Earlier in the year I totally fell in love with The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey after my beautiful weekend stay, enjoying incredible views and sampling Michelin-starred food at their restaurant Ocean by Mark Jordan as well as the chef’s more casual Mark Jordan at the Beach.
I mean honestly who wouldn’t fall in love with this beautiful place?
And it’s the perfect location for the annual Eat Jersey Food Festival running from Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th November. The wonderful Executive Head Chef Mark Jordan, who honed his skills whilst working under Jean Christophe Novelli, will be joined some of the greatest chefs from Britain and the Channel Islands to celebrate the spectacular food and local produce in Jersey. Jersey is a small place but it’s foodie heaven with incredible seafood, beef from Jersey cows, the creamiest milk and the famous Jersey royals.
One of the signature events at the festival will be a pop-up restaurant on the 5th of November in partnership with Outlaw’s at The Capital. A stunning seafood menu created by Tom Brown from Outlaw’s in collaboration with Mark Jordan, will be the star of the show at Outlaw’s at Ocean and will available for lunch and dinner on the day. 
Wishing I was back in Jersey on a hot day in London, I headed to The Capital hotel to sample a selection of the dishes that are currently on the menu at Michelin-stared Outlaw’s at The Capital. What I love about the Capital is that, like The Atlantic Hotel, it is a small family run property that has been passed down through the generations. Both are members of the prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World owing to their personal service, unique character and independent spirit. And when two of my favourite boutique hotels come together to celebrate good food and fine wine, I know I’m going to be in for a treat.
I loved the chef’s two-Michelin star restaurant in Cornwall, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw and I was excited to try his food at the Capital. Nathan and Head Chef Tom Brown source the very best ingredients and the freshest seafood from fisherman that they know. While fish is usually sourced around the coast of Cornwall, of course ingredients at pop up at The Atlantic will use the very best Jersey produce. I loved the fresh flavours of the starter, a simple seaweed cured salmon with cucumber chutney and horseradish cream, nothing too overwhelming on the plate just the salty flavours of the sea.
Next to me, one of the other diners enjoyed a very fine Boxeater beef tartare from Cornwall, enhanced with English mustard and sourdough for starters.
Though duck was an option, nearly everyone around the table chose the cod, as Nathan Outlaw is renowned for his excellent fish. An accompaniment of pickled mushroom, capers and red wine tartare dressing was light enough not to overwhelm the delicately flavoured and perfectly cooked fish. The dish was so well-balanced that I felt satiated and not overly full.
The dessert was equally refreshing, an elderflower ice cream sandwich with blackberries and cider. Certainly not a dessert that’s going to leave you rolling on the floor feeling too full; a menu in perfect harmony.
As well as the collaboration with Outlaw’s at The Capital, there will be three other fine-dining events at Ocean Restaurant and Mark Jordan will be joined by the following starry chefs over the course of the weekend:
- Andrew Fairlie from Andrew Fairlie Restaurant at Gleneagles
- André Garrett from André Garrett Restaurant at Cliveden House
- Simon McKenzie from The Brasserie Restaurant at The Old Government House Hotel & Spa, Guernsey
- Matthew Peryer from The Restaurant at Lewtrenchard Manor, Devon
- Steve Smith from Bohemia at The Club Hotel & Spa, Jersey
- Robert Thompson from Thompson’s, Isle of Wight
- Nicolas Valmanga, Tassili at Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa
The festival rounds off with a fun ‘Lobster and Burger’ event at Mark Jordan at the Beach, which showcases some of the finest Jersey beef and fresh lobster. I’ve tried plenty of Jersey lobster and it’s just the best!
Sadly I won’t be heading to Jersey myself to check out this wonderful festival but I was so happy to try Nathan and Tom’s wonderful food at the London restaurant.
Have you been to Jersey? What’s you favourite produce from the island?
I was kindly hosted by The Capital as part of a press event.
