Experience it certainly was. Our culinary adventure began right at the beginning: finding the venue. Which was an adventure in itself, whilst we gawped gormlessly up and down Brixton's Beehive Place... Well, there was no signage, nothing. We joined forces with a couple of other pairs of hapless diners, when one pair shouted "we think we've found it!". A very inconspicuous yellow door you could have walked past a few times, but then you see the bees emblazoned on the door. And like intrepid explorers, we pushed open the door and walked upstairs into a cavernous barn, vaulted ceilings throwing light down and the whole feeling of wood was almost like being in an outdoor woodland. It certainly felt very special.
We plonked ourselves on our table and sampled the cocktail menu - there were many a fresh and delicious sounding beverage on there, but I punted for the Brixton Beehive Club. Mainly because it was gin based (my favourite) but I was mostly swayed by the burnt Earl Grey sugar, I mean it's not every day you have some of that with your gin.
Taking the advice of "take a sip from the dark side" my mouth was a rush of flavours - the sweetness from the honey and the deep flavour with a hint of tea - wow. This drink was more than just being Instagram worthy - it was a pocket rocket and far too quaffable, as it was seemingly gone in about two seconds. We did wait a rather long time between arrival and the first course appearing (about an hour), but with a cocktail like this and soaking up the vibes, it wasn't agonising but instead rather chilled. Whilst sipping on our cocktails, we were soon joined by our dining companions - you share a table of 8 with others - in our case we were a table of pairs, but you can request to sit with your friends or lovers (the couple opposite us were most certainly lovers - and we all knew about it!).
An option we didn't go for, but quite a few people did, was to get the sommelier wine pairings with each course (£24). Although we didn't get it ourselves, it was really interesting to hear about the wines as they were explained before each course. I think if I went again, I would a hundred percent embark on this wine journey because I have never had wines tailored to specific meals (let's be honest, it's normally the cheapest glass of house white for me), and everyone on our table really enjoyed seeing if they could taste the crisp apple notes, whether this wine DID indeed taste like a sherry or generally just got a bit squiffy.
With much pizzazz, the first wines were brought over and explained to our table and course number one was brought out to us. The wait was worth it. The excitement was definitely worth it. First up, was pigeon for the meat eaters and for me, a gorgeous, delicate plate of a courgette flower, with small griddled courgettes, and a buttermilk sauce. Fresh, floral and light - the perfect introduction. Courgette flower was something previously relegated to Masterchef for me, but it is delicious - it tastes like you're eating nature in its purest form. I tried to savour every morsel, but it was so tasty, all I could do was eat until all of a sudden I had a very empty plate. And was very excited for what was to come.
And boy oh boy, what arrived next was I think my favourite dish. Asparagus with a Legbar blue poached egg, with toasted Potash farm walnuts. Simple. But so exquisite. I liked hearing about the dish - we all clapped and cheered at our table when we heard we were eating the same type of asparagus as was eaten at the Royal Wedding. It is brilliant to hear the heritage of your food before you just shovel it into your gob - it makes you think about the process of growing to plate, and I think totally makes you savour the flavours more - especially when you have something as special as this poached egg. I mean look at it. Look at the colour of that yolk. I don't think I have ever seen a yolk that deep in colour before!
Asparagus was beautifully cooked, but it was the finishing touches which really made this sublime - the toasted walnuts were so rich in flavour, almost creamy and, as one of my dining companions noted, had an almost popcorn like flavour to it. Just incredible. I should note that after an initial awkwardness at the beginning of the evening, our table were really starting to engage with each other and to talk about the food in front of us which was just fantastic - after all, we were sharing a dining experience!
What could top that? Try some Brixham cod with samphire, quinoa and Neals Yard Dairy yoghurt. My mind was blown when I ate this cod. Forget fish and chips. Forget fish fingers. Forget flakey texture. Think succulent. Think juicy. Think melt in the mouth. Honest to god I have never had any fish cooked this well, and I am not sure when I will again. Easily the best fish that has ever passed my lips. Easy. I'm not quinoa's biggest fan any more - I was on the bandwagon initially but now I find it can lack flavour. I still don't rave about it - it was there on my plate and quite a nice texture. Samphire, "asparagus of the sea" as our host said, is delicious and sparked good debate on our table about foraging. Obviously. Overall, delicious, but didn't quite top the egg dish.
For the meat eaters next was a resoundingly delicious beef dish, which everyone was very vocally impressed with. I had a spelt and heirloom tomato risotto, with sheep's milk cheese. I like that as a non-meat eater, I didn't just have something subbed instead of the meat, but got the chance to sample something completely different, and I was really impressed with the effort that went to accommodating pesky pescatarians like myself (I was also quite happy there was another pescatarian on my table too). Spelt is one of my new favourite things, I have developed a bit of an addiction to it, and it's a beautiful texture, nicer in my opinion than rice, more body to it. For me, this dish sung for a couple of reasons. The depth of tomato flavour in the tomatoes was enough to blow your mind alone, it was so unlike any tomato you would get in the supermarket. Sheep's milk cheese? Never had it before but it was just delicious - rich, unctuous, a bit like a brie but more tangy. The way the soft cheese started to melt and ooze over the risotto was simply inspired. But honestly, the garnish for me absolutely made this course - the wild garlic flower. Less intense garlic flavour than the bulb, less heat, but a light garlic flavour. Subtle, there and pulling the dish together in a way you wouldn't imagine. Yum.
By this point, we'd had a few gins, shared embarrassing stories with our dining companions and were all effectively best friends who were cackling away like we'd known each other for four years, not four courses. But it was time for our last course: cobnut biscuit, with strawberries, cow's curd and strawberry jam. I have a sweet tooth. A really sweet tooth. I love sweet food, love puddings, love cake. And this did not disappoint.
Cobnuts are a bit like hazlenuts and offered way more deep, earthy notes to work with the rich, smooth creaminess of the cow curd, the slight fruity acidity of the fresh strawberries, the sticky sweetness of the strawberry jam and the final burst of summer of the strawberry mint. The combo was a little teaspoon of heaven. Cow's curd might just be my new fave, it is like a cream cheese but kind of smoother, lighter, more savoury. The jam was more like a compote, sweet but more textural than jam. Which is a good thing. Textures are goooood in this pud. It tasted like a strawberry petit filous yoghurt crossed with a cheesecake, but if they were made by fairies and sprinkled with gold. I didn't want my little pot to end.
But end it did, it was time to settle up and pootle off for home. And I was sad. I wanted to stay in my nice candlelit barn, with a cold gin and tonic, with my new friends who were threatening to do backflips down the table. Amazing. For my first five course tasting menu experience, Beehive Place was everything I hoped for and way more. I didn't waddle out of the door stuffed to the brim uncomfortably full - I was just content. I tried food I never had before, really felt like I was eating the highest quality, best tasting, most flavourful food. I'm gutted they are going from Brixton next week - with a new menu every week I would love to go back and try. BUT FEAR NOT! Apparently they will be at Beehive Place once a month, so keep your eyes peeled and book - it was a magical evening and I want to repeat it again and again and again.