Food & drink
Passion on a plate Emma Thompson samples the spirit of Catalonia at award-winning restaurant Lunya IN true Spanish style, there were people enjoying alfresco dining in the sun when we arrived at Lunya, a Catalonian fusion restaurant and deli in Liverpool ONE. With enticing aromas beckoning us in, I was keen to taste what this highly-recommended Spanish restaurant had to offer. I’d already taken a peek online at the vast menu and was already trying to decide what to have before we were seated in the upstairs area. Joining me was my partner and our 18-month old son Ben who quickly took a liking to our very friendly waitress. After opting for an essential glass of wine (it was Friday after all, and the other half was driving), it was time to choose so we decided on a couple of tapas dishes to start then a sharing dish of paella. Our first tapas choice was the Pluma Iberica (Spanish pork from acorn-fed pigs). I’ve never tasted anything like
it before, it was so tender and succulent, it just melted in your mouth. The caramelised onion and roasted shallot puree that came with the dish was also gorgeous – I was disappointed I had to share it! It came slightly pink in the middle, but that suited out tastes and we scraped the board clean. Next was the Gambas Pil Pil (king prawns in chilli, garlic and vanilla) this was one of my partner’s favourite dishes when we visited Spain. These perfectly cooked prawns with a slight heat from the chilli brought back happy holiday memories. It was a great choice and he loved every mouthful. We also tried (and devoured) the calamari in Estrella Damm batter. Delivered on a slate board, the squid was well cooked with a nice crispy batter. We chose meatballs and fries from the varied children’s menu for Ben. A typical 18-month-old, Ben can be quite fussy. He cleared the fries no problem but only ate one meatball so of course I had to help him out! The home-made, chunky, beef meatballs came in a rich tomato sauce with a taste of chorizo, they were delicious
and had plenty of flavour. In between courses, Ben wanted to have a little toddle round which gave us a chance to glance around this converted 18th century warehouse which was dotted with unusual and fun artwork and sculptures hanging from the high ceilings. Then a big dish of mixed paella, containing chicken, mussels, squid and prawns, arrived in a hot pan which kept it warm while we leisurely made our way through the contents. It was one of the best paellas we’ve ever had. It had a rich, creamy texture with plenty of flavour and, a first, I even tried a mussel but I’m still to be convinced, so my partner happily enjoyed the mussels as we shared the rest. Ready to say “we’re too full for pudding,” the dessert menu appeared and, well, it seemed rude not to. A tempting white chocolate cheesecake with chilli infused raspberries arrived for my partner. It was so smooth and absolutely gorgeous with a delicious crumbly base. I opted for Leche Frita, a traditional Spanish dessert. The firm, sweet milk/custard style pudding was encased in a warm fried sugar and cinnamon coated shell and came with a fruit compote – yum! I loved it – sweet and creamy with a zing from the fruit compote, it was everything dessert should be, delicious! As Ben was getting tired it was time to go, but we scanned the impressive deli on the way out and vowed to return to Lunya soon to pick up some deli treats and will definitely be dining there again! Lunya, 18-20 College Lane, Liverpool One, L1 3DS, call 0151 706 9770, or visit www.lunya.co.uk
MAGIC MOMENTS . . . IT’S not every day you get married, so when our colleague, Pam, announced that she was getting wed to her beau, Tony, the Best of Liverpool crew decided it was time to celebrate (any excuse!). So we booked ourselves in for a ‘hen’ lunch at Moments, a shiny new brasserie in Liverpool ONE, formerly known as Café Sports Express. But don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a half-hearted relaunch of the same venue. Gone are the banks of televisions and the bachelor-pad decor and in their place, there are ornate mirrors, glamorous pictures and an all-together more sophisticated ambience. Throw in an extensive menu, a selection of fabulous desserts and a range of Champagne cocktails, and you have the recipe for one seriously stylish venue. In typical British style, our plans for eating on the outside terrace were scuppered by rain clouds, but we were quickly offered a table inside, and as we took our seats, we were served with a lovely glass of Moet.
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The staff couldn’t have been more helpful and we were treated like royalty. No spending hours agonising over the menu for us. Instead, we were treated to plate after plate of delicious, freshly prepared food, which gave us a taste of pretty much everything on the eclectic Moments menu. To start, there were light and flavoursome fish goujons, delicious prawns in batter, mouth-watering garlic bread and an array of crunchy vegetables and dips. Silence descended around the table as the team got stuck in and the empty plates which were cleared away a few minutes later were testament to how tasty the food was. No sooner had we digested our starters when another flurry of plates arrived at our table and we tucked into a veritable feast. From homemade pizzas with all kinds of generous toppings, vegetable and halloumi skewers, a Cajun chicken salad to a simply delicious pulled pork burger, tender steak and marinated pork with apple sauce and light and fluffy rice, we all agreed that the food was cooked to
perfection. As the venue claims to specialise in luxury desserts, it didn’t seem right not to sample the dessert menu. Again we were treated to a selection of some of the most attractive puddings on the menu which included old schoolstyle desserts inspired by the likes of the banana split, Black Forest gateau and even egg nog. All talk of diets went out of the window as the first dessert arrived at the table and everyone declared them to be ‘delicious’. To round off our fabulous lunch, we hens (including honorary hen, Paul) toasted Pam and her hubby to be, and started planning our next visit... Moments, 10 Thomas Steer Way, Liverpool ONE, Liverpool, L1 8LW, telephone 0151 706 7440