Alimentum Restaurant Review Cambridge

Rosanne Goldman Reviews….

Alimentum
152 – 154 Hills Roade
Cambridge
CB2 8PB
Tel: 01223 413000
Email: reservations@restaurantalimentum.co.uk
http://www.restaurantalimentum.co.uk/book/contact.htm

From the moment that we entered Alimentum we felt at ease; all the staff seemed delighted to greet us. My husband and I were celebrating our 35th Wedding anniversary, accompanied by our two daughters. The décor is clean, if a bit sparse, but at Alimentum, the food‚s the thing!

For our first course my husband and I ordered the Onion and Beer Veloute, with grated vacherin and coriander. The soup was delicately flavoured with beer and just sour enough. I am not a lover of coriander (always reminds me of wet, though clean, laundry!) and the portion was definitely too small for my husband who wanted more! Our daughters both chose to start with the Loch Duart Salmon. The poached salmon married beautifully with the horseradish sauce and salmon roe while the salmon tartar stood proudly and deliciously on its own.
The rolls and butter came after the starters (an oversight, but no matter) and was eaten as a mini-course on its own. I especially loved the sage-and-onion roll, which was fragrant and fresh.

For the mains, my husband (an Australian carnivore by birth!) ordered the Roast Sirloin of Beef bordelais‚ (sans the snails), girolles and
celeriac. He savored every mouthful of succulent beef and said that the mushrooms added a most satisfying depth of flavour. He was ecstatic with his beef for which I had earlier berated as being his usual and boring‚ dish of choice.

One daughter chose the Wood Pigeon which had been poached and then roasted, with boudin blanc and savoy cabbage. She did mention that there were a few chewy, sinewy bits, but that is to be expected in this bird which was cooked suitably rare. She loved it and even ate the broccoli puree next to it, a vegetable which she normally refuses to allow passed her lips! But this puree was so cleverly executed! She also pinched some of the leeks off my plate of Halibut with black olives, leeks, pomme ecrase and tapenade sauce. This dish was also beautifully arranged on my plate and the fish was perfectly cooked. It had large grains of maldon salt as its crust, which contrasted well with the firm, slightly sweet flesh of the fish. My daughter and I fought over the broccoli puree on my plate and I won!

Our eldest daughter ordered the Pithivier, (a round, enclosed pie made with puff pastry and carefully glazed to make it shine) of cabbage and
wild mushrooms, with truffle butter. The pie looked so perfect that it was served with a separated slice so that one could eat it without being the first to destroy its‚ perfection. She said that every mouthful was like a mini adventure‚, bursting with unexpected and exciting flavours.

I do not usually partake of dessert, but was tempted by the delightful young sommelier Kyle, to try the Baked Yogurt with Satsuma marmalade and Orange Sorbet. I was intrigued by the method in which the yoghurt was baked. One daughter also had the same and we were both suitably satisfied. The three elements went together wonderfully, but I doubt whether they would have worked separately. Our younger daughter had a chocolate mousse served with chestnuts and raspberry sorbet in a jar. She complained that the chocolate mousse was rather bitter, but then she does have an awfully sweet tooth. She polished off the lot! My husband contented himself with a trio of sorbets and an espresso, which he thoroughly enjoyed.The young sommelier Kyle, was knowledgeable and caring as well as being good company. He was tireless in searching for a wine which would suit my palate and I tried three before settling on a glass of French Bouch Savignon Blanc, although he got straight to the point with my husband‚s deep red Rioja. I must comment on his attention and interest in our enjoyment of the meal and indeed, our entire celebration. In fact all the staff were incredibly cheerful and they enhanced a perfect meal with their
friendly and efficient service. And to the chef Marc Poynton, thank you for bringing fine dining to the provincial depths of East Anglia and
making me smile!After all this, we were presented with a plate of petit fours, to which we
were unable to do justice!

The meal for four, with two glasses of wine, one coca cola (!) and two bottles of still water came to £185, with service added.
We must go there again, before Alimentum earns a Michelin star and the prices soar. Alimentum is well worth a visit.

4 December 2010