FIFI'S FOOD BLOG REVIEW

The Panorama is where we spent most of our time while staying at The Montenotte. It is in the most beautiful location. On Saturday afternoon, we sat out on the terrace having a hot chocolate and a coffee. Wrapped up in blankets, looking out over the bustling city below, it was serene. We sat here watching the sun go down, it was wonderful.

For dinner, our table sat opposite a grand piano where live music ensues every Saturday night at 7.30pm. The restaurant was buzzy and full of diners from the time we arrived at 6.15pm (Early due to our cinema booking at 8pm). If you are headed to the cinema like we were, the Cameo Dinner & Movie Package is the ideal choice. It includes both a dinner served from their set menu and a Montenotte Cameo cinema entry. There are two choices: A 2 course meal for €35 or 3 courses for €40. We also added a bottle of Montepulciano, because it’s February, and (almost) dry January had come to an official end.

To start, we chose goats cheese tartlet and chicken liver parfait, and for our mains, sirloin steak along with potato and chestnut gnocchi. The sirloin was an 8oz steak with caramelised onions, portobello mushroom, chips and for sauce, I went with garlic & herb butter. The gnocchi came with roasted red onions, wilted spinach, aged parmesan cheese, stilton and tarragon cream. By the time dessert came around, we were almost too full, so decided to share a lemon curd tart. I absolutely love anything with lemon curd, so our choice was obvious. Garnished with raspberries, toasted pistachios and clotted cream, it was divine. Overall, the dinner in its entirety was marvellous.

Both myself and Matt booked into the Montenotte’s Bellevue Spa early on Sunday morning for The Botanical Facial Experience. It was a personalised facial, customised to our skin, with a neck, chest and face massage. The spa was comfortable and serene from the moment of entry. We sat in the stunning relaxation room before and after our treatments, in our robes, feeling refreshed and chilled out.

The most lovely therapist called Rachel did my facial. She was so helpful throughout the initial consultation, speaking to me about my skin type, in order to establish the best practices and products to employ. The experience was rejuvenating and highly relaxing. Following the facial, Rachel recommended a skin-specific cleanser and moisturiser, which I then purchased in-spa. My skin has genuinely never glowed brighter!

In the relaxation room, we then enjoyed a 10am mimosa (Why not?), fresh fruit and a cup of herbal tea. Matt and I chatted about the facials, and it was interesting to learn our experiences had differed, despite the treatments being the same. Our skin types are different, and this was reflected. One example is in the form of our under-eye treatment. Seaweed was used on my face and kiwi was used on Matt’s. By the sounds of it, both were equally as revitalising.
Full Facial Breakdown:

• First cleanse with rose gel cleanser
• Second cleanse with clay cleanser
• Enzyme face polish on neck and face
• Lavender and vitamin E face mist
• Face massage using geranium and rose hip face oil
• Eye mask
• Seaweed applied to eyes
• Clay mask applied on neck and face
• Eye cream applied
• Intense renewal moisturiser applied