Return of the Mal
It's sad to see The Honours by Martin Wishart at Glasgow Malmaison go however, we now have the vibrant Chez Mal Brasserie and a whole new menu to discover.
We were invited along to have a look, and taste of the new menu at a "Chez Mal Cook Off". This meant we got to taste a selection of the new dishes on offer and let you know what Chez Mal is all about. It was a beautiful night on Friday, a good omen for the treats in store?
Meeting up in the bar was a good excuse to have a peek at the TMI menu with £5 cocktails Wed -Fri. Oh if you must!
It was soon time to move shakily (with those cocktails!) into the restaurant and settle down at the bar to try out the new menu.
Food
There are two styles of carpaccio to chose from the starters, one meat and one vegetable. Both were superb with many mmms all round. The regular carpaccio is rump beef with the vegetarian variety being heritage beetroot. These were served with a cauliflower & roast garlic cream, moreish tempura florets, black truffle dressing, parmesan and dressed leaves. We all agreed that the beetroot carpaccio was surprisingly delicious.
The beef carpaccio was also superb of course, the additional tang of the beetroot swung it for me if I *had* to chose between the two. Otherwise, one each and a bottle of dry white please!
The buffalo wings added a casual dynamic to the menu. Perfect with some beers for a lighter meal. Moist chicken, crisp batter and the chunks of melting blue cheese.....I really can't find words for the taste. Smooth cheese, moist chicken...mmmm.
Here was a surprise, a veggie burger that tasted like I would order it again. I'm not just saying that, the pate-style pattie gave the burger a meaty like texture - not dried up mush that I have had before. I'm not a huge fan of mushrooms, but this burger won me over. It wasn't "mushroomy" or slimy at all - many of my moans about mushroom - how dare they be "mushroomy", but I hope you know what I mean - that strong over-powering mushroom taste, eugh. This didn't have that at all. A worthy addition to the menu.
Creamy and oh so fishy risotto served with plump scallops and lemon butter. We couldn't find any faults with this risotto, which was creamy and perfectly cooked. The scallops shone in this dish and this would be perfect to follow the beetroot carpaccio.
Juicy, tender and ever so pink lamb cutlet with a melting lamb neck. This was a meat fest and a beautifully cooked one at that. A light broth and a mixture of spring vegetables created a filling but light-tasting meal.
I think I still have the taste of this in my mouth, the spices were lip-smacking. Packing a punch the spices worked wonders on the expertly cooked seafood. Tasty chunks of seafood with a sauce just begging for the coriander flatbread to be dipped into. This one was also a must try for us.
We were served a trio of desserts as a sample of the dessert menu, a rhubarb trifle, passion fruit tart and a chocolate pave. Our favourite was the passion fruit tart with its crisp pastry and zingy flavour. This made a perfect end to a delicious menu, clearing the palate and giving some sugar as well.
Menu
We were extremely impressed with the new menu at Chez Mal. An eclectic menu with snacky finger food like Buffalo Wings to Chez Mal's exclusive Uruguayan 120-day grain fed Hereford beef, served with whipped bone marrow! I'm sure the photos speak for themselves, the presentation was immaculate and the high standard of taste was as we expected from Malmaison.
We couldn't find a weak dish at all on the menu, from what we tasted. Each one has a place for whatever mood you are in food-wise We really liked the Beetroot Carpaccio, Mushroom Burger, Buffalo Wings and the Keralan Fish Curry and would recommend giving them a try.
TL;DR
+ eclectic menu
Malmaison Glasgow, Malmaison Hotel, 278 West George Street, Glasgow G2 4LL
T: 0141 378 0384
E: [email protected]
