The fact that I don’t eat meat or fish or have dairy issues has never stopped me from enjoying my food. I’m not super fussy -if there is one dish that I can eat on the menu – it’s mine. So I regularly frequent the likes of Wagamama, Zizzi, Pizza Express, Ping Pong.. But I did keep away from the higher end restaurants, assuming that I wouldn’t have much choice.
Until I stumbled across Ham Yard Bar and Restaurant back in August 2016. When making the booking, they confirmed that they have a three course vegan /vegetarian/gluten free menus – with multiple options !! – available for dinner.
I met up early with my partners in crime for a quick drink in the Ham Yard Bar. Now this hotel is one of those super trendy hot spots, full of suited blokes, high heeled women….and us ;). We were quickly led to our table when it was ready, and while the girls got their omni menu, I was graciously presented with mine.
I am a happy go lucky, quickly click before digging in kind of girl, but the more I look at my photos – the more I think – I have to improve for the sake of this blog!! So please bear with me…
So…the starters were:
– White bean soup with truffle salsa
– Roast squash, mixed leaves, gremolata and pumpkin seeds
– Beetroot pakora, mango and spiced chickpeas
I will always make a beeline for anything truffle-y on a menu, so I went for the soup.
Mains were:The soup was velvety and the flavour was subtle – I was expecting a strong bean flavour – but it was so well balanced. The truffle salsa – more like chopped truffle bits with truffle oil – was lovely and added to the flavour profile, but I could have done with at least three times the amount.
– Roast celeriac, dressed lentils and spinach
– Wild mushroom broth, kale and tarragon
– Roasted spring vegetables with wild garlic dressing
Although it being the middle of summer, I went for the roasted spring vegetables as I wanted something light, and I wanted to keep some room for dessert.
The veggies were lovely, the dressing vivid and super tasty. I did have to season it a bit, and I did push the slightly burnt potato crisps to one side. Moving onto what is usually the best part of the meal. To be honest, I had almost accepted the responses of ‘sorry, no options’ or the plate of berries or fruit salad as the standard dessert – but today I had two choices – including the plate of berries!!
– Chocolate and avocado mousse, strawberries and nut crunch
– Seasonal berries and raspberry sorbet.
Now who would go for fruit when there is chocolate! I obviously went for the mousse.
What arrived looked like a granola pot, and to be honest, the topping on it’s own was a bit like having breakfast – but eaten with the strawberries and mousse – it was beautiful. Soft, smooth, crunchy, tasty – and not too sweet.
We ordered coffees – I had a fresh mint tea – at the end of the meal, and the girls got a single petit four with their hot drinks – a mini cone with a meringue. The lovely waiter saw that I didn’t have anything, and minutes later, put this in front of me – how sweet!
It turned out to be a honeydew melon sorbet – yummy! I would definitely recommend this place – and I will go back, especially since I found out that Ham Yard Bar & Restaurant does a vegan afternoon tea – birthday plans sorted!
PB Eats, PB Travels 