Monday 29 June 2015

The Hardwick, Abergavenny

The Hardwick is a dining pub in Abergavenny from acclaimed chef Stephen Terry.

Having worked alongside Marco Pierre White in his wild Harvey’s heyday and at Le Gavroche when it had 3 Michelin stars, Stephen Terry is a chef with some pedigree – with walls adorned with press cuttings and details of various accolades, he’s certainly not shy to tell you about this.

All this helps to make my experience even more disappointing. For my liking, I found the salmon woefully overcooked and the breaded pork belly distressingly dry in the middle – inexcusable when you’re talking about the two main components on both a starter and a main.


Service was poor too in that I’d ordered the pork belly and salmon dishes from the a la carte menu but was served the ‘pork meatloaf’ dish from the set menu – a small dish, I was a couple of bites in when I realised it was not what I had ordered and by the time I was able to alert a member of staff of double check I had nearly finished it.
When eventually I managed to alert and ask a member of staff, the only response I got was to ask if I still wanted the pork belly? Seeing as it’s what I had ordered, funnily enough I did. Needless to say, I was charged for both.

Not all was terrible however, the bread and oil and pickled elements on the pork belly were great, as were the accompaniments with the salmon The chocolaty dessert was good too; despite the popping candy.


Alex Gooch’s Sourdough (Voted No.1 at The World Bread Awards 2014) with Netherend Farm salted butter and Planeta Sicilian extra virgin olive oil.


Hot pedigree Welsh pork meatloaf with grilled Swiss cheese, toast & pickles.


Crispy bread crumbed Middle White pork belly & black pudding with roast & pickled fennel, apple & mustard sauce.


Roast Var Salmon with Dauphine potatoes, smashed peas, wilted greens, Wye Valley asparagus and wild garlic pesto.


Valrhona chocolate brownie & mousse with Seville orange marmalade ice cream, chocolate popping candy, coco nib biscuit & Halen Mon sea salted caramel sauce.


With The Walnut Tree just up the road, there’s no way I’d return.




1 comment:

  1. And you say this chef worked for MPW and Roux ? ....Think you might have got a bit mixed up there. The food in the above photos certainly doesn`t reflect the cooking of a chef from such a blessed background.

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