Jacks bar & brasserie are celebrating their 5th birthday this month with a bang. As part of the celebrations, this Wednesday I had the absolute pleasure of sampling some of the goodies coming up on Jacks bar & brasserie new menu.

Welcomed by a glass off Chase Marmalade Fizz the evening started particularly well ;-). Not usually a vodka drinker, this marmalade vodka, cointreau and tonic combination surprisingly went down a treat. Loved the added bit of orange in the ice cube (very tempted to add random fruit to my ice tray).

Sat in the cosy little bar area, a little board of canapés whetted our appetite of what was to come.

• Smoked ham hock, pea and Chagford quail ‘scotch’ egg- my personal favourite!!
• Lightly cured salmon and herbs with dill créme fraiche – delicious, check your teeth if on a date though, the herbs get everywhere! :-S
• Cornish Camembert with damson jelly – wonderfully salty.

Next came the five course tasting menu – with venison, duck and goats cheese all on one menu, they pretty much included all my favourite things – just need to add dark chocolate.  Devised by the restaurant’s executive chef, Simon Davis, the food takes a contemporary twist on Great British classics, reflecting what is current right now. Each course was matched with a beautiful glass of wine to draw out the flavours in the dish – leaving me admittedly far too giggly for a Wednesday evening…whoops!

1. Treacle cured venison, rocket, sour cherry and apple salad – matched with a surprisingly light Vidal Pinot Noir. The strength of the venison flavour was perfect with the lighter fruity flavours in the salad.

2. Ashridge cider (one of my favourite ciders) steamed mussels and back bacon came next – definitely appreciated the herby focaccia to soak up the delicious sauce. The Muscadet was the flatmate’s favourite wine – we shall be seeking a few bottles for the flat.

3. Perfectly cooked duck breast (look how beautifully pink it is) with fondant potato and blackberry jus (and extra blackberries). The accompanying Beaujolais Villages was deliciously fruity.

Fig, ragstone goats cheese (top top cheese) and Pedro Ximenez dressing, matched with Pedro Ximenez sherry. The honey tones of the sherry have pretty much converted me to a sherry drinker. I am possibly planning a bit of a clear out to make room for a decanter for the sherry…Maybe.

5. Finally, the apple crumble soufflé was to die for! With the final drink of the evening, a Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc.

I’ve been raving about it ever since! The taster menu is available from 17th September to 31st October for £35 – incredible value for such scrummy food.

The big birthday bash is next Thursday – keep an eye out for news @Jacks_Brasserie