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A Night Out in London: Club Gascon & Barbican
By Amira Hashish, Evening Standard 15.09.08
Intimate setting: Club Gascon beautiful decor
Welcoming: this is the sort of restaurant you will want to visit again
Nearby: Club Gascon is just a short stroll from the Barbican
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After a night of culture what better way to relax than at an intimate restaurant with superb food like Club Gascon?.
Where: Club Gascon
Nearest tube: Barbican
When: Monday to Friday lunch 12pm-2pm,
Dinner Monday to Thursday 7pm-10pm,
(7-10:30pm Friday & Saturday)
www.clubgascon.com
The Barbican is Europe's largest multi-arts complex so from theatre to exhibitions there is something to please all tastes. But after a night of culture what better way to relax than at an intimate restaurant with superb food? Club Gascon is just a short stroll away and is one of London's treasures as far as excellent cuisine is concerned.
Specialising in the traditional food of West France this is an eating place that takes great pride in its dishes. The attention to detail is impeccable; enough to make the Gascony region, from which restaurateurs Vincent Labeyrie and Pascal Aussignac hail, proud.
Based in a former Lyons Tea House, next to Smithfield Market, there is an welcoming ambience. This is the sort of venue in which you can spend hours unwinding while indulging in a selection of flavours. A popular choice is to sample five small dishes from the menu which is divided into La Route Du Sel, Le Potager, Les Foies Gras, L'Oceane and Les Paturages. It makes a change from the usual starters, main course and pudding option and gives you the chance to try a more varied selection.
To begin try garden tomato tart, truffle sorbet and shavings. This consists of a short bread paste coated with tomato concasse, rose of tomatoes and tomato jelly. Served with a quenelle of truffle sorbet and truffle shavings it has a tangy zest with a great kick to it. A fish option could be the plancha grilled razor clams and abalone. Parsnip veloute, pinejuice, tapioca, seaweed, shallots, dill and lemon enhance the flavour.
For middle course the aligot, juicy mousserons and watercress is one of the highlights of the menu. This is mashed potato cooked to perfection with garlic and fresh tome cheese. The creamy sauce and crisp potatoes add the finishing touch to the dish.
Foie gras fans will enjoy the grilled duck and grapes. A thick slice of grilled foie gras is served on a thin slice of toasted bread with some grapes and shallots cooked in white wine and vinegar until very tender. Garnished on top with black grapes and sugar snap peas it is a must.
This should lead suitably to the main course. The capuccino of black pudding and lobster is a popular choice. Or you could sample the roast king scallop, florets and sweet citrus and pastis. Oozing with flavour, it won't disappoint.
And so for pudding. It's worth leaving a leaving a little space for this. The yoghurt ice cream comes with truffle honey, summer berries and strawberry juice and tastes as good as its sounds. Or the red hot chilli berries with whipped cream and piquillo peppers is delicious.
Of course, these are just a few suggestions but there is an extensive range of seasonal and fresh produce on offer. The friendly team at Club Gascon are happy to help you make your menu choices and have a refreshingly broad knowledge of the cuisine.
If you are looking for a night of terrific food in a calming atmosphere head to the Michelin starred Club Gascon.
