It’s a Friday night and I’m heading to Durham to review the mysterious new addition to the city’s restaurant scene – FIIK
It must have been almost two weeks ago that I received a message from an Instagram account called FIIK Durham, inviting me to come to their soft launch on 29 November, to review their menu. I have no shame in admitting that this was the first time I was invited to come to a restaurant opening as myself, and not as the company I was associated with for a couple of years.
So, naturally, I jumped at the opportunity, a quick reply that I’ll be there and the countdown is on. There were a lot of things that have happened in my personal life since I got this invite and a part of me was seriously considering pulling out from visiting FIIK, but you know what they say, when one door closes, another one opens…
FIIK is the perfect opportunity to lead Spectrum in the direction I have always wanted. Instead of just focusing on interviews with people on mental health and wellbeing, I’m expanding it to be a lifestyle online magazine, filled with joyous and inspirational content (with a hint of personal touch, you know, for transparency and authenticity!).
FIIK, Durham Review – First Impressions
It takes my dinner date and I just over 30 minutes to get to the heart of Durham – just where FIIK’s new home is located. Durham is a beautiful city, full of Christmas spirit, twinkling lights, friendly faces and bustling restaurant scene.
I take a moment to appreciate my surroundings and decide that coming here was the right decision. My bed-rotting days are over!
Stepping inside FIIK, it’s a cute and charming little place. As we get to our table, the first thing I notice is, well, the table! It’s got squares of hazelnuts, spices, dates and all kinds of goodies, hidden under a clear glass top. It’s such a unique little addition to the restaurant and a little bit of fun, painting a perfect picture of FIIK.
Review of the Menu at FIIK, Durham
For those wondering, the set menu price will be £45 per head, with matching pairings around £35 per head. A good price for a fine dining restaurant, considering the menu is brimming with delicious offerings.
I start my evening with a Champagne. A glass of bubbly always goes down a treat, especially after the week I’ve had! As we’re glancing over the menu, it’s exciting times for me and, unfortunately, a bit of a disappointment for my boyfriend. His relationship with fine dining is not one of the greatest love stories ever told but we still manage to find some things that he will be able to enjoy. As for me, I’m excited to try everything!
FIIK’s menu has some creative and fun little names, starting off strong with ‘Rudolph And Friends’ – Venison and Crapaudine beetroot meatball, Beef Tartare with cured yolk and coal oil and Applewood smoked turkey dinosaur.
I start off with an Applewood smoked turkey dinosaur. It’s a tasty start to the evening but with it being turkey, it is on the dryer side. Moving to the Venison and Crapaudine beetroot meatball, it’s certainly a delicious bite. It tastes smooth and hearty, somewhat of a comforting treat. Not a big fan of beetroot, I have no problem finishing my meatball as the hint of the vegetable is only very subtle.
The only thing left on my wooden plate is the Beef Tartare with cured yolk and coal oil. It’s a small single bite and as I’m taking my time with chewing, I can taste the perfect mix of flavours blending perfectly on my tongue. It tastes absolutely delightful, with hints of savoury beef and somewhat mellow cured yolk. Safe to say, it’s the perfect end to my appetiser journey.
FIIK, Durham Review – The Pre-Mains
Our second meal of the night arrives and it’s certainly a sight to be seen. ‘Carrot Wait for Christmas’ turns out to be a Maple and Clementine carrot with brown butter hollandaise espuma, chestnut crumble and little burtle.
I would be lying if I said carrots are my favourite. They’re not, especially when they’re warm. However, the meal looks extremely appetising and I decide to give it a go. As much as it looks like Christmas on a plate, it tastes somewhat like it too. It’s slightly sweet and the chestnut crumb is simply delightful.
The meal goes perfectly with Adega Gvimarães Vinho Verde, a spritzy wine with warm and mellow notes, hints of white flower. It’s refreshing yet comforting, going in theme with that fuzzy Christmas feeling of ‘Carrot Wait for Christmas’.
It’s time for the third meal on the menu and it’s ‘My Nan’s Prawn Cocktail is Better’. I have been waiting for this one and what’s not to like – it’s King Prawn, Marie Rose, avocado and cucumber. When it arrives, I can’t wait to dig in, I have a feeling this will be my favourite.
Taking my first bite, it’s creamy and mellow – a common theme so far at FIIK – it’s as if this fine dining restaurant aims to serve the best quality of food wrapped up in a blanket of comfort. My meal is everything I had hoped for with the taste of King Prawn, somehow making me reminiscent of my home country Lithuania and its famous crab salad. It might be two different meals, but there are subtle hints of flavours that remind me of just that.
The Mains
Yet another creative name for a restaurant that does not aim to take itself too seriously is ‘Partridge in a Pear Tree’. It’s partridge and smoked turkey terrine, Earl Grey poached pear, walnut and cep cream. Keeping to my promise of being authentic and transparent, this one is not my favourite, simply because of my dislike of warmed-up fruits and vegetables.
The pear is sweet, which is a rather unusual combination for its filling inside – partridge and walnut and cep cream. Going above all codes of dining etiquette, I scoop up the yummy filling inside the pear and savour it all.
In preparation of the next meal on out list, my glass is filled with a deep red wine. While usually red is not my first choice, I think it will go perfectly with ‘All I Want For Christmas Is Ewe’ – lamb loin, duck fat roastie, roscoff, hispi and jus.
So, a sip of my red (Archivio Aglianico Del Beneventano) and it’s oaky, smokey flavours go in sync with the soft lamb. I devour it in no time, leaving only the grilled salad on the plate. Again, it’s the mushyness of the warmed up veggies – nothing personal!
To sweeten the deal…
As we move towards the end of our dining experience at FIIK, there are still a few delights that await. It’s the ‘Unbrielievable’ baked brie with honeyberry, orange and pistachio. It comes in a little bowl filled with berries and nuts and as I take the first bite, the flavours take me back to Lithuania.
I know I’ve tasted brie before, but nothing quite like brie at FIIK. It tastes extremely similar to national Lithuanian cheese, the one my grandma used to buy from a local farmer. It’s incredible how flavours and tastes have the power to take you to the most amazing places with just one bite and I’m back to my hometown, childhood memories flooding in.
Lost in conversation, the free-flowing wine and the beautiful atmosphere of FIIK, I arrive at the last stop of my dining journey. ‘Not To Be Trijfled With’, in human words, is valrhona manjari, sour cherry, Frangelico and Tonka Bean ice cream. I’m certain another glass of the most delicious dessert wine appears from somewhere but we’ve been here for a couple of hours, which means I’m a couple of hours deep in wine, confirmed by my notes with only the word ‘good’ written next to the dessert. Insightful!
However, the dessert is good. It looks as it’s baked but it’s actually more like chocolate mousse – creamy, delicious and filling.
FIIK, Durham Review – Is it Worth it?
If you’re a lover of fine dining, trying new flavours and experiencing them in a cosy and comfortable atmosphere then a visit to FIIK is a must. For me, their menu took me out of a distressing couple of days and offered a chance to remember to enjoy the little things in life.
Life might not always go the way you plan it to, sometimes you can do everything right and still not get the outcome you expect but it’s moments like these which remind you that joy can be found in the smallest of details.
So, if you’re in need of a pick me up, FIIK in Durham officially opens its doors on Tuesday 10 December. Book your table here, or drop them a message on @fiik_durham.