23rd December 2010

It’s been a full 8 months since my last visit to Manna, yesterday I made a promise to myself not to let it go so long again.
I was at first hesitant about ordering the christmas dinner with the evil brussel sprouts lurking on the menu. But if I was going to like anyone’s sprouts it would be Manna’s. Alas no, they were still evil but the sage and chestnut wellington was ah-mazing. Covered in lashings of green peppercorn gravy with prettily scored roast potatoes and baby carrots, not a scrap was left on my plate (thanks to friends who like brussels!).

I actually had the christmas set menu which is only available till tomorrow. I found my starter which was a pairing of broccoli tempura and risotto odd, but indivdually there were good. The tempura was nicely seasoned and the crumble on top of the risotto gave it a nice extra texture.

I decided approx 48 hours before hand that I would be having the pistachio and vanilla creme brulee for dessert and proceeded to dream about it all the following day, but I was disappointed. They managed to get the top that cracked (just about) but inside the consistency was not smooth and quite lumpy. It wasn’t unpleasant to eat but it was not how I remember a creme brulee to taste.

The final course was a hot drink (which never arrived) and petits fours. Nothing really exciting here, 2 chocolates, 2 biscuits and a physalis.

My fellow diners were all raving about the wellington too and hoped it would remain on the menu permenantly. I think it’s a safe assumption I will be returning there quite soon when I can turn my attention to the pasta and veatballs.

Tags: Manna, review