That’s because Albert’s Schloss, on Peter Street in Manchester, has transformed itself into its very own ski resort with its new Après-inspired menu – and they invited us down to give it a try.
We were greeted by two lovely members of staff who informed us that our table wasn’t yet ready, but we could wait in the bar area. With pleasure!
While we waited, we had a pint of Tank Pilsner each. If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying this before, allow us to give you an overview: the large copper tanks you’ll notice in the centre of the venue aren’t just there for decoration.
Oh no.
They serve up to 4,000 pints of ‘tankovna’ beer that’s known and loved by loyal drinkers for its light, fresh, buttery taste.
As we sipped away, we heard the words we’d been waiting for… “Your table is ready!”
We made our way to our table, which was atmospherically dressed with a candle, menus and surrounded by fellow hungry Mancunians. As you’ll read later, if you’re going to pay Albert’s a visit, then make sure you’ve burnt some calories earlier in the day…
But before we got onto our food, we noticed the dedicated ‘spezials’ Chalet Albert cocktail menu, and thought it appropriate to have the aptly-named Sex on a Snowdrift – St-Germain elderflower liquor, Hendrick’s gin, apple, mint, cucumber, lemon and black pepper. What’s not to like about that?
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The Sex on a Snowdrift ‘Chalet Albert spezials’ cocktail. (Image: Newsquest)
Well… one particularly fussy member of the party was worried about the cucumber content of the cocktail. As someone who has to remove the “devil vegetable” from another well-known food franchise’s wrap of the day, to our surprise, the drink went down a treat.
We also tried out the Rhubarb and Elderflower Collins – offering a perfect blend of floral flavours ready to wash down the feast heading our way.
Our waitress, Mariam, was one of the standout parts of our experience. She, and all the other staff, went above and beyond to make our meal memorable – her wit and charm carried the entire evening, so thank you, Mariam.
Now, the Chalet Albert menu is described as a “decadent Cook Haus menu, designed for sharing”, with a celebration of everything schnitzel, spritz and ski season aprés, so please do forgive the sheer amount of food we’ve ordered…
We opted for the Alpine Krokettes and Twice Fried Chicken to start, which was given the Mariam stamp of approval, so we knew what was about to arrive was going to be good.
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The Twice Fried Chicken starter, served with haus pickles and ranch dip (Image: Newsquest)
We weren’t wrong. The Krokettes were described by the resident fusspot as “delicious”. “I want more”, he begged.
The chicken was equally as moreish – juicy, sticky and flavourful, and paired with the gorgeous haus pickles. Everything you could want from a staple starter, done exceptionally well.
We were promptly served with our main course: Schweinshaxe (Schloss’ famous pork knuckle), alongside the Chalet Albert Cordon Bleu Schnitzel, Truffle and Parmesan Fries and Sformato (baked truffle mash).
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A bird’s eye view of a rather large amount of food. (Image: Newsquest)
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The Cordon Bleu Schnitzel. (Image: Newsquest)
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The Schweinshaxe, Albert’s Schloss’s famous pork knuckle. (Image: Newsquest)
The Schweinshaxe is famous for a reason. Served in the middle of a magic red cabbage gravy moat, the knuckle is crisped to its max while the meat underneath remained succulent….and it’s also gluten-free! One note is that a steak knife would have been a helpful tool here to deal with the abundance of crispy pork crackling.
The Schnitzel was also perfectly fried and showed Albert’s at its best – chicken breast, Gruyère – a firm, Swiss Alpine cheese – Black Forest ham, wild mushroom and brandy sauce, and decadent truffle and parmesan fries.
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The decadent Sformato – baked truffle cheese and belting Alpine cheese, ‘to share’. (Image: Newsquest)
The fries were so nice we accidentally ordered them twice, and the truffle mash (Sformato) was also delicious. The cheese was melted evenly, and it was the right amount, too – a fistful, or should we say a pork knuckleful, not a sprinkle.
You might think this was a truffle overload – but no, not at all, and that’s what this menu is all about.
At this point, we should probably address the portion sizes. We left Albert’s that day a lot heavier than we went in. Do be aware that the portions are incredibly generous. Not a complaint, just something to keep in mind when ordering.
Desserts? For that very reason, we simply didn’t have room – but we did make space for an Espresso Martini as we enjoyed the live music and Aprés ski party put on by Chalet Albert’s brilliant ‘in-haus’ entertainment.
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We only had space for an espresso martini for dessert… (Image: Newsquest)
And if none of that food is for you, the Chalet Albert menu is also bursting with other Aprés-inspired treats – including the show-stopping Cheese Fondue.
Hold onto your skiis as we explain this one to you – it’s a sharing feast of melted Vacherin Fribourgeois, Gruyère and white cheddar, served with a side of haus pickles, sourdough and new potatoes. That’s shared dining at its cheesiest and most delicious.
The Baron Burger also boasts a juicy patty smothered in raclette cheese, crispy shallots and truffle mayo and is served with a rich boat of gravy for ultimate indulgence. That one’s being ordered next time we go…
Overall, our experience was very enjoyable. The service was fantastic, portions generous, and food incredibly tasty. It was on the expensive side – the whole order came to about £125 – but for what you got, it was a lot of bang for your buck.
But most importantly, the adventure evoked the same warm feeling you get when someone else is making a roast at the end of a bad week.
It’s still there until March 31, so if you’re looking for somewhere atmospheric to spend a cold, miserable winter evening, then we’d recommend you check out the Chalet Albert menu – fussy eaters, drinkers and non-drinkers alike.
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