Cafe Boheme: Windmill Brae, Aberdeen
Published:
MR BENN ain’t got nothing on me.
Walking through a doorway and straight into another world? Easy.
At least that’s the way it seemed after a magical visit to French eatery Cafe Boheme.
One moment my friend and I were standing on the not-entirely-glamorous Windmill Brae on a distinctly Scottish evening.
But as soon as we crossed the threshold of this elegant little restaurant we were transported from a dreich street in Aberdeen to a small corner of downtown Paris.
From the small candle-topped tables to the extensive wine list, the whole place oozed Gallic charm.
We were welcomed to our seats by a friendly waiter and, more unexpectedly, by two bitesize salmon terrines – a really lovely touch.
The menu arrived with a separate sheet for the fresh seafood dishes of the day, and I was immediately tempted by the mussels in garlic sauce (£7.95) to start. The large bowl that arrived was positively overflowing with the plump critters, all drenched in a wonderfully rich, creamy garlic sauce.
With my mussel-eating technique on the messy side, I was grateful for the small bowl of lemon water to wash my fingers.
My friend opted for the goat’s cheese panna cotta (£5.95), an intriguing twist on a dish usually served as a dessert.
The goat’s cheese didn’t overpower the more subtle flavours, but she still found the large portion slightly too rich to finish.
With our mouths suitably watering, it was time for the mains.
My slow-roasted pork belly stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes (£14.50) was a real festival of flavours. The melt-in-the-mouth meat melded marvellously with the tomato, and the fennel puree and cider sauce just added to the rich tapestry of tastes and textures.
It was a theme continued in my friend’s duck breast with barley and duck confit risotto (£14.95) which, like my meal, came with a beautifully-presented selection of potatoes and seasonal veg.
And then it was time to leave our little French haven.
We paid the £50-ish bill, waved goodbye to our friendly servers and stepped through the door...
Then, as if by magic, we appeared on a dank street in Aberdeen.
