Unless you've been living under a rock (apologies to the community of insects and other creatures…read morethat do), Burnt Truffle in Heswall is the Kickstarter funded (well the first £100k) sister restaurant of critically acclaimed Hoole bistro, Sticky Walnut. Opening in July 2015 Burnt Truffle has also garnered near universal praise, so what better way to spend a birthday lunch, than having a lovely drive up the M62, M56, and M53.
Complimentary fizz is always a welcome surprise, however, complimentary bread, sourdough, truffle and walnut butter to be precise is as good as it gets. Perfectly baked sourdough with rich, salty, and creamy butter with a hint of truffle should be the way all meals start. (Thank you, Emma)
I opted for the grilled mackerel, Jerusalem artichoke, poached turnip and nut ragu to start. The beautifully cooked fish married perfectly with the subtle artichoke puree and slightly al dente turnip. The crunchy nut added a welcome different texture to proceedings.
Having visited an acclaimed Manchester-based French restaurant the night before and sampled their signature chicken dish I probably shouldn't have opted for chicken for my main. However, since seeing its development on Twitter via Manager Emma I couldn't help myself.
And I know I shouldn't make comparisons but the Burnt Truffle dish of truffled chicken mousse, poached breast, pancetta fat potato, shimeji mushrooms and caramelised onion was hands-down the clear winner of the 'cockfight'.
Everything was inch-perfect. The lightly crumbed truffle chicken mousse was creamy and rich, the breast was moist and full of flavour, the crispy potato bursting with pancetta flavour, and I could have eaten a whole bowl of the crispy chicken skin as crisps - possible business idea?
The hand cut truffle and parmesan chips were as good as they have always been on my previous visits and I decided that the honey roast chantey carrots were so good I now feel sorry for all other carrots I would be eating going forward.
Despite my lack of a 'sweet tooth,' I couldn't resist the chocolate marquise, caramelised pear, blood orange and pistachio for dessert. The dense chocolate marquis was balanced impeccably with the sweet pear, salty pistachio and tart orange.
Having visited the Burnt Truffle late-ish last year and included it in my favourite meals of 2015, as well visiting the original sister restaurant Sticky Walnut just prior to Christmas, you may feel I'd had my fair share of 'Elite Bistros of the World', but when the food is this good, and as well priced as this I am adamant I could visit daily and never grow tired of it.
So many restaurants over complicate things; be it the addition of an unnecessary ingredient, a gimmick or ridiculous presentation. Not at Burnt Truffle. The highest-quality ingredients, cooked with care and precision at what it is genuinely unfathomable value (£55 for 3 courses and a large glass of wine).
Owner Gary Usher said it best himself when he spoke before opening the restaurant: "the philosophy is to serve quality ingredients without the fuss." Mission accomplished.
P.S. - Just to further reference the fabulous service. As well as the complimentary prosecco and bread, at the end of the meal I was brought the below. Now that's the very definition of great service.
