In an uncertain world, there's always Hotel Du Vin Birmingham. Restaurants come and go, but this place stays the same, offering up food, wine and hospitality by the bucket load.
Under the guidance of new General Manager, Barry Sherwin, we were invited to try the new menu at Hotel Du Vin Birmingham on what felt like one of the first days of Spring.
Starting off with a little taste of Gusbourne, an English Sparkling, along with some hearty nibbles, we enjoyed our welcome drinks and bar snacks in the Bubble Lounge before making our way to the main restaurant.
The new menu is full of French classics including Moules, Parfait, Steak Tartare, Escargots and of course Steak.
Wanting to try out something different, I sidestepped the Chicken Liver Parfait and went for the Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon Classic to start. Far from your usual dish of smoked salmon, alongside the thick, moist slices of smoked salmon was an unusual garnish; egg. The garnish of chopped boiled egg was laid out around the circumference of the dish, mixed in with red onion, parsleys and cornichons. An unusual take on this simple dish, it added interest and colour. Lemon juice of course added some zing.
Onto the main course, I stuck to the fishy theme and opted for the Sole Meuniere, a lightly pan-fried dish of lemon sole. A tricky fish to eat thanks to it's spiky bones, it was nonetheless well cooked, although it could have benefitted from a little less oil for my tastes. Accompaniments included honey roast carrots, pommes puree, haricots vert and of course pommes frites.
Gluten free dessert options included ice cream and Creme Brulee, so I picked the latter as much as I was trying to resist. A delightful dish as always, it was the dessert wine that really stood out for me here. The Emiliana Late Harvest was a light dessert wine with honey hints that I thoroughly enjoyed.
We were also treated to an introduction to the Sommeliers Table, a corner of heaven where wines are available to try by the glass, along with some expert advice. A little known feature, try it out next time you're there and you may even discover something new.
The new menu at Hotel Du Vin is a love letter to French cuisine. Showing off favourite dishes beloved by Brits and Frenchmen alike, there's some hearty food and seriously good wine to be enjoyed. My advice? Pop by for a meal that's sure to leave you satisfied.
*With thanks to Hotel Du Vin for the complimentary meal
Under the guidance of new General Manager, Barry Sherwin, we were invited to try the new menu at Hotel Du Vin Birmingham on what felt like one of the first days of Spring.
Starting off with a little taste of Gusbourne, an English Sparkling, along with some hearty nibbles, we enjoyed our welcome drinks and bar snacks in the Bubble Lounge before making our way to the main restaurant.
The new menu is full of French classics including Moules, Parfait, Steak Tartare, Escargots and of course Steak.
Wanting to try out something different, I sidestepped the Chicken Liver Parfait and went for the Severn & Wye Smoked Salmon Classic to start. Far from your usual dish of smoked salmon, alongside the thick, moist slices of smoked salmon was an unusual garnish; egg. The garnish of chopped boiled egg was laid out around the circumference of the dish, mixed in with red onion, parsleys and cornichons. An unusual take on this simple dish, it added interest and colour. Lemon juice of course added some zing.
Onto the main course, I stuck to the fishy theme and opted for the Sole Meuniere, a lightly pan-fried dish of lemon sole. A tricky fish to eat thanks to it's spiky bones, it was nonetheless well cooked, although it could have benefitted from a little less oil for my tastes. Accompaniments included honey roast carrots, pommes puree, haricots vert and of course pommes frites.
Gluten free dessert options included ice cream and Creme Brulee, so I picked the latter as much as I was trying to resist. A delightful dish as always, it was the dessert wine that really stood out for me here. The Emiliana Late Harvest was a light dessert wine with honey hints that I thoroughly enjoyed.
We were also treated to an introduction to the Sommeliers Table, a corner of heaven where wines are available to try by the glass, along with some expert advice. A little known feature, try it out next time you're there and you may even discover something new.
The new menu at Hotel Du Vin is a love letter to French cuisine. Showing off favourite dishes beloved by Brits and Frenchmen alike, there's some hearty food and seriously good wine to be enjoyed. My advice? Pop by for a meal that's sure to leave you satisfied.
*With thanks to Hotel Du Vin for the complimentary meal
