They had me at Bacon Bread...
But first, I shall set the scene:
My Bon Appetit adventure started in early March, when I received an email for a CityDeal at Bon Appetit: €35 for Lunch for two (two mains and tea or coffee) worth €81.
Being an incurable foodie, I snatched up the offer and promptly forgot all about it until last week. To my dismay, my voucher expired at the end of the week. I panicked and picked up my phone to make my reservation.
Apparently the deal has gone very well with them, because when I tried to make a reservation they told me they were booked out for the week. I heaved a disappointed sigh, ready to swallow my €35, when they continued:
"But we have extended the voucher for 30 July..."
Score! I made the reservation for noon the next Thursday.
On the day, my boyfriend arrived at the renovated Georgian townhouse by the water. On the ground floor, there is a Brasserie, offering casual gourmet faire. We were ushered up the staircase and into a plush, carpeted dining room. The room was bright, and table was bedecked with tablecloths and fine silverware. The waiter gave us the menus and told us what was included in the CityDeal but, he added, we could add on a starter, wine, or dessert for a supplement. Since we were already out in Malahide and in the fine dining spirit, we opted for two starters and a glass of wine for the boyfriend. I ordered the New Season Asparagus with Hazelnuts, Poached Quail Eggs, and Black Truffle Aoili. He ordered the Split Pea Risotto with Smoked Bacon and Spring Pea Foam.
While we waited for the starters, a waiter came to the table with a selection of fresh baked breads: Olive Swirl Bread, Brown Bread with Pumpkin Seeds, and Bacon Bre...(sorry, I had to wipe the drool off the keyboard)...BACON BREAD! We both had a slice of Brown Bread, which was robust and smooth, but the magic came when we both bit into the Bacon Bread at the same time, a look of ecstasy glazing over our eyes. I could have gone home happy right then...then the starters arrived.
The mildness of the asparagus was expertly mixed with the smokey black truffle aioli and the hazelnuts, which gave it a crunchy, clean finish. The quail eggs were perfectly poached and tied the whole dish together. The boyfriend gave me a taste of his risotto, which was creamy and rich, and taken to the next level by the fresh spring pea foam.
Our mains arrived shortly after our starters were taken away. He had the Tenderloin of Beef with Pomme Puree, and Onion chutney and I had Wild Sea Bass with Parsnip Puree, Golden Carrot, and Coriander Foam. I have never had Sea Bass as smooth in my life. The fish melted in my mouth and the Coriander Foam with Parsnip Puree added the perfect dark notes to the light fish. The carrot was beautifully cooked and added a texture element to the plate. We ordered a side of Potatoes Gratin, which I daintily scarfed down. The portions were very satisfying, and while he decided to leave the meal with just what he described as "The best coffee I've ever had," I finished off with a Mint Panna Cotta with Honeydew Salad. The dessert was the low point of the meal, and felt more like a palette cleanser in flavor - certainly not the punch I would like at the end of the meal. Still, it was pleasant, and the silk tea bag slowly steeping high grade Assam tea into my china cup was enough to leave me with a huge grin and a happy belly.
I will definitely return to Bon Appetit, despite to €60 per person and up price tag on the dinner menu. Taking into account the cost of the voucher, the meal cost around €60 including tip - without it, the total would be around €90.
Recommended for foodies and very special occasions. read more