Jersey Girls
It is fair to say that I had never thought about taking a trip the Channel Islands until, that was, it was suggested to me by two fabulous friends as a girls’ bank holiday get-away. As one had come all the way from Australia and all three of us love our food and drink, we were keen to make the most of our three days in Jersey and of course restaurants came top of our priority list. So here are some of our highlights, bearing in mind we only really managed to explore Gorey Point, Grouville and a tiny bit of St Helier.
Run by a lovely couple (he – head chef/ she – front of house) this was our first stop fresh off the plane from Gatwick and it set the bar very high. We all opted for fish dishes, and I can heartily recommend the Southern Fried oysters, whilst the fish and chips were also top class. Washed down with some bubbles, it was the perfect way to start our weekend and when it came to desert, we were spoilt for choice. The ice cream and sorbet list was something Heston would be proud of (you can check it out here) but rather than going off-piste we opted for two delicious deserts to share between the three off us.
Another one of the top-rated restaurants on Jersey, Aroma’s has an old school charm all of its own. With friendly service and a classic menu (with a touch of the 1980’s – who doesn’t love a prawn cocktail!) our food was cooked to perfection, and we had a great time in what is doubtless the restaurant of choice for anniversaries, birthdays, and special occasions for the residents of St Helier.
In the heart of Gorey Point, this Scandi themed hotel and bistro is a Mr & Mrs Smith choice and offered up a lovely breakfast, not to mention the addition of freshly made shell madeleines to take away to help see us through our sightseeing. Not to mention the excellent peach daiquiris which made for a lovely afternoon treat.
This impressive five-star luxury manor house hotel manages to hit the right balance between fine dining and a friendly relaxed atmosphere. The food and wine were wonderful, and the cocktails and cheese trolley exceptional. Definitely where you’d want to stay if money were no object!
This was a last-minute addition to our plans, as it was recommended by a local (our taxi driver from the airport in fact). She said if it were her visiting, it’s where she would go, not just for the amazing food but also the stunning view over the harbour. She wasn’t wrong. We enjoyed a blissful lunch of lobster and bubbles overlooking what could have been mistaken for St Tropez – the sky was so blue. It was the perfect last meal in Jersey.* (As it turns out this is the sister restaurant to Longueville Manor, so no wonder it was fabulous.)
‘Honourable munchens^’ should also go to..
Café Louise – For a lovely sandwich and carrot cake to sustain us through the day. Enjoyed outside in the Jersey sunshine.
Eastside Coffee Shop – Which we didn’t manage to fit in, but consistently had a queue around the block for their ice creams so it’s certainly one to visit on our next foray.
So, with Jersey very much on the map as a foodie get away, I can wholeheartedly recommend a visit. And if you have any recommends, that we should put on our list for next time please do share then with us on our socials @jellybeanagency
*Or would have been, had the air traffic system not fallen over. Long story short we stayed one more night but the Radisson hotel bar food and ferry port café I’m afraid were not highlights as such, so haven’t made the cut for this blog.
^TM courtesy of Off Menu Podcast