The Bishopston Supper Club Experience

Date and Time: Friday 30^th September 2011, 19:30

Name of Event: Bishopston Supper Club*

Location: The Bishopston-based home of local chef, Danielle Coombs (A.K.A The Resting Chef)

Reason for Visit: An evening of highly-acclaimed cuisine outside of a restaurant setting

Initially, I wasn't going to review my visit to the Bishopston Supper Club, be it, in my opinion, an under-ground dining occasion whereby a blow-by-blow account of the proceedings would surely thwart the build-up of intrigue and excitement that one should be left to experience for themselves. On the other hand, I simply couldn't let such a top-notch evening remain entirely undocumented and after all, I would hate for you to miss out on a truly unique way of satisfying your inner 'foodie' whilst meeting like-minded souls over exceptional, seasonally-inspired and locally-sourced cuisine. Beforehand, I suppose you could say that I was anticipating a less amateurish version of Come Dine With Me; without the narration and rummaging for scandal of course! In fact it became clear that this comparison was a little unjust as the evening unfolded; I mean, you are thrown together with a group of unfamiliar faces in the host's own pad and yet, as the host herself is an established chef and in her own words, has lost count of how many Supper Club evenings she has fronted, it really is like stepping into a very intimate bistro or even, arriving at a friend's dinner party, (albeit in this case, sitting elbow-to-elbow with those whom will become your 'gastro-fam' for the evening!)

Arriving at the address we were given just a week previously and powered somewhat by Google-Maps, the Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and I received a warm-welcome and were shown to the dining room which had been thoughtfully (and comfortably) arranged in two tables of eight. As the evening progressed, the conversation flowed (as did the drinks courtesy of the B.Y.O alcohol policy!) and although the BFF and I were actually reunited with a past acquaintance, we were also pleased be in the company of a table full of friendly fellow foodies. Danielle has worked hard to create a laid back space for her guests and facilitated by the obvious attention to detail from the 'mood' lighting to an ever-present soundtrack of old-school nostalgia, it certainly constitutes the desired effect

As for the food itself, I will not go into too much detail but I will tell you this; although the menu's four-courses are posted on the Supper Club's website about a week before the evening in question, it's all about their presentation, poise and overall, their deliciousness! There are also a couple of additional surprises that really add the wow factor – on this occasion, these included an amuse-bouche of freshly prepared scotch eggs and later in the evening, a palate cleansing, and particularly pungent, home-made elderberry vodka that left us all a little red in the face! Consequently, it may prove a little strange to commit to paying for a meal whereby you have no control over the courses, (unless, of course, you predetermine a specific dietary requirement or express a particular disliking of something) and yet, if, like me, you put a little faith in your stomach and like surprises, you certainly wont be disappointed by the imagination and fundamentally, the quality behind the Bishopston Supper Club's bespoke menus.

That said, if you are a proper fuss-pot when it comes to food, I would probably venture that this concept is not for you and yet, if this is the case you may be better placed at Danielle's new-found Sunday lunch club which, offering the classically cosy roast dinner with all the trimmings, will be held once a Month from the 16^th October. There are also special Supper Club dinners whereby each course is offered alongside a complimentary vino (selected by the lovely folk at Gloucester Road's Grape and Grind*) or in addition to a specific variety of cider (brought to you from the brains behind Bristol Cider Shop*) – check our the website for details! And so whatever your dining preference; whether you're a traditionalist, a little avant-garde or, in fact, anything else in between, there is something here for everyone...and what's more, delivered in a far more novel setting than your run-of-the-mill High-Street eatery. For me, it's all about new and exciting places in which to sample the best of Bristol's cuisine and this experience, although I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure what to expect, was a real treat.

References:

*http://restingchef.wordpress.com/

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

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

Watershed Café/Bar, Canon's Road – Bristol

The Watershed...coined 'the cultural cinema and digital creativity centre of Bristol' and yet, global media aside, I'm here to review the ever-popular Café/Bar which the Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and I recently paid a visit for a post-work, pre-knees-up bite-to-eat...

Date and Time: Friday 16^th September 2011, 17:45

Name of Establishment: Watershed Café/Bar*

Location: 1 Canon's Road, Bristol

Reason for Visit: Post-work meet-up with the BFF

The first to arrive at our pre-planned destination, I made my way to the Watershed's lively bar area for a well-earned vino, (OK, so I know I said that this visit was fundamentally 'pre-party-time' but start as you mean to go on as they say...!) I chose a glass of the Strawberry Hill Chardonnay (£3.95) from the specials chalk-board and once seated and my beverage sampled, took it straight back! With an odd twang similar almost to a dry cider, this was not to my taste at all – luckily, excellent service ensued that I was promptly given a replacement. Second time around, I opted for the Three Choirs Seyval Blanc (£3.95) which, although arguably a safer choice, proved refreshingly crisp with its characteristically lemony notes. Whilst we're on the subject of alcohol, it can be noted that this venue stocks a great selection of top-notch tipples, in particular, local favourites; Weston's Organic Cider and Bath Ales, the latter including their Organic Lager which incidentally, I'm relatively partial to!

After this initial kerfuffle, the BFF made an entrance....We sat as close to the open windows overlooking the harbourside (and consequently, the fully occupied balcony) as we could, though by early-evening, it does become rather a rush to obtain a seat at all! That said, decked out with wooden floors and with high ceilings that bring about a typically airy feel, the space is comfortable and even when it's especially busy, retains a sense of spaciousness as well as a notably sophisticated ambiance. Scouring the menu, of which the main attractions are split between field, farm and sea, the BFF and I decided that we would wuss out a little and share a couple of the lighter dishes; namely the ham hock and apricot terrine (£5.35) as well as the bread, hummous and olive combo (£4.25). The latter was generously portioned and consisted of a rustic baguette which encompassed that 'fresh-from-the-oven' warmth, juicy olives with a wonderfully citrus zing and an oil and balsamic dipping pot. An ample quantity of hummous completed this dish and although its texture had that lovely home-made coarseness to it, we mused that it was ever so slightly bland in terms of its flavour. The terrine was the star of the show however with its rich contrast of salt verses sweet as well as a satisfyingly meaty density which just melted in the mouth – yum! After all, with a 'plot to plate' concept that focuses on wholesome (seasonally driven), locally-sourced and organic produce, the Watershed has an obvious passion for providing its customers with high-quality cuisine – a passion, the BFF and I found, that even transpires to the simplest of dishes. In turn, it was this finding which whetted our appetites for a return visit whereby it was agreed that we would sample something a little more substantial! In addition to this, the tasty-sounding breakfast menu (available each day until 11:45am), the promise of a decent cup of coffee as well as an interesting line-up of daily specials and the fact that any of the dishes on offer (where at all possible) can be created to suit a vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free diet, further heightened the appeal.

Br-olives!

Onto dessert and although the BFF decided not to partake, there was absolutely no resistance on my part; especially when faced with the temptation of the home-made chocolate pot with spicy ginger biscuits (£3.50). I was a little surprised when this arrived however as it constituted a chilled egg-custard style-pudding as opposed to the warmed stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth indulgence I was expecting! Not that the alternative wasn't wolfed as the creamy chocolate consistency was pleasant to say the least; especially when accompanied with the light, buttery crunch of the ginger biscuits which, for the record, contributed a spicy warmth to the dish, nuzzling the palate in that comfort-food tradition even after our table had been cleared!

Chocolate Pot

All in all, a great choice of venue…the quirky and chilled-out staff-force underpin a distinctively funky vibe in addition to promoting a friendly 'stay-a-while' atmosphere which is clearly valued by its clientèle. Supported by complimentary WiFi, subtle 'mood-music' and a scattering of available literature, it really makes for a thinking-person's haven. For me though, the thinking was primarily of my stomach (no change there then) and I loved that the Watershed commits itself to the quality of its fare just as the venue plays homage to a world of digital arts; hence, the art of excellent cuisine has certainly not been forgotten...

And now for the second opinion...

The BFF gave Watershed Café/Bar a rating of 7/10 and in three words, described the cuisine as 'simple', 'fresh' and 'quick'.

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

No. 1 Harbourside, Canons Road-Bristol

I'd been hearing a lot of good things regarding No. 1 Harbourside, the second venue from Coexist, (the people who brought 'The Canteen' to Stoke's Croft) and subsequently, I considered it high-time that I experienced this undoubtedly eclectic space for myself. After all, following the 'culinary catastrophes' I'd encountered, twice-over, at previously visited venues, it was surely a case of third-time-lucky. Fortunately, from the moment that the Best Foodie Friend (BFF) and I walked through the door, it was evident that this would be the case...

Date and Time: Tuesday 14^th June 2011, 18:45

Name of Establishment: No. 1 Harbourside*

Location: 1 Canons Road, Bristol

Reason for Visit: Post-work nosh up with the BFF

With a laid-back vibe and river-side setting, No.1 Harbourside is ideally situated for watching the world (and Bristol Ferry boats*) go by. With a funky interior featuring candy-striped pillars and shabby-chic décor as well as an airy feel brought about by spaciously arranged furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows and an expansive bar area – it's a real find, and find it you must due to No. 1 Harbourside's apparent preference for remaining low-key. In fact, it's only in the last couple of days that the website has been revamped with details of the venue's upcoming events, live music line-up and wine list. However, it's only once you venture inside that you discover the foodie-related delights that come from what, upon first look, appears a rather humble establishment. 

Kooky Table Numbering!

The BFF and I were greeted with sincere smiley service upon ordering our food from the chalk-board above the bar – she, the loin of pork with pink sage purée (£9) and I, the garlicky roasted courgette and goats cheese tart (£6). With five dishes on offer which start from just five pounds for what is described as locally sourced, seasonal produce, it's great to find an eatery that focuses on quality over quantity. The complimentary soup to start, which happened to be pea, leek and potato, was a lovely touch and, served piping hot with a herb-infused hunk of fresh bread, it really was a tasty interlude to the foodie feast to come. 

Pea, Leek and Potato Soup with Herby Bread

Main courses were elegantly presented and yet, this did not fabricate a measly portion – on the contrary as both dishes were generously layered with top-notch nosh. The tart (though, masquerading as a slice of quiche in my opinion) was delicious; rich in garlic which, alongside the twang of goats cheese and sweetness of the roasted vegetables, accented this dish to perfection. Seasoned new potatoes nestled under a huge green salad which consisted of rocket, white cabbage, celery and apple. The combination of fresh tastes here certainly made for a flavoursome accompaniment – even the salad dressing didn't go unnoticed with it's intended sharpness and mustard seed zip! BFF was equally impressed with her dish and commented that the pork was well-cooked and satisfying, though the crackling was a little chewy for her palate.

Roasted Courgette and Goats Cheese Tart/Quiche

I was a little disappointed that there was not a dessert option and yet, despite this knock to it's sweet-toothed visitors, No. 1 Harbourside offers a real treat for the discerning drinker as it stocks and serves a wide range of good-quality real ales, lagers, ciders, wines and spirits. I'll put my hands up and say that I was somewhat unadventurous and stuck to my usual order of 'dry white wine' – which was provided in the form of Podere Vaglie, Sollazzo Trebbiano Grechetto, but I hear that Lilley's Apples and Pears cider is really where it's at...!

I will definitely be returning to No. 1 Harbourside and intend to keep up-to-date with their ever-changing/seasonal menu. It really is commendable that local, high-quality ingredients can be sourced and plated at such a reasonable cost. As well as this, the chilled ambiance of the venue overall is more-than-inviting; the inside space has a touch of grungy charm to it (although, perhaps a little too grungy when it comes to the toilets!) and the outside area, a proper hot-spot in the summer months. Finally, the variety of live musicians (who perform daily) seal the deal, making No. 1 Harbourside the ultimate hang-out on 'the strip'.

And now for the second opinion...

BBF gave No. 1 Harbourside 9/10 and in three words, described it as 'local', 'seasonal' and 'hearty'.

References:

*http://no1harbourside.co.uk/

*http://www.bristolferry.com/