Sometimes, things just come together and make life good, you know? This particular evening was one such occasion; the sun was shining, breeze was minimal and it was the day for the BBQ soiree at Harts Hotel and Kitchen in Nottingham, hosted by Tim and Stefa Hart. Tim’s P.A., Fay, had kindly extended the invitation to us and, having had such a marvellous time at the Christmas gathering, we were thrilled to accept.
Samantha (Capper, Hart’s Marketing Manager) greeted us and bade us to avail ourselves of refreshments at the cloth-bedecked table, manned by extremely smartly dressed staff. As well as White, Rosé, and Red wines, there was an Elderflower Cooler for abstainers and designated drivers. Having been served with our drinks, The Man and I mosied over to a corner spot that was naturally sheltered from direct sun by manicured, mature trees and shrubbery. Never ones to compromise on style and quality, even the garden seats are supremely comfortable at Hart’s Hotel and Kitchen.
Being the charming, gracious host that he is, Tim was mingling happily and catching up with his guests and, when everyone had assembled, did a formal welcome that was the cue for General Manager Adam (Worthington) and Restaurant Manager Andreea (Baltaretu) to mobilise their teams and bring around canapés.
Hart’s Hotel and Kitchen has recently welcomed a new Head Chef to the fold, one Lewis Ward, and he was keen to showcase his talent. Throughout the evening, salvers laden with temptation were constantly being offered: Salmon and Herbed Crème Fraiche with Roe on Hambleton Bakery bread came first and were an instant hit on our table. We had been joined by Sarah and her friend Paul Hempstock (editor of the bi-annual Park News magazine) who are fellow foodie enthusiasts, and when the Fish Goujons with accompanying Sweet Chilli dipping sauce came round, we all commented on how beautiful the crisp crumb coating was.
Before the Hot-Dog sliders came around, there were the super-fresh Crudités, Hummus and Soured Cream to enjoy. The crisp coolness of the vegetables was certainly most welcome in the heat of the evening; honestly, is it just me that thinks it’s still been 1000C at night?! Being the salad dodger extraordinaire, His Nibs passed on Crudités, saving himself for the sliders…and going for seconds and thirds. Mind you, he wasn’t alone; Paul had a trio too, gallantly saying that he couldn’t see The Man eating alone!
The sweet treats came in the guise of the dinkiest, most beautiful, Cherry and Almond Tarts; again, murmurs of appreciation were heard from various tables as the sweet fruit and crumbly, buttery pastry bathed guest’s palates. Gently toasted, flaked Almonds decorated the tarts’ surface and brought a lovely crunch to these delights.
All too soon, it was time to say our goodbyes and pass thanks on to the team who had, yet again, done a marvellous job of ensuring the soiree ran smoothly and that no-one’s glass ran dry or food wasn’t constantly circulating. As always, heartfelt thanks to Tim and Stefa for hosting such a pleasurable event and to Fay for inviting us along.
To book a stay at Hart’s Hotel and Kitchen or to book a table to dine, call 0115 988 1900. Everything you could possibly need to know is available to browse at www.hartsnottingham.co.uk , including current menus and package offers. The kitchen is open Mon-Thurs 7am-9.30pm, Fri-Sat 7.30am-10pm, and Sunday 7.30am-9pm.
