Dines Out: Skyfall charity dinner

I heard the very sad news last week that my lovely dog Holly had passed away. She had for many years lived with my ex mother-outlaw, very happily. It was an odd coincidence that the news came after a splendid charity dinner held by Skyfall in Hove in support of the animal charity Raystede. Holly had come from there many years ago and I was delighted to be there to raise funds for this excellent local organisation that looks after and re-homes animals that have been abandoned or neglected.

The dinner itself was something of a feast with course after course of delicious dishes prepared by their amazingly young and talented chef Nathan and his team. Creating a menu is one thing but delivering it is quite another and they certainly managed to pull it off. The first course of smoked duck with remoulade and an orange gel was pretty impressive. The smoking perhaps a little to acrid for my taste but the remoulade really hit the spot and the orange gel worked wonderfully at leveling that smokiness.

Next a scallop, perfectly cooked and beautifully presented. The long menu, which on first reading was slightly daunting was turning out to be delightfully light and well balanced.

Next out fillet steak with the best carrots I have been served in many years. I know it should all be about the steak, and that was extremely good, well handled and brilliantly seasoned, but oh my, what great carrots! How often have I bemoaned the demise of the carrot in this column but in recent months I have been served dishes that have resurrected the humble vegetable.

Hats off to Skyfall & their young chef

More fish next, a perfect tranche of hake with mussels and a delicious sauce and again beautifully cooked vegetables, Nathan certainly can handle the veg.

At some point there was a sorbet, I forget quite when, and it was tasty but rather too sweet for my taste. I like a sorbet but if the intention is to be a palate cleanser then it needs to be sharp and refreshing.

Despite being full I could not resist the pudding. Strangely it was not as beautifully presented as the other dishes, but oh my it was good and in particular the lightest baked cheesecake that I have ever had, and I have eaten a lot of cheesecake!

Hat’s off to Skyfall and their young chef for pulling together a charity event where the food was equally as good as the cause.

42 Church Rd, Hove, BN3 2FN
01273 041007
raystede.org