IT'S BEEN a long time since we were truly blown away by the sort of food which we once described as rock 'n' roll.

That was in the glory days of Nomad; a funky concept, fusing Asian and Latin American flavours with a dynamic energy.

Have we hit upon that passion in Catch at Appley?

We were expecting seafood yet, among the molluscs and monkfish, we discovered oriental duck and tomahawk steak, plus more avant garde ingredients like bone marrow and pigs ears.

The sesame-seared tuna loin was perfect; beautifully balanced. This dish, with its smoky Asian slaw, was instantly satisfying.

The fish itself was amazingly soft and gentle; well matched by its companion flavours. Wasabi is a powerful ingredient that is easy to get wrong, but here it was thoughtfully done; tasty without drama.

Pigs' ear salad was a wellexecuted dish, with the lugholes finely shredded and imbued with a sweet, almost caramelised note. It was served as a decent caesar salad, with a creamy dressing and plenty of parmesan shavings.

The cheese shreds made another appearance on the "rock and roll fries".

These crunchy chips were additionally seasoned with a good dose of that musty truffle flavour which Cat is particularly partial to.

Yet more dairy arrived in the form of cheese souffle, just-out-of-the-oven hot, its yielding brown crust giving way to steaming rich innards. Another excellent dish.

We couldn't get enough of Catch, so ordered afters to prolong the pleasure.

Both puddings were delightful.

The beurre noisette chocolate ganache was everything you want in an indulgent dessert; smooth, intense and delicious.

Poached rhubarb had heritage pudding flashbacks with its oldschool blancmange vibe, but it was far from school dinners.

Simple ingredients turned into a fruity, creamy bliss.

We should not have been surprised by the quality and imagination of the food at Catch, as the hand behind the tiller is Ashley Randall, the celebrated chef who took over the reins at Ventnor's prestigious Hambrough in 2019.

He's swapped his view of the south seas for the northern Solent, and we highly recommend that you also make the journey to Catch. You'll be hooked!

Matt and Cat's Bill:
Truffle fries £5

Vegetable side £5

Cheese Souffle £9

Chicken skewers £9

Seared Tuna £11

Pigs' ear salad £16

Dessert 2 x £7.50 = £15 

Total £70