Life has been a bit rubbish lately with my husband's health taking a new and more depressing turn so it was lovely to let my hair down and drink some Champagne while admiring the new look Cȏte in the heart of St Albans in Hertfordshire.
The gorgeous refurb is so new you could actually smell the paint in this French inspired brasserie/bar located in a beautiful building in a prime location in the city centre.
Acoustics are great in the space which is in a kind of L shape with the newly redesigned sit up bar at its centre. This gives the huge space a more intimate feel and we could hear the live musicians while not being overwhelmed by the chatter from all the guests.
We situated ourselves in prime position for the champagne tower which turned out to also be a great spot for being served delicious canapés coming out from the kitchen. These were so good that along with a peek at the menu we would need no convincing to come back for a sit down meal.
Prices were reasonable and in fact quite competitive in St Albans which caters well for those who like good food and are willing to pay a premium. The General Manager told us she is aiming to offer seasonal food with a French vibe in convivial surroundings. Cheeselovers are extremely well catered for and there are vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.We love St Albans which can be reached in under half an hour by train from London. With a good range of lovely shops, a historic Cathedral and Roman ruins, mosaics and artefacts from Verulamium the city makes a great day trip destination for all ages. At night the Cathedral lights up and the city comes alive with a host of fantastic pubs, some of which offer live music.
Eat in or Home Delivery?
Recently Côte restaurants launched their most indulgent ever Easter treats showcasing fresh spring ingredients to create vibrant flavoursome seasonal dishes.
Whether you want to dine in at one of Côte’s stylish restaurants or relax indoors and allow Côte At Home to deliver to your door they have something for everyone.
All the special Easter menu treats have been specially designed by Gordon Ramsay’s former executive chef Steve Allen.The highly respected chef, who has worked at Michelin starred restaurants, has used the finest seasonal ingredients to showcase classic French cuisine for the Easter holiday celebrations.
Steve and his team have created a delicious dine in sharing menu for just £25 per person featuring sirloin steak with a peppercorn sauce, confit pork belly with a Calvados jus and poulet Breton rôti, a corn fed marinated half roast chicken served with a mushroom sauce.
Côte has also created a beautiful vegetarian sharing board, with Mushroom Bourguignon, Baked Camembert and Baked Ratatouille. All are served with a choice of dauphinois potatoes or frites and one additional side dish such as French beans Amandine or creamed spinach au gratin.
You can also choose from a culinary selection of Easter starters, classic Côte dishes and divine desserts.
Or if you are planning to celebrate Easter at home with family and friends then Côte At Home’s got the perfect spring lamb menu for a family of four, part of a sumptuous three course meal.
The three course Easter special starts with baked ratatouille with Crottin goat’s cheese produced in the Loire Valley served with toasted sourdough baguette.
For the main course there’s a choice of either honey, garlic and rosemary Spring Lamb rump (£94.95 serves 4) or Easter Half Roast Chicken (£79.95, serves 4). Both can also cater for two people (£44.95 or £54.95 – Chicken/Lamb).
Both mains are served with delicious duck fat roasted potatoes, herb-roasted root vegetables and braised red cabbage and for dessert there’s an indulgent Pear & Almond Tart with a berry coulis and Crème anglaise.
There’s also the speciality cheese box which can be ordered in addition – French Cheese Box at £24.95. And to really celebrate the Easter holidays why not treat your guests to a chilled bottle of Laurent-Perrier Rosé Champagne (£69.95), a great gift addition to the home delivery special service.
If you really want to make Easter super special try the Weekend French Breakfast Box at £39.95 with a selection of continental treats and English style breakfast. This Côte At Home favourite is perfect for those who want to start the day in style with a fancy breakfast in bed or a lazy brunch!
The Easter home cooking treats are available now to pre-order for delivery between 27th - 30th March, keeping in mind orders will not be delivered on Good Friday (March 29th). If you’re planning to enjoy your order for Sunday 31st March Côte At Home recommends ordering for delivery on Saturday 30th March.
Côte at Home has quickly developed a reputation for delivering the very best of French cuisine to your door with popular Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, an Alpine inspired range of popular ski dishes and all year round delivery treats to cook at home any time.
Launched in 2020, Côte at Home offers an alternative to the dining-in experience at Côte, for those who every now and then fancy the same high quality food dining experience but at home. The collection of luxury meals feature delicious produce from its in-house butchery, fromagerie and wine cellar. Côte at Home is proud to offer a range of freshly cut, premium steaks, pork, lamb and chicken, and stocks an expansive selection of artisan French cheeses.
The carefully prepared food, which arrives in a chilled box ready to easily cook, has become so popular it even has a loyal fan base with regular customers including British acting royalty Dame Judi Dench!
Côte’s Executive chef Steve Allen has worked at Michelin starred restaurants, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Petrus and he opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridges which won a Michelin star within its first year. During Steve’s time at Claridges, he went from Junior Sous Chef to Head Chef and then Executive Chef and worked on all of Gordon Ramsay’s books From ‘Secret’s’ to ‘World Kitchen’.
Steve said: “We’re delighted to have launched our Easter menus. There are two great options that are easy to prepare and cook, meaning you have more time to spend with your loved ones over the Easter weekend. My favourite is the Spring Lamb Rump Menu, which I’ll be cooking for my own family this year. Alternatively, you can visit your local Côte and let us do all the hard work for you whilst you enjoy the unmistakably French art of coming together round a table to tell stories and raise glasses. Our restaurant Easter sharing menu is the perfect pairing.”
Côte at Home’s French wines, champagnes and beers offer the perfect accompaniment to its selection of meals. Each food box is delivered chilled, ready to eat, freeze or bake. Côte at Home delivers Wednesday to Saturday(excluding the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland, The Isle of Man, The Isle of Wight, The Scilly Isles and the Channel Islands).
Delivered direct to your door, ordering Côte at Home is very simple. See http://www.coteathome.co.uk/ for more details.
Disclaimer: I was invited to the relaunch party and received a goodie bag. View and opinions remain honest and my own.
