11/06/2026
Birthday 3.0!
2.0, which was in my actually bday, was a relaxed day wandering around ice cream and stuff.
Today my friends delivered their present in the form of, again, an unintended private lunch at a very beautiful and intentional restaurant just up the road from us. I have passed by in the past and thought ohhhh doesn’t that look luxurious.
Now I know it absolutely is luxurious. To start we each took a different option. Like good foodies we let each other have a wee taste of each one.
Chef put an extra oyster with apple foam on the plate because it was my birthday lunch and why shouldn’t I get an oyster too. Mmmmm and thank you. My wild boar pastry was lovely on top of a sneaky French mustard and jus. The beet and cheese perfectly subtle.
While M&M both landed on the porco preto accompanied by a spinach puree, whole fava beans and garlic flowers. I immediately went for the hake not a mistake, both were garlicky, flavorful and fantastic! What we all loved was there was no fear in the kitchen of bold flavors. Every dish was well seasoned, balanced and memorable.
We finished with hand pitted cherries paired with elderflower granita. Very refreshing in the heat that landed today. Then a petite Gataeu with a candle was brought out, singing commenced and I blushed.
I would also like to point out that provides a beautiful menu using products from their own farm where they grow their own vegetables alongside chickens, pigs, bee hives and more. A chef’s dream.
We are already planning our next visit. Lunches are incredibly reasonable. A lovely little amuse bouche of what I suspect a dinner experience would deliver.
The palace it is located in is calming with a Scandinavia aesthetic that is carefully punctuated by gigantic Renaissance paintings and statement lighting.
A fantastic way to say goodbye to 55.