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No. 11: After a pretty exhausting, but exhilarating, Food Week we decided a quiet night out was on the cards. We were joined by our good friends J&S, who were also recovering from an amazing week in their Milford on Sea restaurant.
We decided to go to The Jetty in Mudeford, Christchurch. Alex Aitken had been massively supportive during Food Week, so a visit to his award winning restaurant seemed a top idea.
On arriving we were given a very warm welcome. Alex himself was off for the evening, but he had left a very nice welcome note.
The Jetty is well known for serving fresh sustainable local fish, in particular, much of the fish comes directly from the fishermen on Mudeford Quay, which is part of the dramatic and ever changing view from the window. I have fond memories of Mudeford Quay as a child and with my own children, so it is always nice to visit.
As we salivated over the various menus and price options, our drinks order was taken. We soon spotted that The Jetty has an unusual and creative ’While You Choose Menu’ in addition to their local produce set course menu with 2 courses for £17.95, or 3 courses £21.95, a full a la carte menu and a ‘blow you mind’ tasting menu.
We of course went for some of the dishes from the ’While You Choose Menu’ as we started on our first bottle of a very fine Californian Petite Sirah. The Tempura prawns, Tempura oysters with dipping sauce, Smoked salmon stuffed with soft herb cheese, and the ‘to die for’ marinated cockles got the evening off to a perfect start.
An evening out with J&S normally gets very messy quite early, and then ends with inappropriate loud singing, ‘S’ falling over at some stage and my wife with a hangover for several days. On this occasion our combination of aching muscles & tired brains, meant we simply had a refined and very enjoyable evening of conversation.
The main event was soon underway when one of my all time favourite starters arrived. Alex’s twice baked cheese soufflé is a true classic and every mouthful a delight. Others in our party had Poussin, foie gras & prune terrine with salad & truffle vinaigrette, Mudeford crab risotto topped with white crab meat & whole tempura tiger prawn, and Rustic salad with Parma ham & hens egg.
Every time I visit, I find it very difficult to resist the Christchurch bay fish and chips with tartare sauce, however, being a man of mystery and constant surprise, I shocked myself by going for Braised rabbit with pea risotto. J& S had Calves liver with leek and potato cake, sautéed onions, Hampshire watercress & a red wine sauce, Fillet of Dorset sea bream with chorizo, ratatouille and Hampshire watercress. My wife had Fillet of Dorset sea bream with crushed new potatoes, spinach and chorizo.
As the second bottle of Petite Sirah slipped down easily as we all enjoyed the sweets of Banana tart tatin with fudge ice cream & peanut brittle, Warm chocolate fondant with brownie and ice cream, and a Rhubarb mille feuille, my wife even succumbed to the local cheese and biscuits.
Our dining partners are so knowledgeable about food it is rare that they are impressed, however there was only compliments from us all tonight.
In summary, The Jetty is in an attractive modern eco-building, the location is fabulous and the view rivals any in the world, the dining room is impressive, warm and inviting, the team are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, the food and prices hit every taste and pocket, and each dish is beautifully cooked and presented. In fact, this place has every reason to be pretentious, but it is quite the opposite, it is relaxed and focused on looking after you.
Without doubt, The Jetty is one of my favourite restaurants in the country. The only problem I can see, is that The Jetty is not in Milford on Sea.
We decided to go to The Jetty in Mudeford, Christchurch. Alex Aitken had been massively supportive during Food Week, so a visit to his award winning restaurant seemed a top idea.
On arriving we were given a very warm welcome. Alex himself was off for the evening, but he had left a very nice welcome note.
The Jetty is well known for serving fresh sustainable local fish, in particular, much of the fish comes directly from the fishermen on Mudeford Quay, which is part of the dramatic and ever changing view from the window. I have fond memories of Mudeford Quay as a child and with my own children, so it is always nice to visit.
As we salivated over the various menus and price options, our drinks order was taken. We soon spotted that The Jetty has an unusual and creative ’While You Choose Menu’ in addition to their local produce set course menu with 2 courses for £17.95, or 3 courses £21.95, a full a la carte menu and a ‘blow you mind’ tasting menu.
We of course went for some of the dishes from the ’While You Choose Menu’ as we started on our first bottle of a very fine Californian Petite Sirah. The Tempura prawns, Tempura oysters with dipping sauce, Smoked salmon stuffed with soft herb cheese, and the ‘to die for’ marinated cockles got the evening off to a perfect start.
An evening out with J&S normally gets very messy quite early, and then ends with inappropriate loud singing, ‘S’ falling over at some stage and my wife with a hangover for several days. On this occasion our combination of aching muscles & tired brains, meant we simply had a refined and very enjoyable evening of conversation.
The main event was soon underway when one of my all time favourite starters arrived. Alex’s twice baked cheese soufflé is a true classic and every mouthful a delight. Others in our party had Poussin, foie gras & prune terrine with salad & truffle vinaigrette, Mudeford crab risotto topped with white crab meat & whole tempura tiger prawn, and Rustic salad with Parma ham & hens egg.
Every time I visit, I find it very difficult to resist the Christchurch bay fish and chips with tartare sauce, however, being a man of mystery and constant surprise, I shocked myself by going for Braised rabbit with pea risotto. J& S had Calves liver with leek and potato cake, sautéed onions, Hampshire watercress & a red wine sauce, Fillet of Dorset sea bream with chorizo, ratatouille and Hampshire watercress. My wife had Fillet of Dorset sea bream with crushed new potatoes, spinach and chorizo.
As the second bottle of Petite Sirah slipped down easily as we all enjoyed the sweets of Banana tart tatin with fudge ice cream & peanut brittle, Warm chocolate fondant with brownie and ice cream, and a Rhubarb mille feuille, my wife even succumbed to the local cheese and biscuits.
Our dining partners are so knowledgeable about food it is rare that they are impressed, however there was only compliments from us all tonight.
In summary, The Jetty is in an attractive modern eco-building, the location is fabulous and the view rivals any in the world, the dining room is impressive, warm and inviting, the team are friendly, knowledgeable and attentive, the food and prices hit every taste and pocket, and each dish is beautifully cooked and presented. In fact, this place has every reason to be pretentious, but it is quite the opposite, it is relaxed and focused on looking after you.
Without doubt, The Jetty is one of my favourite restaurants in the country. The only problem I can see, is that The Jetty is not in Milford on Sea.
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http://www.thejetty.co.uk/If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.
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