A (big) Taste of Christmas #4. Superb lunch at the ever-reliable Jacques!

 A (big) Taste of Christmas #4

Superb lunch at the ever-reliable Jacques!

Aside from the Christmas pudding, nothing else was very Christmassy on the menu. But make no mistake about it, this late afternoon lunch in the packed restaurant was certainly a festival occasion, with many small groups enjoying the food and the atmosphere despite the downpours outside in Oliver Plunkett Street.

Here are a few highlights.

Since it was lunch rather than dinner, we chose a couple of items from the Nibbles section instead of the Small Plates to start. The olives, marinated in orange and rosemary, and the delicious pâté served on toast with pickled cucumber garnish, provided a great beginning and filled the time before the main courses.

The wine list here is impressive. On my last visit, I chose a wine from their selection on tap, and I did the same this time, opting for an excellent Orange Grüner Veltliner by Holzer. It was fresh and full of flavour, making it thoroughly enjoyable. And it enhanced its reputation as a fantastic choice for pairing with food.

We are great fans of Goatsbridge trout, which often appears on our home menu. This particular piece was one of the largest I’ve ever seen, and it was also packed with flavour. Pan-fried to perfection, the organic fish was served with braised fennel, sprouting broccoli, brown butter, capers, and mashed potatoes.

This seasonal dish of wild venison was my highlight of the evening. 

The haunch was served medium rare, paired with red cabbage, 

roast parsnip, blackberry sauce, and Dauphinois potato. 

This was my first venison of the season, and it was a beauty.. 

The traditional Christmas pudding was presented as a couple of round slices. Recently, a disappointing and bland pudding had been served at a large group dinner in a local hotel. In contrast, the version from Jacques was much more robust and flavourful, reminiscent of what we enjoyed in our childhood. Additionally, the Boozy Tiramisu (below) is a house tradition at Jacques and a favourite
throughout the year. It's definitely worth trying when you visit!