galvin bistrot de luxe, london w1
when i started a new job earlier this year i discovered my new boss was a foodie. his favourite restaurant is galvin which, as a result, has been on my list of places to try since january. last weekend we finally made it!
galvin serves modern french food in a relaxed but smart bistro setting. the restaurant was busy and buzzy and seemed to be full of people who were regulars or there because they knew the food would be good. which it was, really good. i am so pleased that we finally visited.
i started with a lovely, richly flavoured but quite light pressed terrine of guinea fowl, ham and foie gras. this was served with a spoonful of a delicate apricot-coloured quince chutney which was delicious (i am a little obsessed with quince at the moment so perhaps it’s not surprising i liked this!). david’s beetroot, goats cheese and mache was a perfectly judged salad with particularly flavoursome goats cheese. our friends hamish and sade had tuna carpaccio with quail eggs and endive, roquefort and walnut salad respectively. i had little tastes of both and they too were delicious, particularly the tuna which was sparklingly fresh.
once it came to main courses there was no more sharing across the table. i don’t think this was intentional, more that we each become absorbed in our chosen dishes and were quite happy not to try anything else as nothing was lacking. at least this is what happened with me and my confit pork belly with braised red cabbage, chestnuts and apple compote. the pork was full of flavour and the dish was a real pleasure to eat.
we all decided to indulge with pudding. i chose oeuf a la neige with praline. this dish resembles meringue mixture which has been poached rather than baked. served with a light vanilla custard and pieces of toffeed praline this was a lovely light way to finish my meal. having said that, one mouthful of david’s apple tarte tatin saw me ready to order an extra portion – the sticky treacley apples atop light buttery pastry was superb and will be my dessert of choice when i return to galvin.
galvin bistrot de luxe
66 baker street, london w1ud 7dj
t - 020 7935 4007
menu prix fixe - £15.50 at lunch or £18.50 between 6 and 7pm.