BUSINESS@RATHFINNY Inspiring Business CORPORATE ENTERTAINING UNIQUE OFF-SITE FACILITIES DAY VISITS & ACCOMMODATION WINE TOURS & TASTINGS Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, Sussex, BN26 5TU 01323 874 030 rathfinnyestate.com For our corporate brochure email us at business@rathfinnyestate.com
FOOD ............................. The Paradiso Social Original small plates Located on Preston Road – at the point where things begin to feel residential – The Paradiso Social’s décor has a slight 70s vibe, with modern touches such as its navy and copper colour scheme. Office-style display boards have been left intact on the walls and painted over, allowing the building’s original character to shine through. Chintzy framed pictures give the space a homely, relaxed feel, while the booths, upholstered in tan crocodile leather and the long copper bar create a pleasing, social layout in an intimate space. Our fellow diners seemed relaxed and happy, bobbing their heads along to the funky soul playlist, and it was a vibrant yet chilled place to let our hair down on a Friday evening. Service was friendly and the cocktails were generously measured. I found the menu an intriguing read, and was curious to see how the plates would look, and how the combinations of ingredients would taste. Apparently the menu changes almost weekly, depending on whatever seasonal ingredients the chefs have picked up from the Open Market (or the spoils gathered by their expert forager). A constant is the line-up of fairly-priced small plates, with the option to add on a main. Pretty much half the dishes were vegan during our visit, along with seafood options (such as natural oysters for £2 each) and a 550g aged rump steak for two, served with Sriracha hollandaise (£29). I love a place that kicks things off with quality bread, so was pleased when we were served fluffy bread topped off with salt crystals along with flavoursome whipped butter. The most surprising dish was the smacked cucumbers with peanut and togarashi (£4). Photo by Rose Dykins ....79.... Never have cucumbers been more exciting, crunchy and zingy, well-paired with smoky peanuts. Likewise, the roasted peach with blood orange and bitter leaves (£7.50) was surprisingly hearty. The fleshy peach quarters were chargrilled to perfection, impossibly soft and lifted by the trimmings of fresh mint and dill. The plate was piled with miscellaneous bitter leaves, which were a bit too bitter for my taste, and the dressing a bit acidic. My companion’s favourite dish was the English peas, asparagus and house-made ricotta with lemon butter, topped off with breadcrumbs, (£9), where the fresh flavours of the vegetables came through. My favourite was the chargrilled baby aubergine with miso glaze, jalapeño and avocado (£7), which I kept going back to to dip things in as the small plates piled up. We also tucked in to the whole roast globe artichoke, served up with a dip of sunflower miso hummus (£8). Our waiter kindly talked us through how to dissect (it was a bit like sharing a plate of nachos). I found the dish super-interesting, and enjoyed the pure flavour of the vegetable amplified by the earthiness of the dip. All in all, our evening at The Paradiso Social was filled with highly creative, beautiful plates of food, served amid a fun, down-to-earth atmosphere. Rose Dykins 38 Preston Road, 01273 262029