Please note that since writing this blog post, A La Ferme has closed down
I remember once asking the boyfriend of a mate of mine if the two of them would like to come to a Michelin-starred restaurant with me and another mutual friend. He politely turned me down, explaining that if he was going to spend that kind of money, he’d rather it was just the two of them. I felt quite offended at the time, and also perplexed: whenever I intend to spend a significant amount of money at a restaurant, I would generally rather do it with a friend who I know will appreciate the food than with a date who may or may not turn out to have a moral issue with foie gras.
But it seems I’m in the minority. Friday night at semi-pricey A La Ferme was awash with couples. It could have been Valentine’s Day. I was there with Scary French Lady for ‘Wild’ Restaurant Week, and we felt as conspicuous as – well, as we usually do, I suppose. You get used to it.
The whole wild thing meant we didn’t need to consult a menu; we got what we were given. And jolly nice it was too. The amuse was a mini-tureen of lentil soup, with a duck pithivier. Small and expertly formed. The starter was a type of game pâté with some braised mushrooms and a small salad. It was good in every way, but lacked the sweet-spicy contrast of a nice chutney or onion marmelade.
