Before even discussing the wonderful food (that I devoured) I would like to take this opportunity to thank Malmaison and their staff for inviting me down to try their New Spring Menu! To be given that opportunity and asked to write about it is one of the reasons I started this blog, so Thank You!
''If you are looking affordable, intimate, mouthwatering food with incredible service; look no more''
Malmaison is one of, if not the most prestigious hotel in Belfast! Once home to seed warehouse it has been beautifully converted into a boutique hotel with a maritime themed brasserie, which I recently found out was inspired by our very own Titanic - super cool!
To The Food
Well, we're nearly at the food, but first I want to give a wee insight into the Brasserie. Run by head chef Hardeep Singh it seats 60, allowing for intimacy in an elegant setting - if you are going with a party of 4 or more I would definitely recommend asking for the back cubicle beside the open fire, it is the best seat in any restaurant I have been - and I've been to a few, just ask my current plumpish belly!
Currently, with the change in season Malmaison have launched their spring menu (see images above) including dishes such as; Burrata, a fresh pean and broad bean salad, Pan fired wild sea trout, fresh risotto and many more! I studied this menu for around ten minutes, as I always do, and then asked Lauren what she was getting, as I always do (I never order the same as Laurie as that way I can always try hers - top tip) and then I finally decided on....
My Starter - Crispy Gloucester Old Spot Pork Terrine
This came breadcrumbed and was accompanied by an apple, caper and raisin salad and mustard dressing. There was also a sweet kind of olive and raisin tapenade on top of the terrine? - I'm not really sure what it was but it was bloomin' tasty! Paul, who was looking after us for the evening also recommended some balsamic vinegar for the salad - let's be honest, I was never turning down a wee splash of that, I love it with anything!
Laurie's Starter - Salt and Pepper Squid
For those of you who know me you will probably know that I am new to the fish game! Having only recently tried (and enjoyed crab linguini) and salt and chilli squid I decided that I was going to be adventurous and pick this as my starter but Lauren got their first, but that was a good thing as I still got to eat it, quite a bit of it actually! The first thing that grabbed me about this was the presentation, it came on a bed of red tomato, red onion, pickled cucumber (my lord this was divine) and red chilli, the squid rings was ever so slightly battered and they had that soft chew which was a pleasant change, I have eaten squid before and it was like chewing on a Raleigh bike wheel but i'm happy to report, no rubbery textures here!
My Main - Bang Bang Chicken
Succulent spring chicken on a bed of peanut and chilli sauce served with an asian salad - tasty and demolished! This was a dish when social etiquette left the building as I ravenously and at times quite aggressively searched for every last piece of chicken -it was that tasty! This was good food with a sense of fun (there was a finger bowl provided) so I only felt it necessary to eat this chicken as Fred Flintstone would have - it worked and it was tasty!
Laurie's Main - Slow Roast West County Lamb Shoulder
Ding Ding we have a winner - this dish for me was the star of the show, Lauren couldn't finish it meaning my prayers worked, if my dish was tasty this was scrumptious, delectable and moreish. The lamb came with spring vegetables, garden peas and posh carrots (the ones that still have their wee green wig) and the most beautiful gnocchi I have ever had, the gnocchi was herb infused and it was amazing!!! The dish also came with a red wine jus and some mint sauce, in a word - yummy! Did I mention the gnocchi...
Unbelievably we had room for dessert!
When I first met Tina the new GM she told me about the Spring Dessert Sampler so I didn't even need to look at the menu again - my mind was made up and what a choice it was! The sampler was 3 mini desserts, although not that mini, and included rhubarb and custard, a thick strawberry milkshake served in a mini milk bottle and the 3rd mini-sert was a passion fruit and mango pavlova - I am not going to say much about the desserts as I think the pictures do that for me. P.S. Lauren had the giant sized Rhubarb and Custard with sprinkles of honeycomb!
Cocktails - I must confess Malmaison really treated me well when I was there, not only did they comp the entire meal but they also offered us cocktails...which we greatly accepted! Lauren if I'm honest was a bit of a bore and went for her favourite, a Cosmopolitan but I decided to be a man and went for the Pusser's Painkiller - aptly named as after two I was knocked out - these cocktails tasted great and mine was stronger than Popeye!
Overall I had an amazing night with excellent food, and I must thank Malmaison once again for inviting me down for a complimentary 3 course meal from their New Spring Menu!
Listen, if you are looking affordable, intimate, mouthwatering food with incredible service; look no more - I don't think we as Belfastians (I might have made that term up) know how lucky we are to have this on our doorstep! Check this place out - I promise you it is amazing!
