We met up in Hyde Park and I, a little confused as where to suggest we eat, started to lead them east as I racked my hungover brain for a not super-expensive, not a chain, open-for-lunch but still delicious and hopefully impressive place to eat. As we approached Piccadilly Circus, I realised it wouldn't take much longer to walk to Terroirs, a wine bar restaurant where my housemate's brother, Oisin, is one of the chefs. I hadn't been there, but having heard rave reviews and having eaten several times at Upstairs where Oisin was previously head chef I was thinking Terroirs might be a safe bet.
It was just past 12:30pm so it was quiet, but exactly what I had hoped for. Kellie and Tony also commented that it looked perfect. Not pretentious, but a nice casual wine bar with open kitchen and simple décor. We were seated immediately and handed an encyclopaedia of a wine list. I wasn't the only one that had been up for pre-NYE celebrations the night before so none of us could face the wine list. We did happily manage a glass of bubbly complements of the chef along with a really lovely cheese and honey starter served with toasted bread.
We spent a long time mulling over the menu...we were offered advice by our waitress to either go for a selection of small plates and charcuterie to share or the larger plats du jour. By this time, the restaurant was filling up and had a nice buzz and you could hear the kitchen staff shouting the different orders. We finally made our selection...
The first to arrive was a large and beautiful board of prosciutto that had us immediately in awe...
This was shared between Tony and myself. Tony took the first bite and put his head on the table for a moment of quiet contemplation. He later said, "I am not a religious man, but this may be the closest I have been to God". He came up with a slew of other quotable comments (I wish I could remember them all) as he worked his way through this perfect plate of meat. It was indeed delicious. Very flavourful, like no prosciutto I have ever had. And there was plenty of it for two people...
Kellie had a slight difficulty with the menu as she doesn't eat red meat or pork so she chose The Pumpkin, Chestnut and Parmesean Soup and The Smoked Duck, Goat's Cheese & Walnuts.
I only got a small taste of the soup but it was amazing. Rich and creamy with the earthy taste of the chestnuts and enough parmesean that it stretched off the spoon. She was very happy with it, which was fortunate because her duck salad unexpectedly had pork in it. She was not too put off and picked out the pork and enjoyed the lovely goat cheese baked on top of a small piece of smoked duck in a selection of salad leaves.
Tony and I shared the remaining two dishes....
Baked Potato, Mushroom Duxelle & Bone Marrow...this was recommended and we were told it was its first day on the menu. It was a normal baked potato filled with mushroom cooked with bone marrow. It was rich and earthy...eaten with a bite of the lettuce and the slightly acidic dressing was a really delicious combination. Tony didn't have any of the lettuce and I think for this he was missing something... This is the kind of dish I can't imagine someone thinking up, the way the flavours of the mushroom and the dressing came together was unexpected...the potato offered a good vehicle to hold the mushroom and the lettuce a nice fresh crunch.
Steak Tartare
This was also recommended by the waitress, but had been the first dish to catch my eye on the menu. It was another winner. The steak was tender and a bit cold which contrasted with a nice spicy-ness that again contrasted the capers. The oozing yolk offered a lovely soft, richness that just completed the dish...very good...but left me wondering how they got that soft yolk to sit so perfectly there...
I will definitely be back for a proper meal with wine and dessert...and, hopefully, some cheese and more charcuterie too!!
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