Discover the Alford Arms' delicious seasonal menu in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where fresh, locally sourced ingredients inspire every dish.
Begin your culinary journey with starters that perfectly balance traditional comforts and innovative flavors. The bubble and squeak with oak-smoked bacon, free-range poached egg, and hollandaise sauce is a hearty delight that combines rustic British flavors with a creamy sauce. For a warming, spiced option, the cumin spiced butternut squash soup paired with a crisp onion bhaji provides a fragrant start. Freshness shines in the heritage tomato panzanella salad, enhanced with char-grilled courgette, while the St. Ives smoked trout, accompanied by new potatoes, wholegrain mustard salad, and pickled elderflower, offers a refined seafood starter. Cheese lovers will appreciate the whipped Wobbly Bottom Farm goats’ cheese served with peas, mint, and soused red onion. Classic tastes are well represented in the Caesar salad featuring baby gem lettuce, croutons, parmesan, and anchovies. And for those craving a charcuterie experience, the Chiltern ham hock terrine with celeriac rémoulade, cornichons, and sourdough is a must-try.
Mains That Satisfy Every Palate
The Alford Arms' main courses showcase a diverse range of options, from indulgent to vegetarian. The free-range pork Holstein is a standout, presented with sweet potato chips, a free-range hen’s egg, capers, anchovies, and sherry jus, marrying rich flavors with elegant presentation. Seafood enthusiasts will enjoy the pan-roast Newlyn haddock fillet served on a classic Niçoise salad, a light yet satisfying choice. Vegetarians can indulge in the imam bayildi and chickpeas with spiced raisin and almond couscous, accompanied by refreshing mint yoghurt. The courgette, potato, and spring onion rösti is a delightful medley with thyme artichokes, bucksum leaves, and a tangy tomato vinaigrette. The Field mushroom-stuffed Potash Farm free-range chicken breast pairs creamy polenta with crisp broccoli and roasted red onion for a hearty dish. Today’s locally made free-range sausages offer a comforting classic, while the king prawn linguine blends smoked bacon, sun-dried tomato, garlic, and chili for a flavorful pasta option. For a bold vegetarian choice, the Bombay spiced roast cauliflower with coriander basmati rice and pea pakoras delivers vibrant spices and textures. Steak lovers will relish the char-grilled aged 10oz rib-eye, finished with slow-roast garlic butter and served alongside skinny chips.
Decadent Desserts to Complete Your Meal
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a selection of exquisite desserts crafted to impress. The lemon posset served with polenta shortbread and fresh raspberries offers a zesty, silky finish. The warm chocolate brownie is a decadent treat paired with vanilla ice cream and drizzled in salted caramel sauce. For something uniquely indulgent, try the iced banana parfait with peanut butter, chocolate crumble, and lime jelly. The local elderflower poached English strawberries come with a delicate coconut tuile and clotted cream, while the warm apple and gooseberry strudel is a comforting classic served with Chantilly cream. You can also enjoy homemade ice creams in strawberry, vanilla, or chocolate flavors, alongside refreshing sorbets in coconut, raspberry, or mint. To round out your experience, the British cheese plate with wafers and red onion chutney provides a savory end to your meal, or opt for the simple pleasure of an affogato espresso with vanilla ice cream.
Drinks and Specials to Elevate Your Visit
Complement your meal with an expertly curated selection of wines, beers, and cocktails that perfectly match the refined yet cozy atmosphere of the Alford Arms. The gastropub also features daily specials that rotate monthly, allowing guests to explore exciting new flavors or stick with beloved classics, ensuring every visit offers something fresh and memorable.
- Starters - Bubble and Squeak with Oak-Smoked Bacon, Free-Range Poached Egg, Hollandaise Sauce; Cumin Spiced Butternut Squash Soup with Onion Bhaji; Heritage Tomato Panzanella Salad with Char-Grilled Courgette; St. Ives Smoked Trout with New Potato and Wholegrain Mustard Salad, Pickled Local Elderflower; Whipped Wobbly Bottom Farm Goats’ Cheese with Peas, Mint, Soused Red Onion; Classic Caesar Salad with Baby Gem, Croutons, Parmesan, Anchovies; Chiltern Charcuterie Plate with Ham Hock Terrine, Celeriac Rémoulade, Cornichons, Sourdough.
- Mains - Imam Bayildi and Chickpeas with Spiced Raisin and Almond Couscous, Mint Yoghurt; Free-Range Pork Holstein with Sweet Potato Chips, Hen’s Egg, Capers, Anchovies, Sherry Jus; Pan-Roast Newlyn Haddock Fillet on Classic Niçoise Salad; Courgette, Potato, Spring Onion Rösti with Thyme Artichokes, Bucksum Leaves, Tomato Vinaigrette; Field Mushroom Stuffed Potash Farm Free-Range Chicken Breast with Creamed Polenta, Broccoli, Roast Red Onion; Today’s Locally Made Free-Range Sausages; King Prawn Linguine with Smoked Bacon, Sun-Dried Tomato, Garlic, Chilli; Bombay Spiced Roast Cauliflower with Coriander Basmati Rice and Pea Pakoras; Char-Grilled Aged 10oz Rib-Eye Steak with Slow-Roast Garlic Butter, Skinny Chips.
- Desserts - Lemon Posset with Polenta Shortbread, Raspberries; Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream, Salted Caramel Sauce; Iced Banana Parfait with Peanut Butter, Chocolate Crumble, Lime Jelly; Local Elderflower Poached English Strawberries with Coconut Tuile, Clotted Cream; Warm Apple and Gooseberry Strudel with Chantilly Cream; Homemade Ice Cream (Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate); Homemade Sorbets (Coconut, Raspberry, Mint); British Cheese Plate with Wafers, Red Onion Chutney; Affogato Espresso and Vanilla Ice Cream.
