Encore Rocpool, Inverness

On Thursday 9th August we had a return fixture lunch at the Rocpool Restaurant in Inverness. We met up with friends from Aberdeen and were with two friends from Portugal. Being six allowed us to explore Steve’s interesting wine list in more detail.

We kicked off with a bottle of the crisp and refreshing 2017 Albariño, Rias Baixas from Paso Senorans.

In between time we went for a chaser (a couple of glasses between the six of us) of I Think Manzanilla Rama from Bodegas Navazos.

Once again we chose the excellent and very fairly priced £16.95 two-course lunch menu. The quality of the cooking is very good and successfully imaginative.

My first course with thin slices of cold pork with a tuna mayonnaise – delicious:

pork ‘tonnato’ sliced pork loin with tuna mayonnaise
dressing, rocket leaves, lemon & caper berries

2016 Assyrtiko, Vassaltis, Santorini

Finding that the Albariño had emptied rather quickly we ordered the very impressive 2016 Assyrtiko, Vassaltis, Santorini, with good concentration and lovely balance. Impressive wine.

In anticipation of our main courses we selected two Italian reds. First up: Rapace, Uccelliera, Toscana IGT, Montalcino, 2011, Rapace is a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Rapace translates as rapacious. This may have been a fitting description of our lunch party, at least some of us, as we enjoyed and duly dispatched this concentrated, elegant and well balanced red – powerful but with good freshness in the long finish.

My main course followed the quality of my first. I opted for the honey & lemon glazed breast of chicken with Moroccan spiced couscous, almond, sultana & fresh coriander with a cucumber & garlic tsatsziki. I don't often chose chicken in a restaurant – mainly, I think, because I often cook it at home. My chicken was nicely moist and succulent and nicely balanced by the spiced couscous.

Our final wine choice was the 2014 Canace from Cantina Diomede in Puglia and is a blend of mainly Nero di Troia with a small amount Aglianico to provide freshness. The grapes are partially cut and allowed to dry on the vine. This gives a powerful, concentrated red with chocolate and black cherry notes.

I can definitely recommend Rocpool for a long, lingering and enjoyable lunch. You may want a siesta afterwards......

1 Ness Walk, Inverness IV3 5NE. Tel: 01463-717274. info@rocpoolrestaurant.com    

Out to play @Rocpool, Inverness

View from the Rocpool restaurant

On Friday I got out to play for the first time since I injured myself through slipping on black ice on 2nd January. We took the train from Kingussie to Inverness to meet up with Diane and John, who we met in an international hotel in Beijing last year, for an indulgent Friday lunch at the Rocpool restaurant. 

The great advantage of having the restaurant's wine list on-line is that you can choose at least the first bottle in advance, so we were able to order a bottle of the Domane Wachau 2016 Grüner Veltliner even before we sat down. The GV (sensibly closed with a screwcap) was very crisp, clean and citric making it a good apéritif.

This was my first visit to Rocpool for a number of years and I was definitely impressed with the food, wine list and the quality of service. Both the food and wine list are typically Modern British eclectic with influences from many different cuisines. We opted for the set lunch – two courses for £16.95. It was little surprise, however, that after our two courses we went for either a dessert or cheese. 

Our starters:

 Fritto Misto of king prawn and baby calamari with
marinated plum tomatoes, fresh lemon, chilli &

crispy capers

  

Carpaccio of beetroot with Highland blue cheese & 

roasted hazelnuts with fresh mint and aged balsamic  

      salad of parma ham & shaved Williams pear with 

pecorino cheese, broad beans, lemon & mint 

Once we had finished the Grüner Veltliner we moved onto some red with an impressive – soft and spicy – 2015 Primitivo Salento, Critèra from Schola Sarmenti – as our initial choice.

Main courses: 

Pan fried breast of chicken with wild mushroom risotto, 

black pudding, rocket & shaved parmesan

Pan fried fillet of sea bream with oriental stir fry 

of baby pak choi, steamed jasmine rice & crispy fried
shallots with cashew nuts, sesame & basil

2nd red: 

2011 Colline Teramane, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Fantini Farnese

 

 

The 2011 Colline Teramane, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Fantini Farnese is obviously from further north with greater acidity and also more structured than the Primitivo. 

Desserts & cheese:

 Affogato – vanilla ice cream with a shot of 

expresso & liqueur of your choice

 Triple chocolate praline tart with salted caramel ice cream

Instead of a dessert I opted for a selection of cheese from Rory Stone (Highland Fine Cheeses). All were made from ewe's milk.

A visit to Rocpool is definitely recommended.....