HOT Magazine March 15, 2015 | Page 47

pan juices. The dish was exquisite; the lamb had a crunchy contour and was soft within. The meat was juicy and wonderfully complemented by the ratatouille and the potatoes, which had an enticing roasted aroma. We were then presented with a dish of baked sea bass on warm new potato salad, sour cream, asparagus and a caper vierge sauce. This was a wonderful treat: the soft consistency to the fish and the smooth texture of the potatoes gave the pallate a very pleasant sensation, balanced perfectly with the defining taste of the asparagus and the sour touch of the capers. Chef Ian lets us know that to provide a fresh taste to his dishes; he ventures the Thai market every morning, where he acquires all the seafood and the vegetables. “We always have a daily special” he says, including a changing home-made soup. His passion for local Thai spices always leads him to think about ways in which to include them to his dishes, including those in which he fuses European and Asian tastes. Our last dish was a veritable delicacy, in the form of a stunning dessert: Banana sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce. We knew this one was coming before we even saw it, as the aroma of the sticky toffee sauce (brought separately in a stylish which porcelain holder) engulfed the air. Presented with a crispy sheet of dried banana, embedded on a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this is a mouthwatering treat for those with a sweet tooth. The pudding was soft, the banana crunchy, the ice cream cold, the sauce hot and the combination of all of those, dazzling. We left Red Piano incredibly satisfied, having had a superb meal in a great atmosphere under some ver