insideKENT Magazine Issue 65 - August 2017 | Page 104

FOOD+DRINK
BISTRO DU VIN
You know those days when the rain doesn’t cease, and the drizzly breeze irritates
you to the point of madness? AND THEN UNEXPECTEDLY, THROUGH YOUR FRIZZY HAIR
AND SMEARED EYELINER, THE SUN PEEKS OUT, THE WIND DIES DOWN, AND WITHIN A MATTER
OF MINUTES LIFE COULDN’T BE BETTER? IT WAS ONE OF THOSE DAYS WHEN I VISITED THE
BISTRO AT HOTEL DU VIN TUNBRIDGE WELLS, AND THOUGH THE SUNSHINE PLAYED A PART
IN MY DAY’S HAPPINESS, IT WAS THE FOOD THAT REALLY HIT THE SPOT. BY DONNA MARTIN
Walking into Hotel du Vin’s bar
area is what I would imagine
walking into the Tardis would be
like. The reception area, though
not small, doesn’t give any hint
of what lies around the corner to
the right. The bar is what I would
describe as swanky chic: tactile,
reclaimed dark-stained
floorboards, restored fireplaces,
framed pictures and paintings,
soft lighting and comfortable
chairs. inspired, it includes interesting
starters such as scallops ceviche,
and chicken liver parfait,
alongside comforting mains
including rack of Yorkshire Dales
lamb, and roast Normandy
poussin with black pudding hash.
The Bistro recently relaunched
their Al-Fresco menu too, so
diners can choose to grab a table
outside, and eat, drink and be
merry under the welcome heat
of the summer sun.
Being a weekday and all, I wasn’t
there for the bar (unfortunately).
But fortunately, I was there for
the food. Back across reception
brought me to the Bistro du Vin
– the hotel’s classy and
comfortable eatery. As I
mentioned, it had been chucking
it down earlier, but somewhere
between elevensies and
lunchtime, Mother Nature had
decided to grace us with her
sunshine – and what a treat, as
we were offered a table right by
the window, so we could bask in
the warmth of the sun’s rays
while we enjoyed our food. My guest and I decided on the
scallops ceviche and the roasted
tiger prawns to start. If you enjoy
ceviche, you’ll know it’s a pretty
easy dish to get wrong. Hats off
to the chef here though, as the
scallops were beautiful; not just
in looks alone. Presented thinly
sliced and placed back in their
shells dressed in a zingy
concoction of lime juice, salt,
sugar, pomegranate, chilli and
baby coriander, the flavours sang
sharp enough to surprise your
tastebuds with every bite, but
never to the detriment of the
scallops’ delicate sweetness. The
prawns – large in size and sitting
in a pastis and chilli butter – were
roasted to perfection with a
fragrant hit of spice and aniseed.
We ordered a bottle of sparkling
water and settled in to have a look
at the bistro menu. French
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With offerings such as butter-poached cod with Lyonnaise potatoes
and a classic salad Niçoise, the selection of mains on the menu made
me feel as though I was at a traditional French bistro, but in a gorgeous
modern setting. Torn between two dishes, my guest and I opted to
share a fillet steak and a superfood salad topped with chargrilled
Normandy chicken. Served with crisp, salty chips, and a thick Béarnaise
sauce flavoured with tarragon, the steak was beautifully tender and cut
like butter. The salad of baby kale, edamame beans, quinoa and sprouts
– though colourful, inviting and extremely tasty – came a close second.
Who wants dessert? I do! I do! Not one to ever say no to a sweet happy
ending, I opted for the Manjari pot au chocolat – a wonderfully rich
dessert made with Madagascan Manjari chocolate, which is slightly
bitter with lovely hints of soft fruit. I’m very possessive of my chocolate,
and had to fight off my dining partner for this one – in the end I had
to remove all cutlery from the table apart from my own spoon to prevent
cheeky chocolate thievery.
Finishing off with a freshly brewed coffee, it was nearly impossible to
make myself leave. But…sigh…work beckoned – so off I went,
daydreaming about returning on the next sunny day in Tunbridge
Wells, when I shall bask, in the spacious outdoor area, under the hot
summer sunshine.
Hotel du Vin & Bistro
Crescent Rd
Tunbridge Wells
TN1 2LY
01892 320749
www.hotelduvin.com/locations/tunbridge-wells
HdV_Tunbridge