I feel is a little dated in terms of its décor and perhaps does not reflect the appeal of this venue to the best of its ability. That said, it is perfectly comfortable and a lot more spacious than anticipated upon first glance.

However, I too chose to sit outside and, settling into a wicker chair beneath one of the sporadically placed heat lamps, took in my surroundings whereby rows of marbled table-tops gleamed under the morning sunlight and flurries of people flitted past; some opting to stay awhile whilst others moseyed on to the High Street beyond. The finishing touches make this an aesthetically pleasing space; the servers have been crisply attired and miniature salt and pepper shakers adorn each table alongside napkins – burgundy to adhere to the colour-scheme and intricately folded into ceramic containers, (an arrangement instantly destroyed however once one is removed!) Sipping at a skinny latte and delighting in its well-prepared potency, I will note here that service is efficient and quick yet not particularly friendly – a factor which made conversation seem ever-so-slightly mechanical and the particulars of one’s order left, for the large part, unacknowledged. For the record, I had to ask twice for skimmed milk and my question regarding the size of the coffee cups (whereby small basically denotes an espresso) was met with little more than a bemused expression. There is no denying the quality of the fare however as my Almond and Cherry Danish was just divine. Topped with nibbled almonds and a dusting of icing sugar, the fresh, flaky pastry was of a melt-in-the-mouth consistency and had been packed with an ample measure of bitter-sweet cheery purée. Of course, I could have chosen to invest in a full English Breakfast which, in my opinion, constituted the only low point in terms of the breakfast menu and yet, I was satisfied with what I had chosen – my selection proving tasty and filling despite its simplicity.

When it came to the lunch menu however, authenticity seemed to have been somewhat restored given the array of temptingly French options which included a cheese and charcuterie plate (£8.50), Croque Monsieur (£7.95) and Madame (£8.50) as well as a selection of freshly-filled baguettes. Of the hot plates, the Mussels Mariniere (£7.95) proved particularly appealing with the promise of a creamy garlic and white wine sauce in addition to an accompaniment of crusty rustic bread – yum! Furthermore, at what I considered a rather reasonable price and in light of the venue's alcohol licence, this dish could be perfectly coupled with a crisp glass of Chardonnay!

In conclusion, a predominantly chic café/restaurant set within well-established surroundings – surroundings which incidentally, seem rather well matched to the classical flair that Le Parisien clearly aspires to. The occasional strands of peculiarity however are undeniable; dishes, for instance, which have been haphazardly thrown into to the mix, (perhaps to accommodate Bath's tourist presence). Although I did not sample the full English breakfast and therefore cannot comment on the quality (or origins) of its ingredients, I would suggest that remaining mindful of its intended identity would fare better for this venue than offering a fry-up and thus, adhering to a notion of English-ness that here, sticks out like a sore thumb! Can I be so bold as to suggest freshly-prepared crêpes with seasonal berries as a suitable alternative? On the other hand, this was a perfectly pleasant spot to spend an hour or so and it's fair to say the character and poise of this venue all but won me over – I can sidestep the frosty nature of the service as ironically, it encompassed elements of that stand-offish French vibe that I happen to find amusing. It is simply the removal of those unnecessary crowd-pleasers that will tighten this venue's individuality and set it apart from the numerous chain restaurants in its midst.

  

References:

http://www.leparisien.co.uk/

http://www.milsomplace.co.uk/index.php

Café Rouge – Cabot Circus, Bristol

I love the ooh la la of French food; the in-your-face richness verses the delicate complexities of its fare and the chic appeal that, given its authenticity, can take me back to starry-eyed Parisian visits whereby my love-affair with this genre of cuisine began. Now, I'm not deluded enough to pile these expectations on a chain restaurant that provides a touch of le français for the masses and yet for me, visiting Café Rouge (in this case the branch situated amidst the plethora of eateries within the Cabot Circus composite), almost constitutes a guilty pleasure – perhaps in the same way that you know that X Factor will never be the same without Simon Cowell…but that doesn't stop you tuning in each week 'just to see if it's any good' and let's face it, finding that you enjoy the alternative for what it is regardless..!

Date and Time: Sunday 11^th September 2011, 17:45

Name of Establishment: Café Rouge*

Location: Cabot Circus, Upper Ground Floor

Reason for Visit: Avoidance of the Sunday dinner-time roast-up fiasco in addition to a buy-one-get-one-free offer courtesy of 'Voucher Cloud'!*

I think every Café Rouge I’ve ever set foot in has the exact set-up – vibrantly red colour scheme (obviously), token French words scrawled across the paintwork and an old-school Bistro-effect brought about by deep wooden panelling, gold lighting stemmed from the ceiling as well as a multitude of gaudy framed mirrors and pictures tightly arranged side-by-side. Not to mention the soundtrack which ranges from ambient sax to a cheese-fest of characteristically Eurovision ditties! That said, I've never known Café Rouge to be anything other than buzzing with a near-to-full occupancy and the evening of our visit was, in fact, the only exception. Our server mused that the lack of bodies was; 'probably subsequent to half of Bristol flocking to the establishment the previous evening' and although we smiled in agreement, it didn't alter the distinct lack of pizazz that is usually enjoyed as part of the 'Rouge' experience. However, it did mean that The Boy and I could pretty much choose where we sat and opting for an intimate corner booth, comfortably upholstered with cherry-coloured velvet, it proved a rather romantic setting, especially with tea-ilghts flickering from within their small stained-glass containers.

Red Threads!

Dining on a two-for-one basis (as mentioned above) and with an extensive range of typical French favourites to choose from, (Coq au Vin anyone?!), I probably picked a dish which was a little beyond the capabilities of my appetite and yet 'when in Rome'...well France actually...it would have been rude not to indulge in one of their specialities; and so, the Confit de Canard (£13.50) made an entrance. Amply presented, accompaniments consisted of French beans (perfectly crisp) and creamy dauphinoise potatoes topped with Gruyère cheese. I was a little disappointed with the potatoes which, although beautifully textured, proved a little bland in the flavour department. That aside, the meat itself was rich-tasting and succulent with a wonderfully crisped skin which just melted in the mouth – delicious! The finishing touch was a generous dousing of plum sauce which although in my opinion would have been better described as a jus due to its viscosity, had a pleasant twang which both contrasted and complimented other aspects of the dish and added a definite oomph where required! The Boy chose the 8oz Bavette (£12.95); a traditional French cut of steak marinated in rosemary and garlic. Although he assured me this was well-cooked to his medium-rare instruction, I thought it seemed a tad on the chewy side, (that said, I'm not a steak person by any stretch of the imagination so what do I know?!) His dish was served with French Fries, heaped in a appending ceramic bowl and then, in another smaller bowl, a runny yet satisfyingly punchy 'garlic beurre maison' which although was rather well received, was somewhat lacking in volume. Lastly, I have to mention how regimentally organised this plate was, each element segregated into its individual vessel – something which I'm not sure appealed, proving fussy just for the sake of it. We were too full for desserts but I did consider the crème brûlée (£4.95) which, made with vanilla pods and cream, was considered suitably decadent!

8oz Bavette

Confit de Canard

Service was chatty and polite – our waitress in particular proved efficient and commendably un-pushy given the fact that we paid with a voucher and and stuck to tap-water for the duration of our visit! The Boy and I didn't choose to partake in beverages of the alcoholic variety on this occasion as we both had early-starts the following day and besides, neither of us fancied forking out almost £4 for a small glass of vino which, although seemed a little pricey, I guess was moderately in keeping with restaurants of this calibre.

And so, just as anticipated, Café Rouge was fine...fine for eating-out on a budget and fine for avoiding twilight washing-up duties and yet, not providing the wow factor of other independently run and more authentically arranged French restaurants and cafés I've discovered*, (not to mention the eateries I found in Paris itself – high standards as they may be!) Perhaps it just tries too hard to achieve an atmosphere that we Brits will perceive as French culture – I mean the serving staff might as well wear horizontal stripes and a wreath of garlic bulbs around their necks to complete the stereotype! Yet, accept this chain for what it is as well as the notion that subtlety really doesn't work on a National scale and it can indubitably offer an enjoyable, and reasonably-priced night out, (with the lure of an offer that is and with a Prix Fixe menu available 12:00 noon – 5:00pm daily and a Du Soir Set Menu offering two courses for £10.50 after 5:00pm Sunday to Thursday, there are devices in place even if your money-saving 'apps' desert you!) Nevertheless, it's fair to say that overall the most important aspect of this establishment, its cuisine, is of a commendable standard and for that reason we can again settle on summing up Café Rouge as...fine, or as the French would say 'bien'!

And now for the male opinion...

The Boy gave Café Rouge a rating of 7/10 and in three words, described this venue as 'haw-hee-haw'! (Methinks he wasn't taking this seriously!)

References:
*http://www.caferouge.co.uk/

*http://www.vouchercloud.com/

*Bistro La Barrique, I will be paying you a visit very soon!!

Brasserie Blanc - Quaker's Friars, Bristol

Mentioning that I had rounded up a group of work colleagues for an evening of posh nosh at Brasserie Blanc, located within Bristol’s historic Quaker’s Friars square, was met with one of two reactions. Either with awe, inspired by the assumption of an impending special occasion, or simply a sharp intake of breath implying the anticipated financial sting. This venue certainly has a reputation for being prestigious and expensive - the latter somewhat unsupported by the available ‘Dine with Wine’ menu with which you can enjoy three courses and a glass of wine for under twenty quid. In fact, it was this very deal that gave me the final push to book a table and so it came to be that we would discover whether Brasserie Blanc would live up to the aforementioned preconceptions or alternatively, if it could offer the ‘everyday’ diner high-quality food at a price that wouldn’t break the bank…

Date and Time: Monday 6^th June 2011, 19:30

Name of Establishment: Brasserie Blanc

Location: The Friary Building, Cabot Circus-Bristol

Reason for Visit: Meal with Work Colleagues

There is no doubt that Raymond Blanc and his team fell on their feet when they were given the go-ahead to occupy this site – a converted Georgian Meeting House with two medieval halls, (built in the 13^th and 14^th Century and previously used by Bristol Guilds). With high ceilings and period features, you can't help but marvel at what is, a truly stunning setting in which to dine. It is also commendable that the décor has been tastefully arranged so not to take away from the grandeur of the architecture and even the ambient background music had been carefully selected to compliment the ethos of the restaurant itself.

Upon arriving, our party learned that our booking had been lost as a result of teething problems with the new online booking system. Luckily we were still able to be seated despite how busy the space had become, (something which I considered unusual for a Monday evening in Bristol!) We also learned that staff here are very accommodating, in fact almost a little over-attentive – whilst waiting for our full company to arrive we were asked by no less than four different members of staff whether we wanted drinks! However, this transpired into faultless service throughout the evening – there were always a multitude of servers on-hand who, it seemed, were more than happy to help.

Attentions turning to the food, our party (bar three) opted to eat from the 'Dine with Wine' menu whereby two courses were £13.50 and three, £15.95 with the option to add a glass of wine for as little as £1.95, (the top-end of this deal offers a glass of Joseph Perrier Champagne for £4.70). Whilst we waited, three baskets of sourdough were brought to the table – this was delicious but the lack of side-plates made for an awkward (and messy) approach to buttering it. The presence of extra virgin olive oil (presumably for dipping) also seemed a little pointless when there was nowhere to put it! One member of our party started with the trio of dips from the aperitif menu (consisting of saffron garlic mayonnaise, balsamic vinegar and a wonderfully course olive paste tapenade) which I just had to insist on sampling – consequently, I suggest that future diners share this aperitif to make the most of the bread basket...especially in light of what came next...

Main courses were served promptly and I had opted for the whiting fillet. This was well-presented and the fish itself was beautifully cooked with a smoky flavour. However, the accompanying ham hock was not very generously portioned and a little fatty in places and the parsley sauce (which due to it's lack of viscosity could not really be described as a sauce), drowned the peas and robbed the cubed new-potatoes of their intended crispiness. It was a shame as the flavours married well, providing a desirable contrast between the light, fresh taste of the veg and the indulgent buttery richness of the 'sauce'. Yet, the whole dish was just too soggy which suppressed the otherwise appealing ingredients. Unfortunately, other diners had a similar problem; one member of our party had to send her fish cake back to be (for want of a better word) drained, as the accompanying salad had obviously been dressed a little too liberally – not a great accompaniment to what should have been a crunchy breadcrumb finish. Those who chose from the à la carte menu also selected side-dishes which in all honesty were required in order to pad out fairly stingy main courses. In light of this, it was reported that although the new-potatoes were buttery and firm, the French Fries were a little dry and very salty! The winner of the evening was the slow braised Beef Provencal with pilaf rice – those who favoured this agreed that the meat was tender and the dish wonderfully flavoursome overall, (in fact, the only criticism here was that there just wasn't enough of it!)

Fish Cake - £12

Beef Provencal - DwW Menu

Whiting Fillet - DwW Menu

With the majority of us left less than satisfied by our main courses, it was such a relief to unanimously agree that the dessert course constituted a very different experience. The hot chocolate mousse with pistachio ice cream, (a popular choice for our table) had been perfectly executed so that it arrived piping hot, yet with the scoop of ice cream un-melted and intact in the centre. The mousse was just gorgeous with a rich, chocolaty flavour that was enhanced by it's warmth and an indulgent texture - heavier than you would expect mousse to be but not to its detriment as this really was the highlight of the evening. Others had opted for the lemon posset and pistachio soufflé which were also well-received.

Pistachio Soufflé- £5.50

Hot Chocolate Mousse - DwW Menu

In conclusion, you can eat at Brasserie Blanc without a significant drain on your finances if you select dishes from the 'Dine with Wine' menu but if one were to deviate from this, it really is rather expensive, (especially as you have to fork out for side-dishes which really, should be served as standard alongside your main meal). Admittedly, there were some significant problems with the food itself which I would consider poor for a restaurant of this calibre – our visit resulted in a real mixed bag of reviews, indicating how 'hit and miss' our experience had been. Would I visit again?....Yes, but not in a hurry and only if I had enough money in my pocket to choose from the à la carte menu. Brasserie Blanc have got the atmosphere and the service spot-on so perhaps a little attention to the delivery of it's dishes is required in order to bring them to the standard of the other high-level attributes of this venue.

And now for the second opinion...

I asked a fellow diner to comment – she gave Brasserie Blanc 7/10 and in three words, chose to describe her experience as, 'a little disappointing'.

References:

* http://www.brasserieblanc.com/