Exotic Flavours #1 - The Daffodil (Cheltenham)

   I wouldn't really consider myself a 'foodie'; although I must say, I like to think I know what good food is, where to find it and how to review it. So, with this in mind, it was last night that I first set foot inside (arguably) Cheltenham's finest dining restaurant.


Of course it was for a celebratory meal honouring Sarah (my girlfriend) and her graduation that day (from Birmingham...with a first...I'm telling everyone!) so it was with some trepidation that I entered, garbed in my most finest, fine, finery. 
   The first thing I noted was that the building itself was actually an old cinema complex that was up and running during the 1920's and 30's and the décor itself spoke volumes to this. Old film posters advertising such Marx brothers films as The Cocoanuts and A Night in Casablanca as well as Marilyn Munroe's saucily titled Don't Bother To Knock adorned the walls and the old striped ticket booth, still stands like a friendly sentry to one side of the entrance, hearkening back to the golden age of cinema when Hollywood ruled.  
   
The menu too almost embarrassingly split first and second courses into such categories as 'Screen 1' and 'Curtain Raisers'. However, this only really added to the sophisticated charm. 
   I was mainly excited by the fact that it was 'Martini Monday', between 6 and 8 when you buy a Martini, you get one free so, sidling up to the circle bar in what used to be the upper circle of seats, I was feeling like James Bond. However, just before ordering my vodka Martini (shaken not stirred mind you...) I was directed toward a pre-written list of Martinis that were compatible with 'Martini Monday'. With my ego deflated slightly (but not completely) I ordered the next James Bond sounding thing; a 'French Martini'. 


   I later learned that this was in fact Grey Goose vodka, Chambord, pineapple juice and fresh raspberry to counter balance the dry kick of the vodka and give it a well rounded, sharp tang. 


   When it showed up however, I felt all but cool. Bright pink and frothy (from the shaken juice) I gazed down at the orange love heart sprayed onto the top foam by the bar-man. However, after the first sip, the vodka kicked in and I quickly ceased to care.

Sounds like an exotic disease if
you ask me. "Sorry love I've got
Arabella Sprot. Better get down to
the clinic, pronto..."

   Taking our seats at the bottom of one of two great curving staircases, the music for the evening: the Arabella Sprot Group, began to play. With the lights dimmed slightly and the soft jazz playing in the background, it was much more of a dining experience than I have had in other restaurants. The attitude at the Daffodil was much more relaxed. There seemed to be no rush. Once you were there, it felt as though they expected you for the evening. They wanted you to take your time, something that other restaurants seem nowadays not to do. 


   Food wise, I ordered the 10oz Black Angus rump steak with a choice of three sauces (green peppercorn, a red wine jus and béarnaise sauce) however, I chose the green peppercorn. Served with it were hand cut chips and a stem of lightly roasted cherry tomatoes. 


   Again, the wait was not long but it did not feel rushed. It sounds horribly cliché but it really did feel as if the chef had taken his time to ensure that the food was as perfect as possible before service and it was most certainly that.


   I am not a big meat eater and I rarely eat steak but this was a beautiful piece of steak, perfectly cooked and juicy. It literally fell away and there was little fat on it. I am a man who notoriously avoids fat on meat but as I say, I devoured pretty much everything. It was wonderful. 

Perfectly formed balls...

   The chips themselves were utter wonderment too. Hand cut and gently fried before being lightly dusted in what I can only assume was garlic salt, they melted away as soon as I bit into them. The most incredible chips I have ever eaten (and I like to think myself a connoisseur because I have eaten a LOT of chips in my short time...) without shadow of a doubt.


Dessert followed shortly after and controversially I decided upon their intriguingly titled 'Popcorn Ice-cream Sundae'. With home-made gingerbread coating the bottom of the glass and their very own popcorn (again following the buildings cinematic history) flavoured ice-cream, topped with popcorn and caramel sauce, I greedily tucked in.
   The popcorn ice-cream was strange. The texture and temperature was of normal ice-cream but it had the unmistakable flavour of popcorn. Almost like if someone handed you an enormous, juicy orange; it's sides bursting with crisp, refreshing juice but when you hungrily bit into it, the bright, sweet orange flavour you were expecting dissolved into ash in your mouth and instead all you were tasting was a water biscuit. Possibly topped with a little bit of cheddar cheese...  


Anyway, the 'fireyness' (not strictly a word but we'll pretend it is) of the gingerbread juxtaposed with the creamy, bland (not a bad thing) flavour of the ice-cream was enough to create a pudding that exceeded my expectations. It was much more enjoyable than I had expected.


All in all, the entire place was amazing. Not only was the building itself impressive but the service was swift and was still able to make you feel comfortable enough to relax and enjoy the music without a stressed out waitress named Chardonnay, accidentally dripping sweat into the leek and potato soup and stinking of stale smoke from her last 'king skin' fag break, accidentally dropping an assorted collection of filthy crockery over your bonce in an attempt to get you and your party to leave because 'we have to seat other customers'.


A bit 'P.T. Barnum' in terms of overall presentation. More a show and an experience than somewhere you'd pop into if you had the munchies but I would recommend this to anyone who would be interested in a classy evening out. If they could afford the price that is. Again, not bank-breakingly expensive (for 4 people and a total of 7 dishes plus sides it was roughly £120) but enough that I won't necessarily be popping back in the next few weeks.


I'll need to sell a kidney or liver first...any takers?


Total rating of 5/5.


Cheers.