Cosy up with the new Autumn/Winter Menu from Artezzan #Preview

Victoria Hayes
24th October 2023

You would be forgiven for associating the cool blues and sandy tones of Artezzan in Chester City centre with the summertime and it’s easy to think of Mediterranean food in those terms too. But this would be a mistake.

Artezzan’s Autumn/Winter Menu is a triumph, gathering all those med. influences together to fill you with the warmth of the summer sun from the inside. Cosy is the word. 

Let’s start, as you should with the Pinchos. The new menu ushers in the season with rich black pudding bonbons with a sage and onion jus,  and tempura cauliflower in a warming paprika batter and spiced tomato sauce.  Unctuous sauces have always been an Artezzan speciality and this time they have excelled themselves with mustard aioli to pair beautifully with the new Beef and Pork Ragu Croquettes plus the gorgeous goat’s cheese and roasted red pepper arancini are punched up with a basil version.

The superstar of the new Pinchos menu, in my opinion is the Belly Pork. Honey glazed but spiced up with N’djua and I drowned mine in the delicious red pepper puree. 100% recommend.

If you’re starting your Christmas shopping you could definitely pop in and sample these Pinchos with one of the fabulous cocktails, Bar Manager Chris has created for the new menu. Chris has excelled himself. Our two top choices were the Pear and Berry Martini which is bursting with fresh fruit flavours and the Andalusian Sunset, made with Kingdom’s Lychee gin but with the warmth of cinnamon and honey along with bright citrus from orange and lemon. As always the cocktails are beautifully presented and dangerously moreish with a whole host of  choices. I have always been a fan of a cocktail for dessert and would completely drown and die happy in the Coffee and Vanilla Rum Old Fashioned.

Back to the food though and if Pinchos aren’t big enough for your appetite the new starters are ready for you.

If you still wish to keep it light, the Seabass Ceviche is insanely good but in keeping with my current cosy mood, I’m going to rave about Mediterranean Three Cheese Fondue and I will never forget my friend Dawn from the wonderful Chester Boutique actually licking the bowl!

Cheese is nothing without bread and the accompanying dough balls are fab, but I was also a fan of the Greek Meze starter option, with the hand stretched flat bread, I stole all the olives and most of the taramasalata before Briony even got a look in!

Mains are up… if you still have room…and if you don’t…MAKE SOME!

There are so many good things to talk about. The new Wild Boar Tortellini is on my list for my next visit along with the Gnocchi Funghi al Forno, but on our recent visit we opted for Land – Coq au vin and Sea – Monkfish Bouillabaisse.

The Coq au vin, is not quite the traditional casserole style you might expect as Artezzan infuse all their dishes with their own take and style. The rich sauce is riddled with smoky bacon, chestnut mushrooms and silver skin onions and the chicken retains that lovely crispy skin as it nestle on its bed of rich dauphinoise.

The monkfish in a classic bouillabaisse is a stunning dish with bright vibrant colours, and studded with calamari, mussels and vegetables. Fair warning, this is a big, tasty dish and you may need to take a break before contemplating dessert.

We happened to run into our friend Liam from  Marketing Cheshire who could not say enough good things about the new duck dish so yep, that goes on the list for next time.

Artezzan is one of only a small group of restaurants in Chester that really do fish well (all sustainably sourced too) and so it’s hard to not also add the stone bass and the swordfish to my list but more than anything I am reminded that this is a massive menu and really there is something for everyone. Artezzan is a place to bring a group and there will never be a worry that someone won’t get their favourite.  These fabulous new additions are just that, additions and the popular, regular favourites remain.

As I said, a triumph.

And just when you thought you couldn’t get any cosier, or fuller, the amazing new Tarte Tatin appears.

This dessert is not one you should eat in public. It probably should only be eaten in the privacy of my bedroom and I warn you that you may have to fight the urge to lick the plate. Freshly baked apples seasoned with butter, sugar and cinnamon in a buttery pastry, served with a cinnamon and salted caramel pouring cream

It is simply naughty and fantastic.

If you prefer something lighter the Cherry Panacotta just melts away and Jan Chillery from Chester Business Club assures me that the Chocolate Sorbet is to die for.

So what have we learned from our indulgent dive into this fabulous new menu at Artezzan.

Autumn/Winter in the Mediterranean heart of Chester is a warm, delicious, flavour packed place we shall have to return to again and again.

Please do try it for yourselves. Book now here : – Book Your Table at Artezzan Restaurant & Bar In Chester