Easter Lunch at the Merchant House Brasserie

 Yesterday we were woken by two very excited children. The Easter bunny had been and left a trail of tiny eggs all over the house. These little eggs then led the girls to their big Easter egg. They also found that they had been left some books and a new board game. Lucky girls. After a lazy morning, in which far too much chocolate was consumed, we headed to the Merchant House Brasserie. We had never eaten at the Merchant House before and we were excited to try somewhere new. They had a set Easter Sunday lunch menu at £21.95 per person for three courses. The children had a two course menu for £7.95. I have to point out that I never intended to write about our visit but the restaurant was so lovely that I felt I had to share my experience.  The Merchant House is in Weighbridge and therefore right in the heart of town. It is situated in a lovely spot nestled next to the Jersey Museum. During the Summer months the terrace bar is always bustling with diners enjoying the sunshine. We had been lured to the brasserie by the promise of an Easter egg hunt for the children. The restaurant itself is very unassuming. The decor is understated and the staff are attentive without being intrusive. We arrived to a restaurant that wasn't as busy as you would expect for Easter Sunday lunch. I wonder if people don't realise that it is open on a Sunday. On being shown to our table the waitress took our drink orders and bought out two baskets that were generously filled with a nice selection of bread. The crusty bread was quickly devoured by our hungry group. Everyone declared them delicious and as a result we had very high expectations for the main event.  We were spoilt for choice. It was a simple yet elegent menu. There was also an extensive wine list to suit a variety of budgets. We plumped for a Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc which was very reasonable at £21 per bottle. After dithering over what to eat I eventually chose the blue cheese souffle with pear tart for starters. I then opted for the pan seared salmon with a hollandaise sauce served with green vegetables and sauteed potatoes for my mains. The starters really put a smile on our faces. I was worried that the blue cheese souffle would be overpowering but I need not have worried. It was delicious and light with a subtle hint of blue cheese. The pear tart was the perfect accompaniment. Our waitress was really lovely and asked if we would like the children to have their mains when we had our starters. It meant that they didn't feel like they were missing out. Oldest chose to have burger, skinny chips and salad and Youngest chose chicken nuggets, skinny chips and salad. Oldest's burger looked amazing. It was all excellent produce that was really well cooked. The portions were really generous and both children declared their meal to be yummy! Youngest can be very fussy when it comes to her food but she almost finished everything on the plate. A rarity indeed and a sure sign that she loved her lunch.  When we started on the mains we were all grinning like Cheshire Cats. The salmon was scrumptious. It was really moist and delicious, the sauce was as light as a feather and the vegetables tasted fresh with a nice crunch. The combination of the vegetables, fish and sauce meant that it was a dish that was a joy to eat. As you eat your meal you can watch the chefs hard at work in the kitchen as they create their culinary masterpieces.  The wine we had chosen was scrummy. It was called Frost Pocket and whilst it is a wine that I have never come across before it is certainly one that I will look up in future. It was a zesty wine that was vibrant on your tongue and made your mouth sing with joy. The perfect wine to go with the salmon. Finally we had dessert. Again we were spoilt for choice but in the end I opted for the cheese board which was the perfect way to end the meal. The meal was such good value and the meal was perfect from start to finish, nothing missed a beat. The service, produce and the cooking were all excellent. The girls were then whisked away to the terrace area where they took part in an Easter egg hunt. A brilliant Easter egg hunt it was too. The girls were positively spoilt with the Easter egg basket, 2 large eggs and three packets of mini eggs each! This 'eggcellent' brasserie is a must visit. I am already looking for an excuse to return to this little gem. I was not paid for this review. I just wanted to share one of the best meals I have had in ages. If you fancy booking a table at the Merchant House Brasserie then you can do so here No yolking about, you will love the food at Merchant House Brasserie