It’s the wonderful turn in the weather from summer to autumn that also changes my appetite. From wanting fresh summer flavours with lots of greens I’ve started wanting richer sauces and warm dishes that ward off the chill from the first cold days and frosts.
As a wonderful treat for the change in the weather the Eyes of Lady W bloggers had a fabulous lunch at Hotel du Vin at Cannizaro House to explore their new autumn menu.
Sat in the orangerie overlooking the beautiful Cannizaro Park full of leaves with all the gorgeous red and orange tones it couldn’t have been a better place for autumn food. We had four starters to share and taste including an outstanding smoked salmon dish served under a closh with smoke to add some excitement to the table when it was unveiled. It was served with quail’s eggs, capers and shallots and was so fresh and succulent. My other favourite starter was the french onion soup served with Emmental cheese on top. It was rich, warming and felt like such a treat. I loved the croutons in the soup which had absorbed the soup slightly but were still crispy.
For the mains we had delicious boeuf bourguignon in a rich sauce, bouillabaisse a fish stew served with prawn, red mullet and monkfish. For the vegetarians at the table we also had baked crepes with mushrooms and bernaise sauce. However the main dish that caught my eye the most was the lamb shank tagine. Braised lamb shank which was so tender and juicy served with couscous and vegetables. It was incredible.
Even after all this food there is always room for dessert and what a range of desserts we had! It’s at this point I didn’t want so share as they were all so good. We started with the lightest and fluffiest profiteroles I’d ever had filled with ice cream and topped with hot chocolate sauce. What followed was the apple tarte tatin, soft apples on a crisp pastry bed served with creme Normande. Although these sound amazing and tasted great, it was the baked pumpkin cheese cake with cinnamon ice cream which was the crowd pleaser. It was so soft, slightly spiced and my favourite dish I have tried at a restaurant in a long time.
I will definitely be back to enjoy more of the autumn menu at Hotel du Vin, especially more of the puddings. Make sure you book your meal soon and enjoy their fabulous food this autumn.
Written by Sisley White
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About The Author
Sisley White
Renowned food blogger and Wimbledon resident Sisley’s motto is ‘Eat, drink and be merry’ – she encourages everyone to explore their senses and get a taste of different cultures through food.