Katherine MacAlister enjoys lunch for two al fresco at an Oxford venue where you will always remember the food – and the date probably even more...

It’s not what you’ve got, it’s what you do with it that counts, I concluded as we placed our knives and forks back on our plates, licking our lips as smugly as Sylvester the cat after a Tweetie-Pie special.

We were supposed to be on a train to London, seeing the sights, spending the day at the Alexander McQueen exhibition, shopping.

But as we meandered down to Oxford’s train station our feet turned themselves towards the castle complex, or more specifically to the lovely tables soaking up the sunshine outside 1855.

While many other venues there have shut up shop, 1855 has remained intact, becoming a real mecca for foodies, as much as wine lovers, since opening in December 2013 and we could see why.

The cold glass of rose we enjoyed as we arrived, imbibed while perched at the nice wooden tables outside, watching the world go by, away from Oxford’s busy main shopping streets, soothed by the sound of feet on the cobbles and voices drifting up the castle hill.

And with the first beams of sunlight peeping through the seemingly impenetrable and endlessly dreary winter, hope that spring might finally be on the way unfurled and lunch seemed like the only option.

We hadn’t planned on eating at all, content to sit and enjoy a cold glass of rose, faces tilted to the sun, unable to believe the warmth.

We weren’t alone, the surrounding tables all opting for an al fresco lunch. Finally feeling a tiny bit peckish we perused the menu for the lovely nibbly bits 1855 is so well known for, a sliver of ham, some good cheese, but the sharing boards were too much for us, and as they were whirled past and placed on other tables, we gave up on our afternoon plans in London entirely and sat back to enjoy a proper lunch.

It was the right decision, the hottest day in the last two weeks, and one we enjoyed enormously, largely due to the delicious meal, our gourmet board costing £10.95 and ample for two.

Because the food we had just eaten couldn’t be bettered.

Simple in its description and presentation it was the ingredients themselves which sung, rendering each mouthful a delight, transforming our al fresco meal into an utter success.

Boards of course are enormously trendy now, an acceptable way of presenting food to be ‘shared’, a new take on finger food and a popular and common menu choice in numerous local restaurants.

But their content and, more importantly, quality varies massively, where the only defining factor should be taste.

1855 understands that, and has obviously hunted high and low for simple ingredients that taste superb, which is why our meal there was so memorable.

The artichoke hearts were juicy and piquant, the oil as important as the vegetable itself, the delicious hunks of bread perfect for the delicious manchego cheese and the chilli jelly, the marinated peppers, sweet and soft, perfect with the sharp rocket salad and pungent olives, all beautifully presented by our cheerful waitress.

As the shadows reached us and the afternoon drifted away, we reluctantly recognised that it was time to move on, but despite our late departure, it was worth every lost second.

* 1855 also hosts a constant calendar of foodie evenings: On April 13, 7pm - Food & Wine Workshop - An evening of ceviche and otherr Peruvian delicacies - paired with Pisco and wonderful wines.

Peruvian chef extraordinaire, Ronald Tafur of From Peru to You, presents an interactive workshop of cooking and canapes with matching wines for each dish at £40 per person.

June 11, 7pm – Napa Valley vintners mega tasting. Taste the wines, meet the winemakers and learn more about the USA’s most prestigious winemaking region at £20 per person.

1855
Justice walk, Castle Quarter, Oxford, OX1 1AY
www.1855oxford.com