FYI this blog is part of a paid partnership with the wonderful team at Aberdeen Inspired.
Making my way down a stormy Union Street last Wednesday, protecting my quickly dissolving Primark bag from the splashes of passing buses, all I could think about was the food that was waiting for me at Molly’s Bistro for my preview of its Aberdeen Restaurant Week (ARW) menu.
After a few weeks of scorching weather in Aberdeen it was inevitable that the rain would be backdated and arrive in one day but it couldn’t have been timed better as Molly’s Bistro had the perfect autumnal-esque menu to help forget about the blustery weather outside.
Joining me for the evening was my colleague Julia with fork in hand ready to taste our way through the special ARW menu which is available until Sunday 21 July.
Our order
Starters
Balsamic roasted fig and pink grapefruit salad (V) (VG)
Oven baked camembert with toasted brioche
Mains
Chicken in a chasseur sauce with dauphinoise potatoes and seasonal vegetables
Wild mushroom, pea and sage potato gnocchi (V) (VG)
Desserts
White chocolate and basil cheesecake
Blueberry frangipane tart
The Food
The fig and grapefruit salad was my choice of starter, a light and fresh option that saved plenty of room for a hearty main. Julia opted for the baked camembert bubbling with cheesy goodness and perfect for dunking crisp brioche.
Before we knew it, our mains arrived. The chicken in a chasseur sauce was tender and rested on a generous bed of creamy dauphinoise potatoes, surrounded by al dente seasonal vegetables with plenty of bite and topped with a sweet and meaty sauce. The wild mushroom gnocchi was a treat for the eyes with a mixture of mushrooms and herbs perfectly presented amongst golden rounds of plump gnocchi drizzled with a cajun oil adding plenty of heat to the dish.
With so much choice on the dessert menu, my mind changed numerous times before I settled on the blueberry frangipane and Julia going for the white chocolate and basil cheesecake. The fluffy frangipane was encased in crisp pastry with blueberries bursting with every spoonful and when covered in dreamy custard, I devoured it in seconds. Moreish isn’t the word for the cheesecake, with its thick white chocolate whip and a colourful splash of raspberry coulis that left us asking for more.
Perfect for
Despite us being in summer I’m always on the lookout for a menu that screams comfort food with hearty dishes that won’t leave me starved. With generous portions you can certainly rely on Molly’s Bistro to provide a hearty meal with plenty of substance.
If you’re in a “I’m not too sure what I want” food mood, this is your place. I had a quick glance at the full bistro menu during my visit and it’s packed with variety of classic bistro dishes that are sure to cure your craving.
For all you history buffs, there’s history to explore here too. Make sure to go into The Douglas Hotel before you leave and check out the very back wall of the reception area for a gallery of old photos of Aberdeen to see what the streets around the hotel looked like in decades gone by.
So, there’s my round-up of what we ordered of this year’s ARW menu at Molly’s Bistro but check out its full ARW menu here. There’s more restaurants to explore too, check out my top picks for this summer’s edition of ARW.
The Food Hoover 