Review: Park Bar, Canada Square Park

By John Hill on August 14, 2008 9:00 AM |

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Jon Massey tastes the Mediterranean at Canada Square Park's Park Bar

Should the British summer ever provide an afternoon pleasant enough to sit outside, Wharfers could do worse than to head for The Park Bar in Canada Square.

And what better to go with your chilled glass of Pinot Grigio or Pimms than a selection of treats from Waitrose new Delicatezze range, currently on sale there?

This collection of tasty bites, based on flavours found all round the Mediterranean, come in handy plastic tubs and in quantities ideal for sharing. As the bar staff provided an ample supply of fizzy refreshment, I tucked in to some of the delicacies.

I have been a committed mezze addict for some time, so getting the chance to try these new nibbles was a particular pleasure.

The Delicatezze range is nothing if not varied.

I started with the Turkish pork and apricot meatballs (£3.29 for 136g) which were substantial and pleasantly fruity.

Next came the herb dressed chicken kebabs with tomato and basil (£3.49 for 160g). Again a solid combination of well known flavours and delicious when combined with the chargrilled mushrooms (£3.49 for 160g) which come hand-stuffed with searingly sweet sun-dried tomatoes.

At this point I began to think I had the Delicatezze range worked out. As my attention turned to the next dish I was expecting more ingredients from the northern coast of the Med arranged in relatively traditional combinations. Classics playing to their strengths.

Consequently it was something of a surprise when the next dish was stuffed kalkidis olives (£3.49 for 165g), filled not with garlic or pimento, but made to a Moroccan recipe with shallots raisins and parmesan.
Certainly an unusual flavour and a cut above the standard stuffings.

Next, more exotica. Not for the squeamish, the seafood salad (£3.49 for 140g), arrived in chunky form. Bathed in lemon-infused extra virgin olive oil the prawns, slices of cuttlefish and octopus tentacles (suckers on show) were actually quite tasty.

The variety of textures sat well together with the juicy prawns balancing the chewy octopus.
The last savouries hastily consumed, I chose a box of Gu Brownies (£3.99 for eight) to top off the meal. Rich and delicious.

If you feel the need to sample these products for yourself, Waitrose is running a public tasting session today (Thursday) at The Park Bar at 6pm. Gorilla Events which runs The Park Bar will be running a range of drinks promotions from 5pm till 8pm to mark the event.