by Celine
I was incredibly lucky to spend an evening at Brasserie Blanc in Jericho, Oxford.
The Brasserie has been open since 1996, and it was a nice little surprise when I found out that it was opened by Raymond Blanc, whose cookery shows I enjoyed a lot.
The restaurant embodies the French philosophy that good food is essential to good life, and the menu offers a great selection of dishes with fresh, quality ingredients sourced within the UK, which I appreciate—not only does this reduce carbon footprint and support local producers, there is actual scientific evidence suggesting that veg tastes better when they are grown nearer!
I am vegan, and was delighted that there were at least two vegan options for each course and quite a few vegetarian options as well. Their wine menu was clearly labelled too, and the staff were happy to help with any allergy issues.
For the starter, I ordered a wild mushroom tart. The puff pastry was beautifully flaky and the mushrooms were so flavoursome, it made me smile from the first bite. The main course was a lentil and tomato lasagne, paired with a leaf salad to balance out the richness of the dish. My friend equally enjoyed her moules marinieres and steak frites. The dishes were certainly filling, and we shared an apple crumble with ice-cream for a sweet finish.
I was really impressed by the vegan dishes. As someone who grew up eating homemade food and was taught to cook at a young age, I’d happily offer my highest praises: the fruit and vegetables are treated with the respect they deserve, and the dishes simply taste like the food we make at home with love and care.
Brasserie Blanc opens at lunch and dinner. They also have Sunday roasts every week, and now two Christmas menus too. The atmosphere there is so lovely—it’s special enough for a fancy dress, yet cosy and welcoming so even I, a terribly introverted person, was completely at ease and lost myself in conversation. I’d highly recommend a visit to the restaurant for a date night (or just date for one) or a special lunch.
Comments