Festive Dining at Harvey Nichols Second Floor Brasserie, Manchester

Now it is the end of November, it is finally time to stop tentatively saying the ‘C’ word and calling it what it is…. CHRISTMAS! Yes people, it is nearly here. The lights are up, the trees are starting to go up around my estate and the festive dining menus are appearing at my favourite restaurants. I will be celebrating Christmas in Tenerife this year so I headed to Harvey Nichols Second Floor Brasserie for an early Christmas feast with Charlie.

I really like the space in the Brasserie of Harvey Nichols. The decor is simple with floor to ceiling windows, which are perfect for people watching and relaxing after a day of shopping. I included it in my Manchester on a budget post due to their happy hour deals but they also do a cupcake and glass of fizz for £6. It is such a lovely little idea and one that I am definitely returning for.

Anyway, enough of that. We were here for festive food and Harvey Nichols Second Floor Brasserie are offering 3 courses for £33. There are some interesting vegetarian options too, which are a bit different to the standard nut roast option you usually see at a restaurant.

For starters I chose the Duck Liver Parfait with Orange Chutney, Sourdough and Rocket Salad. The parfait was light in texture, but seriously rich as you would expect from duck. The chutney was more like a marmalade, with a touch of bitterness to cut through the fatty duck. The sourdough was perfect for mopping it up although I would have liked it to be warm and toasted personally.

Charlie chose the Hake with Artichoke Puree, Haricot Beans and Crispy Kale. The skin on top of the hake, as you can see was perfectly crisp. The creamy beans complimented it well with a touch of earthiness from the artichoke. I commented that it was a large portion and would have been at home as a main course so it is definitely one to go for if you are hungry!

Onto the mains and there was no way I was having anything other than the Turkey Ballottine, Carrot Puree, Brussel Sprouts, Pig in Blanket, Braised Red Cabbage, Roasted Potatoes and Gravy. The turkey is stuffed and the stuffing is studded with chunks of apricot which adds a lovely sweetness amongst, what would normally be a rich plate of food. The potatoes are perfectly roasted with rosemary for a crispy skin and the sprouts are smokey with a delicious creamy bacon sauce. I didn’t think it needed the carrot puree and would have rather had a couple of carrots on the plate, but then I would. I love carrots!

Charlie went for the vegetarian option, which is Pumpkin Risotto with Goats Cheese, Dried Cranberry and Crispy Sage. The rice is cooked al dente so still has a little bite, the creaminess of the risotto and goats cheese is cut through with the sour cranberries and crispy sage. It is a lovely dish that, cooked badly would be a disaster.

The dessert I chose was absolutely delicious. White Chocolate Cheesecake With Poached Clementines has the softest filling of any cheesecake I have ever eaten. The clementines are sweet with a tang from the citrus, a nod to Christmas without being too much.

I was also jealous of Charlie’s dessert… Spiced Pear, Stilton Mousse and Water Crackers is an almost deconstructed cheeseboard and I am absolutely here for it. The stilton mousse is almost whipped in consistency with small chunks of stilton scattered around the plate with shaved celery, spiced pear and pieces of cracker for the ultimate crunch.

We had a wonderful time people watching with a bottle of wine as we waited for each course. It really is an oasis of calm at this time of year and well worth booking into.

You can book directly with BookATable and they are currently running a competition where, if you book and dine before Christmas, you could win £100 off your bill. What’s not to love? I’m all for a good competition win especially at the most expensive time of the year.

In Collaboration With BookATable.