I have to admit, I wasn’t going to post details of this visit yet. But events over the weekend changed m mind. Hawksmoor doesn’t officially open for another week, so I didn’t feel like there was too much of a rush.
But, you see, I posted a selection of the below photos to my Facebook page, I’d spent the morning editing. I was quite proud of them – my camera can be a little temperamental at times, but these were lovely and after a morning spent tidying them up, I was recalling the food and feeling distinctly hungry.
Then someone overnight reported them. For being lewd. Yes really. I was apparently truly posting food porn.
It seems only right I share.
I had booked in on the soft launch at Hawksmoor with the lovely Louise, a Monday afternoon off, a late lunch. Soft openings are the perfect opportunity for restaurants and bars to make sure that things work, fix any little niggles and make sure that once the restaurant opens ‘properly’ everything is working perfectly.
And, of course, it’s the perfect opportunity for you and I to book in and visit, check out the new venue, be nosey and sample the (allegedly imperfect) food and drink and a discount price.
The venue is gorgeous. Art Deco, plenty of wood panelling, brass and leather. Even if it is a little maze-like when you wander to the ladies. Kind of reminds me of the University, I’ve lost count of the times I’ve wandered around in a circle in a new building at work.
As we were seated one of corner seats, perfect for people watching, cocktails were ordered to whet our appetites, a Fitzpatrick’s Aviation for myself featuring gin, lemon, Vimto and maraschino, a Hawksmoor Collins for my date with gin, lemon, Campari, bitters, soda.
Did I mention how pretty the menus are? The Aviation was deliciously balanced. soft and sweet, with citrus and crisp gin.
Onto starters and whilst my date selected the ginger pig ribs for me it was a no brainer. If you’re going to have steak, let’s do it properly.
Steak tartare. Tender rich meat, sharp capers, creamy egg yolk and toasted sour dough. Sexy as hell. Maybe this is the reason why someone reported my Facebook images?
Onto mains and Louise took advantage of the fantastic lunch deal – rump steak and fries for £15. The steak was tender, perfectly pink. As I’d had steak as my starter, I felt twice might be overkill, so I went for the charcoal grilled chicken and sides of roasted mushrooms and buttered cabbage.
The chicken was tasty, with a crisp skin, but still moist, the cabbage done perfectly (no soggy greens here thank you) and the mushrooms had a little hit of balsamic adding a hint of sweet and sour to the already buttery flesh.
Dessert beckoned. I’d promised myself I was going to be good and skip dessert, but I spotted the orange pudding – a deep, bitter marmalade sponge pudding sitting atop a pool of sweet soft custard. Both separately would have been intense – the pudding bitter, the custard too sweet, but together it was heavenly.
My date however, had seen the headline dessert, the Ambassador’s Reception. Let’s look at it.
Another shot?
Maybe one from above?
Maybe this was the food porn that was reported. Because this was naughty.
Take that well known chocolate wrapped in gold foil, and enlarge it. Now enlarge it a little bit more. Add in ice cream, and more chocolate. Now a bit more. Yep, just about there. Oh, and add in a donation from every purchase going to Action Against Hunger.
Damn near perfection.
So Hawksmoor, I’m rather pleased to meet you. I know there have been some niggles and kinks, but our experience was fabulous. And yes, I’m not going to be with you every week (my bank manager really would have a conniption fit), but I think date night might have a new venue.
I wonder if the pictures will be reported next time?
