Bistro Du Vin always use to be on my ‘must visit’ list. I’d walk pass their building and it would always make me stop and sneak a peak in the windows; especially when it was winter and the place twinkled with lights and magic.

Luckily, I’m no longer the one peering in through the window, but dining in this gorgeous space and sampling their new menus.

Bistro Du Vin have launched their new Winter menu and a few additional specials to go along with it.

They offer a Tasting Menu at £99pp as well as their A la Carte menu and the Prix Fixe menu. The Prix Fixe menu offers 2 courses for £19.95 or 3 for £24.95 but at limited times.

The A la Carte menu is packed with glorious French Classics and to add a wee twist, Bistro Du Vin have something called the La Formule menu which is available Monday-Friday, Saturday before 7:00pm or Sunday after 6:00pm and you can choose dishes from their Prix Fixe menu or selected Hotel du Vin classic dishes marked on their A la Carte menu. They’ll also throw in a complimentary glass of house wine; 2 courses 175ml or 3 courses 250ml.

THE WINTER MENU

Their Winter Menu is a return to simpler more classic dishes. Dishes with big bold flavours that are comforting and warming; that big warm embrace when you come in from the cold. It’s about slow food, stews and steaming pots of mussels; it’s about hearty food like pies and risotto’s and it’s about traditional flavours and tastes.

Hotel Du Vin Edinburgh

Bistro Du Vin have a superb wine selection and their Sommelier is a delight to listen too as he rattles off one exceptional bottle after another. On this occasion I was driving but I was hankering for a big robust juicy red - something like Chateau de Beleverne Chenas, from Beaujolais, Burgundy, France; but it wouldn’t really have complimented our food choices and had we chosen a wine, I think we would have gone with white and possibly the Citri Conchiglia Turbiana di Lugana, from Lombardy, Italy. An easy drinking choice as this wine is soft, light and pleasant. The nose has delicate scents of fresh white fruit and citrus fruits. On the palate it shows freshness, elegance, simplicity and balance.

However, we asked for mocktails and the bar gladly obliged.

I chose the Grapefruit Seedlip Gin mocktail and my dining partner the Smoked Lemonade with ginger.

All thoughts of low carb diet went out the window - how was I meant to resist soft warm bread with balsamic and olive oil.

From the Prix Fixe Menu, my dining partner chose the BAKED POTATO SOUFFLÉ with Ayrshire Dunlop cheese sauce, frisée and chicory salad.

This had the potential to be sublime. Soft, fluffy billows of light potato and cheese. Unfortunately, the souffle was having a bad day and didn’t turn up. Although not the best of starts, this was the only dish that wasn’t up to standard.

My dining partners other choice of starter was the ESCARGOTS À LA BOURGUIGNONNE (£7.50) Snails in garlic and herb butter but sadly these weren’t available.

I chose well. I ordered the CHÈVRE CHAUD, BEETROOT TIAN (£7.95) from the A la Carte menu which was exceptional and would quite happily of eaten another.

The beetroot slices were al dente and retained some bite. A forkful of layered beetroot smothered in the creamy cheese, made for continued yummy mouthfuls.

There are two soups on the menu which I was also tempted to order. The SOUPE A L’OIGNON (£5.50) Classic French onion soup which I’ve had before, is outstanding and if you are after an Instagram worthy photo, then that is your dish. On the Prix Fixe menu the had the CULLEN SKINK with Welch Fishmongers smoked Scottish haddock traditional cream soup. Sounded scrumptious.

On to the mains - tough choices. The Maitre d suggested the WELCH’S CRAB AND POTATO CAKE - a spiced crab cake served with buttered Swiss chard and shallot sauce from the Prix Fixe menu but we ended up both choosing from the A la Carte menu instead.

SOLE MEUNIÈRE (£24.95) - Lemon sole lightly pan-fried with caper and parsley beurre noisette. We ordered a side of green beans to accompany this dish.

The sole was cooked superbly and was seasoned well. The green beans were a little overcooked as they had lost their crunch, but still a lovely accompaniment to this dish.

I chose the ROAST NORMANDY CHICKEN, GARLIC BUTTER (£15.95) served with pommes frites and a petite salad.

Oh my goodness, I loved this dish. It was homely and quite rustic but every aspect was great and the garlic butter was something else. I could pour this over everything I eat (I don’t think I’d have any friends left but I would have great tasting food!)

The chicken was succulent with crispy skin, and once smothered in the garlic butter it just elevated it to the next level.

No vampire was harmed that evening!

Lastly, we both chose the best way to end dinner. A super French dish that comes with no frills because it doesn’t have to.

It’s all about the crack of the sugared caramel topping and what a crack it makes under your spoon. The CRÈME BRÛLÉE (£6.95) or vanilla custard was smooth and velvety. I took my time with this dessert, savouring every creamy mouthful. Delicious.

The service here is outstanding. You will be so looked after without them being intrusive or pretentious.

Bistro Du Vin does it again. They deliver time and time again and I will happily return here as often as I can so that I can be the one on the inside and not just looking in at the twinkling lights.

Bistro Du Vin, Hotel Du Vin, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1EZ. Tel : 0131 2851479 www.hotelduvin.com/locations/edinburgh

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10



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