Our Seasonal Guide

It’s nearly the end of what has been another glorious asparagus season, though the small, tender, wild asparagus is still around and is a must have addition to any salad at the moment. There are some strawberries about, but these are grown under glass, and are not going to pack the punch of the outdoor variety available in late July - be patient!

Chard is still great and makes for a great side of iron packed vegetables. Serve tossed quickly in hot olive oil with plenty of seasoning and a gentle grate of nutmeg!

Fresh Broad beans are great, but you don't get many to a pod! They are packed with flavour and nutrients; we are currently serving them with halibut and Sicilian lemons. They make an amazing soup or try lightly blanched, then tossed with some ricotta to make a great, early summer salad.

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Notable Changes to Our Beverage Offering

We are now proud to be pouring Perrier Jouet as our house bubbles, and I can highly recommend the ‘Belle Epoque’ which is a very special pre dinner tipple. We serve ‘Belle Epoque’ in its own bespoke glasses and I am so fond of it, in fact, that I'm offering a bottle to the first person to respond, with a midweek booking of six or more. Simply email daisy@trinityrestaurant.co.uk with your reservation requirements and the words 'Belle Epoque’ in the subject line.

In the spirit of locality and of great tasting products we now stock Sambrook’s beer (www.sambrooksbrewery.co.uk) which is brewed just 3 miles from Trinity, its light, local and great with food.

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Menu Prix Fixe

If you’re unaware of this menu then you probably have been living in a cupboard for the past few months! My menu prix fixe offers three courses of simple, seasonal, good cooking without the frills at just £20 for three courses; it remains one of London’s best known foodie bargains and for the time being is here to stay. Places are in high demand and pre booking is a requirement. Other than that it’s available Monday - Thursday all night long. Click here to see this week’s menu Prix Fixe

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Rupert’s Wine of the Month

Although sadly, some people apparently drink to forget, I certainly don’t. The beauty of wine is its ability to trigger memories of people and places. Only yesterday Leah was recollecting how she will never forget her first bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape, where she drank it, and with whom she shared this bottle.

I’m lucky enough to have met lots of interesting people in the world of wine, and every bottle on our list has some kind of unique memory for me. If I see a bottle of wine in a shop, I might pick it up and without actually having to pull the cork these memories of where I first tried it, or who brought it to my attention come, positively, flooding back.

Only last week I spotted a bottle of Château Maris Vieilles Vignes 2007 Minervois Cru La Livinière on the shelf in Waitrose. Immediately remembering that I had listed an older vintage a few years back at The Crown and Castle (which was supplied to me by the late Bill Baker), I stuck a bottle in my basket, threw my dinner plans out the window and bought some Lamb instead. (I often pair my food to my wine, rather than the more conventional method).

Château Maris is just as good as I remember, if not even better, produced from 88 year old Syrah vines, the low yields have given a wine with superb concentration of dark fruits, whilst still retaining some freshness and spice that other Syrah from south of the Rhone tend to lose. All this ripe fruit does mean it’s pretty heavy on the alcohol front, but if, like me, you are drinking to remember and therefore in moderation this should not matter one bit. (Low alcohol does seem to be a buzz-word in the wine industry at the moment, but if you ask me, the only thing of concern is whether the flavours of the wine are in balance). In general southern French reds from 2007, are really expressing this ripeness and balance very well, and are to be savoured at this time of year with some barbequed new season Lamb, English tomatoes and all the usual Barbeque trimmings.

Château Maris Vieilles Vignes 2007 Minervois Cru La Livinière is currently available at Waitrose for £8.99

Or, if you do need something light and low in alcohol, you won’t go far wrong with Ernst Loosen’s Dr L Riesling which you can pick up in Sainsbury’s for £7.

Cheers,
Rupert

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Tasting Great

Our early summer tasting menu was launched last week and has a modern, classic feel about it, of which I'm pleased to see you’re seemingly taken by! I have chosen to take dishes that are familiar and form part of classic food history, and approach them all with new techniques. The results have been great!

The menu also offers a cheese and Oloroso sherry pairing which we have all tasted and love. Rather than go on about it, I thought I would just list the menu for you to see. With its new and exciting wine pairings, it still offers amazing value for money at just £40 for a five course menu and is available Monday - Saturday during dinner service.

‘Vichyssoise’
Asparagus and Jersey Royals
Albert Mann, Muscat 2007, Alsace, France
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‘Seafood Cocktail’
Alois Lageder, Lagrein Rose 2007, Sudtirol Alto Adige, Italy
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Quail ‘Carbonara’
Tenuta di Ceppaiano, “Alle Viole” 2005, Tuscany, Italy
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John Dory ‘Caesar’
Alpha Zeta, Chardonnay 2007, Verona, Italy
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‘Cottage Pie’
Vesevo Beneventano, Aglianico 2006, Campania, Italy
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Coolea Cheese by Dick Willems
Lustau Oloroso Sherry
(additional course £8 supplement)
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‘Sorbet’
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‘Hot Chocolate’
Domaine Mas Amiel, Maury 2007, Languedoc-Rousillon, France

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Other Bits of News

• We have worked hard to develop a house blend, Pimms cocktail using ginger ale, cucumber and a few unique twists; it’s available on Sundays and sets off lunch perfectly.

• Not forgetting that you can follow all of our updates live on twitter, follow us here http://twitter.com/TrinityLondon to hear the goings on at Trinity. And to find out what I'm up to, cooking, recipes and tips I can also be followed here http://twitter.com/Adambyatt

• Sunday lunch at Trinity continues to deliver classic, good value fare in relaxed surroundings. Our summer opening hours are: 12 - 4.30pm, to make a reservation please email dine@trinityrestaurant.co.uk

• We have changed the look of our group dining offering and kitchen table package, for anyone who is interested simply click here to see the new menus and offering.

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Foodie Tips

No recipes this month, just the beginning of my A-Z of hints, tips and foodie info:

A) Al dente: Dried pasta is cooked 8 minutes to perfection, fresh is 3 minutes - and no more!
B) Blunt knives: Should be banned, use a knife block and take them to your local butcher to have the edge re ground!
C) Chopping knives: I always say German knives are best for home, and Japanese for folk like us who do it for a living. Look for an integrated blade and handles that last longer and are happy to be put through the dishwasher
D) Delicious: food takes good ingredients, appropriate amount of time and accurate seasoning, there is more but hey, those are the starting blocks.
E) Egg: for the perfect poached egg, boil unsalted water and 3 tbls of vinegar, swirl into a vortex with a whisk, drop in the pre cracked egg, and allow to poach for 3 minutes. Always use the freshest eggs possible, this can be identified by the consistency of the egg white: the more liquid the egg white, the older it is.
F) Fish - never on a Monday!
G) Ground nut oil: is the best base for basic vinaigrettes and salad dressings.
H) Hot! Remove the seeds to weaken the punch of chilis, and remember smaller is hotter!
I) Inverted sugar: is a product that is used in professional kitchens. In simple terms it is low in sweetness but still retains the characteristics and effect that sugar has on ice cream and sorbets i.e. it won't freeze!
J) Just add water: Cooking cous cous is easy, quick and requires minimal preparation time, place 500g of cous cous in a bowl. Boil double the volume of water. Boil the water with whatever addition you like (for me its olive oil, sliced lemons and rosemary) pour this over the dry couscous and cover with cling film, allow to stand for 15 minutes and serve.

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Question of the Month

I asked the team the following "Which restaurant would be your no expense spared one off dining experience?" And here's what they had to say:

Leah: “Thyme, Clapham Park Road!”
Rupert: “El Bulli”
Daisy: “Noma”
Darren: “Alinea”
Joe: “Harvey’s, by Marco Pierre White”
Greig: “Arzak” - San Sebastian

Vicki, my wife thinks Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons is hard to beat for overall hospitality (this was a hint I'm sure!)

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At Trinity we like things big!

Couldn't resist slipping in a picture of my latest capture! This is what I do when the stoves are off. This one didn't make the plate!

Happy cooking

Adam

T  R  I  N  I  T  Y
4 The Polygon
Clapham Common
London SW4 0JG

Reservations: 0207 622 1199

www.trinityrestaurant.co.uk
dine@trinityrestaurant.co.uk

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