Bruce and Bye

Today I went, with the members of my office, to the wonderful Chez Bruce in Wandsworth for my leaving lunch. There is a promotion running, organised by Hardens and the FT (Lunch with the FT 2008), where you can have , at Bruce's, a three course lunch for £19.50. It is obviously a shortened menu but, as always, absolutely delicious.

Now I may be a bit partial here, but I do really like this restaurant. I first came here when it was Harvey's and have been numerous times since Bruce Poole has been in charge and it just keeps being great. The room is a well designed space, not too big or crowded, airy but still cosy. The staff are always friendly and it seems that nothing is ever too much trouble.

We were a table of four and started with some bubbles - a bottle of Pol Roger NV - lovely while we pondered the menu and subsequent wine choices. We had the following to eat: Foie Gras and Chicken Liver Terrine with Brioche, Wild Mushroom Tagliatelle and Salt Cod Beignets, Mussel Vinaigrette and Aioli were the starters and all were deemed delicious. The Foie was light and the brioche some of the nicest I've had for ages. The salt cod was YUM and came with my first samphire of the year so that made it for me.

The red wine arrived - a Shiraz Mataro from Pemberton in Australia, "Lilian" 1999 by John Brocksopp - and it was round and had good fruit but with a nice bit of age there too. Main courses were Rump of Aberdeen Angus with Fondant Potatoes and Spinach, said to be lovely but it disappeared before I could even snaffle a taste. Halibut with Mash, light and perfectly cooked fish, and I had Belly Pork with Caramelised Apples, Choucroute and crackling. So good, I shall be recreating this at home, or at least trying to... Desserts followed and they were Pink Grapefruit Sorbet - delish - served with a selection of biscuits, a brandy snap, a tuille, a madaleine and a piece of vanilla shortbread. A Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice cream, which was deemed amazing and than Syllabub with Blood Orange Jelly which I will also be recreating.

All in all a wonderful lunch and I am so glad that Chez Bruce is my "local"!