I’m actually struggling to begin this blog post because I just don’t seem to have the skillz to communicate how really really really really ridiculously great (I think I write good, like Zoolander) dinner at The Ledbury was without sounding like a total ‘tard. I mean, how many ways can you say something is bloody amazing?
Incredibly delectable? Tremendously astounding? Exceptionally marvellous? ‘Tard.
How about it was just fucking delicious?
Perfect.
Dinner at The Ledbury was a bit of a pre-birthday treat for moi from my most favourite person, Panu. I’d been wanting to go forever what with it being my trusted foodie advisor’s favourite restaurant and all that, plus countless reviews across the interwebz showering praise on chef Brett Graham when the restaurant only had one Michelin star whereas now it boasts two.
Two stars and I’m happy to report, zero disappointment.
From the chef: coronation chicken oysters with sultana puree and
(top) amuse bouche of courgette soup with basil seeds and cream
Normally one to dive straight into a tasting menu (because more food = more good, right?), I studied the list and found a few courses I felt rather indifferently about and conversely, there were dishes on the a la carte menu which coerced from me the familiar but rather unladylike behaviour of free flowing drool.
To be perfectly honest it really doesn’t make that much of a difference because with nibblies from the chef, an amuse bouche, pre-dessert and petit fours, you’ve got yourself a seven-course meal anyway.
So a la carte it was and behold… so much deliciousness…
starter: scallops roasted on licorice with braised fennel and
a sauce of dried fennel and elderflower
Panu’s starter of four beautiful and fat scallops roasted on a licorice root. Forgive my ignorance but I’d never seen a licorice root before and I wanted to take it home. But I didn’t.
starter: Cornish lobster with grilled leek,
smoked potato and manzanilla
You know when something’s so delicious that you cut it up into tiny morsels and savour every little bit for as long as you can? Yes, the lobster did that for me with its juicy goodness and luscious creamy sauce. Even the leek was divine!
main: fillet of turbot with truffle puree, cauliflower,
parmesan gnocchi & sea vegetables
This was Panu’s main and I didn’t have any although I can imagine, from the scent of truffle wafting my way, that was it pretty darn good.
main: crisp pressed suckling pig with spatzle, carrot and
reduction of dried chicory
Crackling H.E.A.V.E.N. Not sure when I grew to love pork oh so much, but seriously… *heart*. The pork was cooked to perfection ~ tender but substantial ~ and the spatzle, which I think are just little bits of pasta soaked up the juices.
pre-dessert: pre-dessert of olive oil pannacotta with
peaches & peach sorbet
If this was a real dessert I’d be happy to pay for it. If this was the size of my head, I’d eat all. I was weirded out by the thought of olive oil pannacotta but it was simply magical.
dessert: brown sugar tart with muscat grapes and
stem ginger ice cream
And here I was all *ick* about muscat grapes and even hid them in the photo. WTF! They turned out to be the highlight of this dessert ~ delicately soaked, a balance of sweet and sour. Another thing I’ve grown to love in my old age is ginger. Stem ginger ice cream *nom*
dessert: chocolate cremeux with walnut ice cream and
warm chocolate madeleines
Warm chocolate madeleines served on a bed of cocoa. Need I say more?
petit fours: while chocolate truffle, elderflower marshmallow,
earl grey macaron, dark chocolate caramel, raspberry jelly
White chocolate truffles. They blow my own white chocolate truffles clear out of the water. I want more and what is it about petit fours that make them so damn irresistable?
Anyway, dinner was over way too quickly and here’s me munching on the itsy bitsy macaron and Panu with his decaf coffee which like totally knocked him out. Weird. Thank you baby for the most amazing dinner and looking forward to my ski-holiday-present!
ps. dinner really was fucking delicious. Every single course, even the amuse bouche of courgette soup, trumped in flavour and style. I can’t wait to go back, potentially for a girls dinner in November!
pps. sorry the colours are all a bit off with the first few pics. I had my camera on some whack setting and didn’t even notice. Duh brain.
ppps. here is a more recent post.
The Ledbury
127 Ledbury Road
Notting Hill, W11 2AQ
0207 792 9090
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