REVIEW : Six by Nico Edinburgh, Mad Hatters Tea Party

“Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than what it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise.”- The Duchess - Alice in Wonderland…

Six by Nico - Mad Hatters Tea Party review

And down the rabbit hole we go with six courses from Six by Nico in his latest themed menu - A Mad Hatters Tea Party which is available in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast and Manchester from 12 November 2019 to 5 January 2020. 6 course tasting menu – £29 and Wine Pairing – £26. Vegetarian menu is also available.

“I’m not strange, weird, off, nor crazy, my reality is just different from yours.”– The Cheshire Cat.

Everything on the menu is not as it seems, including the actual menu which once you’ve read it, you can eat so essentially its a 7 course meal!

‘Through the Looking Glass’ aperitif (additional £6) - a wee bottle of red potion is added to the Edinburgh gin and Elderflower mix.

You can’t help but be delighted with it even as an adult. It appeals to our inner child and we come out to play. A little bit of magic in a cocktail and we’re ready for the journey ahead.

Course 1 : EAT ME, DRINK ME!!! - Mushroom Consomme, Parmesan & Truffle Empire Biscuit

Tea and biscuits, a classic combo. Your server pours your mushroom tea at the table and serves you two empire biscuits. I loved this course and a great way to start.

The mushroom consomme was rich with a depth of earthy woody flavour. Warming and soothing, it most definitely looked like tea just tasted better. The empire biscuit was amazing. Light and crumbly and you so expect it to be sweet, but it’s packed with cheese and a deep truffle taste comes at the end. Wish we could buy these biccies in the shops!

“Well! I’ve often seen a cat without a grin,” thought Alice; “but a grin without a cat! It’s the most curious thing I ever saw in all my life!”

Course 2 - CHESHIRE COPY CAT - Chicken Liver Parfait, Orange Jelly, Toasted Sourdough.

Visually striking and the most deceptive dish on the menu. The satsuma is actually chicken liver parfait and its served with toast.

I don’t like chicken liver parfait, so I asked TartanSpoonie Clare for her opinion on this. It was very creamy, very smooth and light. Well whipped with a very deep savoury flavour. A good second course.

“I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir. Because I am not myself, you see?’” Alice

Course 3 - STEAK TARTARE? - Goats Cheese Pannacotta, Green Olive Tapenade, Tomato Tartare with “Yoghurt Yolk”

Another very clever dish. No steak here, this is all veg! The goats cheese is hidden underneath and the tomato tapenade shaped like how a traditional steak tartare would be served. The egg is genius and Nico has the ‘look’ spot on.

Your mind wants it to taste one way and your taste buds contradict everything.

Course 4 - CHECKMATE - Sole, Black Garlic Emulsion, Cauliflower, Lemon Verbena Foam.

Love the black and white elements on this plate but the sole is the star as it should be. A superb piece of fish delivered with nice contrasting textural components and flavour profiles.

The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her for a moment like a wild beast, began screaming “Off with her head! Off with—” “Nonsense!” said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the Queen was silent.

Course 5 - OFF WITH HIS HEAD - Pork Fillet, Head Croquette, Black Pudding, Roasted Carrot & Spiced Prune.

This was seriously good, the best dish off the tasting menu. The pork was beautiful and the carrot, both the roasted and the puree were an intense concentrated carrot flavour and the spice of the prune added the zing to this dish.

Mad Hatter: “Have I gone mad?”
Alice: “I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are.”

Course 6 - QUEEN OF HEARTS - White Chocolate Mousse, Red Velvet Cake, Raspberry, Pecan Brittle.

This dish will make you smile. It’s bold and bright red and you almost don’t want to eat it but with the promise of white chocolate and red velvet cake, the thought soon disappears. It’s not overly sweet, more well balanced between the sweetness of the chocolate and the ‘savouriness’ of the cake. You won’t leave a crumb.

“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”– The Queen of Hearts

It’s 6 course by 6 by Nico and a great menu for the festive season. It’s fun. It’s a merry menu. It’s packed full of surprises. What oh what will Nico come up with next??

Six by Nico, 97 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1DJ. Tel : 0131 225 5050

My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10

I was invited by Six by Nico to review their menu. Food was complimentary but the views are very much my own.