The Clove Club, London

It’s hard to please Mrs Nom these days as she seems to have developed a taste for innovative cooking over classical cuisine recently. Much more refined than me who is easily pleased with a simple slab of good quality meat or burger. The Clove Club in Shoreditch London seemed a good choice with its modern dishes. Recently winning its first Michelin star, the menu read very well. The compact dining room is set out like a class room with an open kitchen at the front for all to see the chefs in action.

The restaurant serves a set menu in the evening for £55 per person or an extended menu for £95. We chose the shorter menu with an added supplement dish. A selection of snacks preceded the main dishes including smoked trout rye cracker, beetroot cracker with sheep’s curd and buttermilk fried chicken & pine salt.

The first course of raw Orkney scallop, mustard leaf, cobnuts and brown butter was a knockout with fresh and stunning flavours.

Cornish squid, tarragon and bacon fat, indulgently coated strands of ink and fat covered squid.

Ballotine of pheasant, creamed oats & white truffle (£30 supplement). We shared a plate between us and were glad that we did, the pheasant was topped with a mountain of white truffle with a pungent aroma.

Roast Yorkshire venison, black currants and kale, the dish of the meal for me, served pink with perfection with deep gamey flavours, one of the best venison dishes I have enjoyed.

Amalfi lemonade & Sarawak pepper, this was a bit tangy for Mrs Nom but I found it just right.

Poached quince & ginger biscuit, a beautifully presented dish with a light base.

Petit fours included peated barley cakes and crème de menthe bon bons.

The food at The Clove Club certainly lived up to its hype.