Friday, 25 April 2014

Luton Hoo Fam Trip

Last night a few of my work colleagues and myself went to the Luton Hoo for dinner.  We were invited up there by our Account Manager and the Business Development Manager.  We as a company work with Luton Hoo on a very regular basis, and we were delighted to be invited up on a fam trip to experience what Adam's Brasserie has to offer!


Adam's Brasserie


 When we arrived we were show to Adam's Bar - which is quite an intimate bar area with big, plush comfy sofas, a very relaxing, informal setting. We had some drinks while we waited for everyone to arrive.  i had a delicious glass of Sauvignon Blanc - it would have been rude not too!


Even the coasters were pretty!

After our drinks we had a little showround of the courtyard, spa, meeting rooms and a few bedrooms in the flower garden, just stunning, some were bigger than my flat! Then we were taken to the brasserie for dinner.

I have to say on the website, the photos of Adam's Brasserie do not give it justice, it is a beautiful room, very classic, a bit rustic as it is a converted barn with high ceilings and beams, but with a modern twist with beautiful black and white movie pictures hung around the room.  Do you remember that scene in Four Wedding and Funeral where Hugh Grant in perched on a sink in a cupboard, well that was filmed at the Luton Hoo!  Every day is a school day!

The brasserie menu changes 4 times a year.  We met the Execuive Head Chef, a lovely Scottish chap called Kevin Clark, he was so lovely, he spent ages talking to us about the logisitics behind menu choosing and how he will accomodate our guests in any way he can.  Such service!

The current brasserie menu can be found here

Starters on last nights menu were:

Starters
Soup of the day gf
served with warm bread £6.00
Duck and orange terrine gf
with cucumber jelly and rhubarb puree £7.75
Carpaccio of beetroot gf v
with pecorino cheese and radish salad £7.75
Daily changing pan seared scallops
with appropriate garnish £8.95
Ceviche of mackerel gf
with samphire grass and candied lemon zest £7.50
Baked baby camembert v
with breadsticks and tomato chutney £7.95
Pan seared breast of wood pigeon gf
with whisky corn chowder and wilted spinach £7.50
Braised rabbit lollipops gf
with carrot puree, crisps and orange salad £7.50
Minted feta pomegranate and rocket salad gf
finished with shaved fennel and balsamic jelly £7.75

I chose the Scallops of the day, but still had food envy of everyone else.  The pigeon breast looked delightful!  But my scallops were beautiful.  Cooked to perfection, soft in the middle, a little crisp on the outside, served with pea puree and bacon bits. Beautiful!



The main courses on last nights menu were:

Main Course
Market fish of the day
with Chef's garnish £18.00
Pan fried fillet of salmon with citrus dressing gf
roast baby onions, wild mushrooms and crisp mash £17.50
Braised beef cheeks
with celeriac gnocchi and horseradish panna cotta £19.50
Poached and roast chicken wrapped in Parma ham gf
with fondant potato, with chanteney carrots and black olives £17.50
Caramelised white onion and sage risotto v
finished with flaked Wobbly Bottom goat’s cheese and pea shoots £15.50
Twice baked goat’s cheese soufflé v
with char grilled piquilo peppers and rosti potato £15.50
Pulled spiced shoulder of lamb gf
flageolet bean cassoulet with lemon and parsley and garlic mash £19.50
Very slow cooked Dingly Dell Farm pork belly gf
roast pears, sticky red cabbage, olive oil mash and red wine jus £17.50
Moules mariniere
with crusty bread, mayonnaise and thick cut chips £15.50
From the grill
Luton Hoo burger or chicken burger
with bacon and cheese on a toasted brioche bun and chunky chips £12.95
Grilled lamb cutlets gf
with grilled flat mushroom, roasted cherry tomatoes and chunky chips £19.50
Grilled sirloin of Casterbridge beef (225g) gf
with grilled flat mushroom, roasted cherry tomatoes and chunky chips £22.00
Cote de boeuf (325g) gf
with grilled flat mushroom, roasted cherry tomatoes and chunky chips £28.50

I was not disappointed by my choice of the twice baked goats cheese souffle!  I always like to try something different, and were possible something i would not normally cook at home. This was incredible!  So light and fluffy and full of flavour.  But it was so overpowering like goats cheese can sometimes be.  Just perfect.  It came with 3 litle rosti potatoes and a char grilled red pepper serviced with a pesto and rocket garnish.  Highly recommended!



The starters on last nights menu were:

Desserts, Cheese & Coffee
Chocolate Marquise and roasted pistachios
with mascarpone sorbet and chocolate pencils £6.75
Poached peach
with raspberry mousse,  macaroons and vanilla bean ice cream £6.75
Apple crumble parfait
with caramelised apples and pear puree £6.75
Lime cheesecake
mango puree, diced pineapple and home made shortbread £6.75
Caramel panna cotta
caramelised banana, chocolate cream and honeycomb £6.75
Selection of British fine cheeses
with wafer biscuits, celery and spiced chutney £8.50

Cafetiere of fresh ground coffee £3.75
Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Cafe Latte Mocha £3.95
Hot Chocolate £3.25
Selection of Teas £3.75
All are served with home made Amaretto shortbread

We were all so full - but we HAD to try some pudding!! Everything looked incredible, and we all ordered something different.  I ordered the Caramel Panna cotta, and well, it was just scrumptious!  Although i have to admit that i only ate half of it, there was so much!  I was so full that i didnt even manage to try one of the home made Amaretto shortbreads that were put on the table! The panna cotta was one of the best i've ever had, so beautifully silky smooth, and the honeycomb was to die for - sweet with a touch of salt, mmmm.



All in all, we had an amazing evening with Melanie and Jayne, thank you so much ladies for your wonderful hospitality.  The service was incredible, polite and prompt. Lovely to know what the Hoo can offer, and we can make menu suggestions to our guests.

Have you ever dined at the Hoo before?  What were your thoughts?

Jx

#lutonhoo

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