SALT Cø. private chef experience

SALT Cø. is a Poole-based company owned by private chef and chocolatier Christian Ørner. He specialises in fine dining, drawing on his Norwegian and British heritage and bringing together his favourite modern French and Mediterranean cuisines. In ‘normal’ times, Christian can be found cooking bespoke 7 course tasting menus and running cookery classes in the comfort of people’s own homes, but lockdown put a stop to that. Instead, he developed Isolation Date Night – a 4-course dining experience where all you have to do is warm things in the oven, plate up and enjoy.

We ordered a meal for Valentine’s weekend - fully paid for, no freebies for this most unusual food blogger! (Actually, it was unusual for us to even acknowledge Valentine’s, but you’ve got to take your joy where you can in these bleak times). On the menu was:

• Freshly baked fougasse bread and smoked sea salt/truffle butters

• ‘Boiled egg’ amuse bouche (the only thing egg about it is the shell)

• Pulled beef raviolo, Scandinavian pickled apple and beef consommé

• A surprising palate cleanser

• Pork belly, crackling, dauphinoise potato, roasted carrot and beetroot

• Chilled chocolate fondant, raspberry heart, roasted white chocolate

• A box of 6 dark chocolate salted ganache chocolates.

It arrived with clear instructions about reheating, and due to the well-thought-out menu, the work we had to do in the kitchen was minimal. (Sometimes when there are a lot of elements to a dish and multiple courses, even reheating can feel stressful)!

I’m so happy that Christian’s food lived up to the hype. It was excellent - really, the best food I can remember having in a long, long time - and such a decadent treat. Every element of every dish was nothing short of perfect. I’d happily have him cook for us every night if I could afford it (and didn’t mind getting gout), but as it is, we’ll make do with special occasions.