Revitalised for the winter season is the A La Carte menu from Tempus At Tides, an elegant and enjoyable feast of two-to-three courses, followed by tea or coffee with festive mince pies.
I was invited to experience the new menu recently inside the sumptuous St David’s Hotel and share my experience with you.Update: Tempus At Tides is now The Admiral St David, click here for my latest review.
You may remember I blogged about The Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea here in August and savoured every last bite, along with the glorious views across Cardiff Bay. The Hotel this time was looking very cosy and inviting with twinkly lights, garlands and a magnificent Christmas tree in the lobby.
This theme continued inside Tempus At Tides where warm lighting, stylish tableware and knowledgable, polite staff made the experience very intimate and memorable.
The A La Carte Menu is reasonably priced for the venue, at lunchtime (12.30-14.00) two courses will cost you £22.95 and three courses, £26.95. For dinner (18.00-22.00) the prices are £24.95 for two and £29.95 for three.
Not one to turn down a comforting soup, I began my meal with a bowl of curry parsnip with sourdough bread. There was five starter dishes available, including (pictured above) Baked goats cheese and cranberry filo pastry, and West Wales Mussels and cider sauce.
For main I went straight for the Welsh turkey roulade (it’s Christmas after all), that came with prune stuffing chateau potatoes, roasted roots, Brussels sprouts, pigs in blankets and rosemary jus. It was beautifully presented and after a drenching of extra gravy I quickly devoured the lot.
The only downside for me was the robust Brussels sprouts as I much prefer mine softer, buttery or even better – shredded.
The other three mains were Pan-fried hake, Roasted organic vegetables and wild mushroom bake, and Chargrilled vegetable stack.
The portions are not too daunting, so saving room for a decadent dessert wasn’t a struggle. The biggest challenge was choosing just one from the tempting options which included; a salted caramel and chocolate torte, bara brith bread and butter pudding or dark chocolate trio, fondant, cheesecake and ice-cream.
Another dessert option was a Welsh whiskey crème brûlée with orange shortbread (pictured above).
At this point I was feeling very satisfied and had just enough room to squeeze in a few mince pie petit fours with a cup of tea – delightful!
If you’re after lovely service, an elegant environment and delicately crafted, locally inspired dishes, give Tempus At Tides serious consideration, I think it would work well for all types of engagements with friends, family or colleagues. You can find out more information by clicking here.
If you’re looking for more Christmas inspiration in Cardiff, view my top places here.
Disclaimer: As a guest of Tempus At Tides my food was complimentary, however all opinions are my own.