Recently I met up with a friend for a catch up.  We try and do something nice together a couple of times a year and had in the past enjoyed a spa day.  Unfortunately we didn’t have a day to catch up this time so I was on a mission to find something  that felt like a treat and was similarly relaxing.  We’d agreed York was the best place to meet, so I had a look on the Cedar Court Grand website for what they offered on an evening and was excited to see a new package called ‘Spa and Dine’.  An opportunity to have a treatment, use the spa facilities and then enjoy a 3 course meal in Hudsons restaurant. Definitely my thing!

The package was fantastic value for money and we could select from the full menu.  Before our starters arrived they brought a lovely selection of bread.

I chose the hand dived scallops, wakame, sunflower seeds, sea herbs, dill mayonnaise, salmon keta it was beautifully presented and had fantastic flavour.

My friend chose the poached ocean trout, hay smoked heritage beetroots, watercress cream, beetroot sourdough.  What you cannot see here is the beautiful glass cloche it arrived in, that when lifted released the hay smoke. 

For my main course I chose Fowlers of York’s Atlantic Stone Bass,  fennel, langoustines, coastal herbs, buckwheat, bisque.  Another beautifully presented dish with great flavours.

My friend chose the roasted fillet of East Coast halibut, caramelised cauliflower, brassicas, verjus and brown shrimp sauce.  She commented that she partciualrly enjoyed the texture of cauliflower and how it lifted the dish.   

Finally, for pudding my friend had inspiration of ‘Ferrero Rocher’ pralines, almonds, burnt white chocolate, candied pistachios.  She enjoyed it but it was richer in chocolate than the description suggested and a bit too filling.  Definitely one for the chocoholic. 

I had lemon posset, macerated berries, basil, crispy raspberry cake.  The lemon was sharp and refreshing. Just right to end the meal.

All in all, it was a great package and a fantastic opportunity to try the food at Hudson’s restaurant.  I can highly recommend it.