If you’ve not yet been to Silvie and explored the plethora of things they offer- this is your sign to do so. Silvie is a neighbourhood bakery and cafe by day (think freshly baked cakes, crusty bread, afternoon tea – you name it, they probably do it, or are thinking about doing it!). Now, Silvie has ventured back into the supper club world.
I went along for the current supper club series at Silvie and was not disappointed. The menu may be modest, with a few options for each course, but I’d be shocked if you didn’t find it hard to choose, as it’s so well put together. Luckily for me, I went with my partner, so could cover more of the menu in one night (would recommend sharing dishes – a tactical way to try more food!)
The Silvie supper club can be either 2 or 3 courses, for either £23 or £30. The menu can be altered for your dietary requirements too, making it a great spot for vegetarians and vegans.
Starting with a bang…
We treated ourselves to some Negronis to start the evening with (it was Friday night after all.) They were perfectly punchy and served with metal straws – caring for the environment? We love to see it.
We then shared the smoked beetroot with whipped cannellini beans and the little chicken pie with pickled mushrooms.
The beetroot dish was lovely. The beetroot was thinly sliced and prepared in a way that made its vibrant colour really pop off the plate. Pairing it with the whipped cannellini beans was a strong move from Silvie – the contrast of texture and flavour was perfect. Move over houmous- whipped cannellini beans is the new thing!
The chicken pie was very tasty, flaky brown crust opening up to a creamy and succulent chicken filling.
Potentially controversial, but it was actually the pickled mushrooms on the side of the pie that stood out for me. Contrasting to your usual warm and hearty mushrooms, these mushrooms were served cold and were pickled just the right amount to give the dish a bit of zing without making you wince.
Onto the main event…
For mains, we had the roast carrot and fennel salad with sweetcorn grits, and the pork meatballs with almond sauce. All mains are served with some bread and salad as well.
Again, it’s so impressive that something as simple as sweetcorn can be transformed into something that tastes new and exciting. The sweetcorn was the base layer of the dish and was a buttery delight. The vegetables were roasted to perfection and some goats cheese shavings topped the dish, tying all the flavours together. Really appetising, filling and full of goodness!
The pork meatballs were soft, creamy and full of flavour. The sauce was more-ish without being too heavy and the rustic crusty bread provided came in very handy – we mopped the plate clean.
There’s always room for dessert…
I say there’s always room for dessert, but actually sometimes after your second course there ISN’T room for dessert. This is, quite frankly, one of the worst feelings. Especially if you’ve already had a sneak peek at the dessert menu and now you’re unbuttoning your jeans, so full you’re unsure if you even have room for a drop of water.
Well, thankfully this didn’t happen at Silvie, and I think that’s due to the perfectly sized portions. Each dish (both for starters and mains) was just the right amount for you to be satisfied without overdoing it.
We went for the Paris Brest with hazelnut crème patisserie. This was basically like a more sophisticated, pastry version of a Ferrero Rocher and was just incredible. Something that looks so indulgent and filling was actually really light and fluffy. We also ordered Kirkman’s Lancashire cheese with fig and honeycomb. The honeycomb was fresh and oozing, a really lovely accompaniment to the buttery crumbly cheese and sweet figs.
If I had to describe Silvie in three words…
I would say seasonal, nourishing and homely. Eating at Silvie is like popping into your friends’ for dinner, but that friend happens to be an incredible cook and host.
The whole vibe immediately puts you at ease and the staff are friendly and chatty. The setting and decor is cosy, quirky and warm. The food is delicious, but it also feels healthy. There are treats on the menu of course (a second shout out to the Paris Brest – seriously, you’ve got to order it) but overall it’s wholesome and fresh and makes you feel good after eating. I’m definitely going back!
Silvie supper club – the details:
The remaining dates available for the current supper club series are:
– Thursday 14th and Friday 15th October 17:00-21:30
The next series will be a special Christmas feasting supper club (yes, it’s time to discuss Christmas already and I’m here for it!) We’re talking Christmas music, lights, fizz flowing and delicious food. The menu will have a festive twist and cost £42 per person for 4 courses. The Christmas supper club dates are:
– Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th December
– Friday 10th and Saturday 11th December
You can book your spot for all of the above through their website, calling in or popping into Silvie’s!
Silvie
Browns Guest House, 281 Iffley Rd, Oxford OX4 4AQ
01865 246822
Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram
We dined as guests of Silvie, all views remain our own.
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