York is one of my favourite small cities and is a very easy train journey away from where I live here in Skipton, so when I was invited to try the new Spring Set Menu from Cafe Rouge, I decided that York would be the perfect location to do this. Cafe Rouge is a group of restaurants serving classic French dishes with a twist.
The menu offers a choice of three starters and four mains for £12.95 per person, with a choice of three desserts for an extra £3 and is served from 12 noon until close.
For my starter I chose Terrine de Jambon: ham hock, pea and mustard terrine with shallot and raisin chutney, baby watercress and chargrilled rye and caraway bread. It was delicious; very fresh and beautifully presented. The chutney brought out and complimented the flavours of the terrine without being overpowering.
Ian had Mackerel Rillettes: rustic homemade pate of sustainably-sourced smoked mackerel, creme fraiche and horseradish, with dill-pickled cucumber and chargrilled rye and caraway bread. The pate was inventively served in a mini Kilner jar and the cucumber in a tiny pan which made the plate look very appealing. I tried a little bit of everything and can confirm Ian's opinions that the pate was absolutely divine and that the dill-pickled cucumber was the perfect accompaniment.
The house red was lovely- smooth and easy to drink but with more than enough about it to compliment the food. We both enjoy wine and were very impressed with this. We were tempted to order a second bottle actually but decided that it would perhaps be wiser not to at lunchtime!
I often choose seafood for my main course and I was very very tempted by the Moules on the menu, but instead decided to have the 5oz "Minute" Rump which I had cooked medium rare. It came served with a choice of house salad or frites and garlic butter and as you can see, I chose frites. This was perfect for lunchtime because it wasn't too filling or too heavy.
Ian chose Porc A La Viennoise, a paneed pork fillet served with beurre noisette, thyme jus, fried free-range egg, capers and frites. The butter and capers accentuated the quite gentle flavour of the pork and afforded piquancy to the dish.
For dessert, I had Lemon Posset with an almond tuile. It was perfectly tart and a refreshing end to my meal. Again, it wasn't heavy or too filling but was a perfectly satisfying end to what was a beautiful lunch.
And of course, I wouldn't be a real girlfriend if I hadn't have pinched some of Ian's Torte au Chocolat. It was served with vanilla creme fraiche and was dense and rich with a wonderful sense of indulgence about it.
From start to finish, the meal and the service were excellent. The ambience was vibrant yet relaxed and at £15.95 for three-courses, it was excellent value for what was very, very nice food.
As children, we had both visited York and its very famous Clifford's Tower, so we wanted to go back. It looked resplendent in the spring sunshine. A week or so earlier, the whole of the grassed area was a sea of yellow daffodils; something I'd love to go and see next year.
The cherry blossom was out in all its glory though and looked stunning against the city's ancient walls.
Cafe Rouge are very kindly giving one of my readers the chance to win a three course-meal for two plus a bottle of house wine.
The winner will be drawn at random by the Rafflecopter app on 10th May. The prize must be redeemed by 31st May.To enter, please follow Cafe Rouge on Instagram and leave a comment with the hashtags #caferouge and #caferougespring.
For bonus entries, please follow me on Instagram (@whatlizzyloves), Facebook (What Lizzy Loves) and Twitter (@whatlizzyloves) and Cafe Rouge on their other social media platforms (full details in the Rafflecopter app below)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Thank you very much to Cafe Rouge in York for hosting us.
The Adams House
52 Lower Petergate
Low Petergate
York
YO1 7HZ
Love Lizzy x
Thank you to cafe Rouge in York for hosting Ian and I for lunch.
This giveaway is sponsored by Cafe Rouge.