An encounter with Artichoke

On a rarely British sunny Sunday, I was out for food hunting. One of the beautiful things of living in Chester is   a handful choices of boutique restaurants or vintage pubs. It is never difficult to have a random encounter either when walking along the canal or in the park or sometimes it is just right at the corner if you just look more up and down, left and right. 

Artichoke is hidden next to my apartment. Comparing to the other famous ones next to the river, it is much more modest in a way that I almost neglect even though its symbolic tellurion demonstrates sort of the welcoming message. Never close to it, my perception tells me it is every thing but not a place for real food. However my boredness with the same food every day grows my curiosity to have a go on Artichoke.

Ya, it is dark, as dark as a stereotype of British pub, but these white retro S chairs can't help but lend the interior decor a hefty dose of character. A real piece of mix-match, love the sense of being contradictory.

Well, let's see the food. The menu has a familiar feel of British contemporary with a leaning towards a hearty flavour. Since it was Sunday, Sunday roast is undoubtedly a second to none choice. Pretty impressed by the portion (pretty good after a sweaty workout in the gym), and more amazed by the taste. I ordered chicken, chosen from thigh part, relishing by the mixed mash vegs. I have to say I enjoy every bite of the mash, with a good addition of a big gulp of gravy. The meat itself was prepared with a sensitivity and precision, very tender texture!

But no less interesting than the menu is the bar offer. Not only the locally brewed beers, surprised to see an fantastic selection of Belgium beers ( rarely seen in the market). Went for La Chouffee in the end. I recommend it as a good lady drink. More fruitness but it doesn't shove the beer into some overly sweet seirl of disjointed flavors that many of the pretenders have. There is a steady hand in it. A hint of berry without overpowering the rest of the beer. A good crispy drink , supplementing a gravy brunch like now.  

A very lovely lunch, actually an early "dinner" coz finished almost 4o'clock but so tempting to extend this encounter the even longer when spotting the slouchy couch next to my dreaming French window... who can resist to have another sip of Locarrili Malvasia over there to embrace the the first ray out the sunset?  I guess no.