| |
 |
|
SOUTHERNDOWN
La Plie - they had us at hello
As frequent diners to Frolics, we were very keen to see what new owner and chef Matthew Powell was going to offer. Having learned that he’d worked under a string of famous Michelin starred chefs, Raymond Blanc for one, we were hoping for great things.
A very friendly and, as we learned throughout our lunch, very efficient maitre d’ Alex showed us to our table and attended to our every need. Matthew briefly came out to greet us but no sooner than the pleasantries had been exchanged, he whipped back into the kitchen to work his magic. And what magic it was. Fresh, warm homebaked bread was brought to our table which was quickly followed by a gift from the chef in the form of an extremely rich and intense lobster soup served in a slim glass.
Before I go any further, this was for me the highlight of the meal as I’ve never tasted anything so delicious and I’m not easy to please. We then devoured our starters of fresh saffron pasta, crab fricasse, frothed crab bisque and wood sorrel and roasted breast of wood pigeon, roast worcester pearmain apple puree, sweet pickled blackberries with a blackberry jus. So unbelievably moorish, could this get any better?
A quick chat with Alex and then our mains arrived, pan fried Cornish brill fillet, razor clam, herb crust, roast salsify, vanilla veloute with sea purslane for me and braised Usk valley beef oxtail en crepinette, parsley root puree, late summer baby vegetables, pomme maxine with oxtain juices for Mr Roberts.
The best parts of my dish had to be the razor clam and the sea purslane. Both were new to me and I’m sorry but it’s pointless me trying to relay how amazingly tasty these were. You’ll just have to order them. Simple as. Mr Roberts enjoyed his beef oxtail but kept asking me for forkfulls of my razor clams. Unfortunately for him they were too good to share. Somehow room for a 70% Guanaja chocolate fondant with orange sorbet and pineapple crisp and a poached chateau des nages white peach, with chocolate sorbet and grapefruit tuile and coffees were found and our piece of lunchtime heaven was over.
Matthew gave us another five minutes of his time to tell us how he spent his days, evenings, spare time. He’s a young man so you would be guessing he’d be chilling, partying, spending time with his mates. Not so for Matt, “I enjoy reading,” Oh yes we say, what kind of books do you read we ask, “Cookery books” and with that he was gone.
La Plie
Beach Road Flats, Southerndown,
Bridgend CF32 0RP
01656 880127 |
|
|
|
