Friday Night Pub Dining

And so it was Friday night, where f&b outlets everywhere would be swarming with people; but hey we are in England afterall where Friday nights is the time of the week which people look forward to to unwind and chill out, coupled with the fact that for my mates and I, this Friday in particular called for a celebration to the end of a crazy, work-filled week, so where better than to head to a pub on the Bristol harbourside? No.1 Harbourside it is.

Cream of Cauliflower

 This pub prides itself on serving their home-made soup of the day with any order of food. Cream of cauliflower was served, but pity effort was evidently lacking in terms of presentation. The taste was good, albeit a bit diluted, but the pub would have scored brownie points if we weren't made to feel that "it's free so don't expect too much".

Slow braised Wye Valley duck leg in orange and red wine jus (£10) 

served with vegetable pastry, buttered kale and chestnut mushroom puree

The orange and red wine jus flavoured the duck with a wonderful tangy sweet taste. A longer stewing time would perhaps do it more good, as the duck meat didn't quite come off the bone as easily as I would have liked. The buttered kale (under the duck) was nicely done, cooked fragrant and still left with a crunch in it. Chestnut mushroom puree was interesting, but subtle in flavours, and the pesto that it was served with had an aftertaste akin to raw garlic that didn't go so well with my mates.

Herb encrusted Pork Tenderloin (£9), 

served with the same sides as abovementioned

 The pork tenderloin was tender... but unfortunately, slightly on the chewy side as well. 

What I enjoyed about the meal here was the side of vegetable pastry that all the mains came with. I found it a good replacement to the usual sides of chips or mash; guilt-free and helpful to those looking for a meal where you won't be made full just based on the carbs alone. The root vegetables under the pastry were stewed with their natural sweetness still intact, providing a satisfying end to the meal!

Overall, a hearty meal that worked well as comfort food for the wearied soul! (not to mention good value pre-theatre meal too!)

No.1 Harbourside
No.1 Canons Road,
Bristol,
BS1 5UH

Happy 2012! Starting the first post of the year from ground Zero... Degrees

I have been to ZeroDegrees 3 times in 3 months.

Each time, I never fail to order a kilo pot of mussels.

Yes, the mussels there are that good.

Mussels Thermidore 

- cooked in brandy, wine, cheddar cheese, cream, mustard and parsley.

The mussels were good-sized (not like the tiny ones I had at the Belgo chain in London), and they were cooked so perfectly that one's teeth sinks in on first bite. Nothing of the chewy rubber nonsense one gets when the mussels are overcooked.

I've tried mussels done 4 ways here - Creole, Marinere and Thai Green Curry in addition to the above-mentioned Thermidore. Of all of them, Marinere stands out best in terms of taste - imagine mussels bursting in juices of butter and cream flavours in your mouth. Thermidore comes in a close second and is a must-try if you adore cheese like I do. Give it a good mix while it's hot and you'll get a sticky, cheesy mess but delicious nonetheless and that's all that really matters. Tip: ask for a spoon and dig deep to get some of those gravy at the bottom of the pot because that's where the good stuff is! Rich and flavourful - not good for the cholesterol but well worth it!

Besides mussels, and interesting beers that are brewed on the premises itself, ZeroDegrees does a wide range of pizzas and some pastas. Their cuisine seems to have international influences, with flavours like Thai Green Curry, Peking Duck and Teriyaki Chicken appearing a few times on the menu.


I've tried several of their pizzas, and Teriyaki Chicken, Peri Peri Chicken and Peking Duck Pizza stand out.

Salmon and Mascarpone Pizza

The Salmon and Mascarpone pizza is also quite a good match of ingredients. I chose to try this mainly because I love cheese (oh dear, second time I'm mentioning this in the same post) and I thought mascarpone cheese as a base instead of the usual tomato and mozarella sauce base on the pizza sounded interesting! I would have appreciated a few more slices of smoked salmon on the pizza here though.

 Seafood Pizza

The seafood pizza was quite average; much lacking in wow factor.

The pizza crust here is bread-like, but about a third the thickness of what you get from your standard pizza chains.

I've never tried the pastas, but stomach-space constraints aside, my disinterest may also be due to the poor and unappealing presentation of the Porcini and Mexican Sausage Pasta my food companion ordered.

All in all though, ZeroDegrees proves to be a rare find in Bristol for good mussels. I daresay they serve mussels better than the ones I had in Melbourne (which were already quite good in their own right).

ZERODEGREES Bristol

53 Colston Street
Bristol BS1 5PB

Happy New Year everyone! 

May 2012 be a year of great experiences, good company and much joy for all!

xoxo