PROMOTION
If you’re tired of town, have done Didsbury and already checked out Chorlton, you might be interested in travelling a little further afield for your next culinary adventure. The Belle Epoque in Knutsford has introduced a special 6 course tasting menu for £39.95.
It’s quite difficult to describe, but if you close your eyes the aerated pudding takes on an almost Malteser-like character
The Belle Epoque is a family owned French restaurant in a historic venue which has just celebrated its 40th birthday. You can’t survive the restaurant industry for four decades without moving with the times and recent developments include a garden terrace, an all-weather cushioned seating area out front and a vibrant new head chef and restaurant team.
They’ve also revamped their cocktail menu, so you can enjoy a classic in the gorgeous Art Deco tiled bar area before dinner. If you don’t need a refund on your train fare, the Taster Menu offer includes any welcome cocktail instead.
Over the years, The Belle Epoque has cultivated a great relationship with the best local Cheshire suppliers and source many ingredients locally. They also prepare everything from scratch including a selection of fresh breads still warm from the oven.
Tortellini
All dining guests are offered an amuse bouche to begin their meal; a small palate awakener produced with imagination by Head Chef Dylan Owens – ours was an autumnal pumpkin and chestnut tortellini. The first course on the Tasting Menu is a velvety smooth celeriac velouté with apple batons and truffle oil, garnished with a purple borage flower.
After this comes Roasted Ballotine of Quail with cubes of beetroot, a quenelle of nutty buttered quinoa and sharply contrasting elderberry puree.
The fish course is Hake Loin (main image) with perfectly seared skin, cauliflower, samphire, girolle mushrooms, sea lettuce and jasmine infused sultanas. The superbly monikered General Manager, Albert Blaize explained that he’s hoping to introduce a matching wine flight soon but is more than happy to recommend wines to accompany the various courses from the impressive wine list.
Rabbit
Tender Ballotine of Welsh Rabbit is the next course with sweetcorn polenta and crispy onions. This dish especially illustrates the skills of the kitchen team and their desire to work with the best available seasonal ingredients.
Dessert also represents the seasons, but in a slightly unexpected manner. Beetroot Parfait topped with honeyed yoghurt granita and chocolate shavings has a perfectly balanced earthy sweetness. It’s quite difficult to describe, but if you close your eyes the aerated pudding takes on an almost Malteser-like character. This is served along with a shot of sharp, zingy beetroot juice topped with milkshake foam giving your taste buds a jolt in case they’re inclined to dip into a coma from all the different courses they’ve been taken through.
Coffee and homemade petit fours round off the six courses and set you up for the journey home – although if you really wanted to push the boat out, you could see if any of the 7 luxurious bedrooms are available.
If you’ve never been to The Belle Epoque before or have only visited as a wedding guest, don’t miss this great opportunity to sample some of the best modern French cuisine in the region. This great value Tasting Menu is only available for the next couple of weeks before they introduce their popular Christmas packages.
