What an actual delight it is to be excited about writing about food again. In May I finally got to experience the quite frankly incredible cooking of Chef Shane Nilsson. I became friends with Shane via a mutual food loving friend over a year ago and we easily settled into a great friendship. As well as being one of the best chefs he is just generally an all around great guy.
But enough about Shane, let’s talk about his food.
Nordik Kitchen had one of their regular pop up supper clubs at Neighbourhood Cardiff and Shane invited me to join as a treat for my birthday, I very quickly said yes and it is quite easily my best dining experience of the last few years, in fact I can only compare it to The Ox Belfast in terms of just how good it was.
Everything is considered with Nordik, from the wax seals on the menu to the cutlery and the crockery and the artistic way each dish is plated. There is a surprise in each dish, a burst of unexpected flavour or texture with each mouthful and I couldn’t honestly tell you what my favourite dish was as even now looking back it changes all the time.
I had some hesitation with the menu as I am not a big seafood lover but the scallops were a beautiful surprise and the rhubarb vinegar well I’d drink that in a glass.
Let’s talk about the bread and butter, yes the bread and brown butter could be raved about all day long. In fact I’d go back just for that..which surely tells you something and the parfait. Well it’s the best I’ve had.
The potato dish was completely unexpected, with so many elements which separately may not have worked but together made for something just delectable.
The cod and chicken dish was perfectly cooked and the crispy skin on the chicken added the texture element which I love on a plate like this. The tarragon flavour was sensational.
The suckling pig course was up there as one of my favourites and I’m craving it now actually. To be fair I’d heard so much about this suckling pig in the lead up to the supper club I knew it was going to be incredible but well just look at it.
Shane works so hard on developing his dishes, as his friend I know that as he’s up till all hours creating vinegars and sauces and perfecting each one. As a customer I know this from the end result and the fact that I pretty much wanted to lick each bowl before it was taken away from me..something which is encouraged by the way.
Almost forget to mention this mouthful of goodness, the gravadlax which again is not something I’d have ordered but wow am I glad I tried it.
I dined alone at this supper club, something which years ago would have made me feel uncomfortable but it’s a sign of how happy I am with my own company now and also just how relaxed and warm the environment is. I enjoyed people watching and seeing how much the other customers were enjoying each course and mostly feeling incredibly proud of my friend.
I can’t go without a special mention for the desserts, the Diam and the Twister. The Twister was my favourite and you guessed it, it’s a fancy take on all of the elements of a twister lolly. Both desserts were outstanding and highlight just how creative he is as a chef.
Just when you think you’re all done one perfect sweet is placed in front of you and Shane I think you need to start selling these in bags to take away as I would buy a whole load.
There are Nordik Supper Clubs each month at Neighbourhood Cardiff so go check out his Instagram page and get booking. I can’t often say I know you will love this place as tastes vary wildly but this is one experience I am confident in recommending again and again and again.
If you want to see more of this night you can check out my reel here.
I’ll be back.