TASTE August 2019

Thursday 01 August 2019

From pop-up restaurants serving gourmet classics to modern takes on traditional cooking, Britain continues to welcome new restaurants and food offerings to its already thriving culinary scene. Here are the latest restaurant openings and unveilings for visitors to get their teeth into.

 

Recently opened

 

The Samling, Lake District

 

The luxurious Lake District hotel, The Samling, has relaunched its food offering with the support of new Executive Chef Robby Jenks. Several new fine dining menus now cover lunch and dinner to give guests plenty of options, including a three-course set lunch Table D’Hote menu and The Choice Menu, offering three courses of à la carte dining. Both menus will include a delectable array of seasonal ingredients as well as some from The Samling’s own gardens. Dinner service will include the Choice Menu and a delightful five-course Tasting Menu packed with a unique fusion of cooking styles, flavours and tastes. The lunch menu options are priced at £25 per head for the Table D’Hote menu and £65 per person for the Choice Menu. The Tasting Menu costs £85 per person.

 

Feasts from the Middle East, various locations

 

Comptoir Libanais Group founder Tony Kitous launched Britain’s first high-end large-scale Middle Eastern catering company in June, having partnered with leading events designers Admirable Crichton. Feasts from the Middle East specialises in mezze, small sharable plates of food that aim to showcase the best of Middle Eastern and North African cuisine. The venture aims to bring an array of grilled meats, rice dishes and plant-based delicacies to events, award ceremonies, product launches, weddings and private parties across the UK.

 

The Mantl, Knightsbridge, London

 

Using traditional cooking methods over hot coals to create an authentic Turkish sharing experience, The Mantl in Knightsbridge offers refined food in a sleek, modern setting. Founder Serdar Demir’s carefully curated menu puts a focus on lesser-known Turkish dishes, including Smoked Sheep’s Yogurt, Smoked Eggplant, Feraye and Chargrilled Octopus. The house speciality Lamb Shish is lovingly prepared over four days, while the Pistachio Lamb Chops promise a mix of mouth-watering flavours. Deserts include the restaurant’s own take on Baklava and Chocolate Delights, a twist on Turkish Delight. A set lunch menu with two or three courses is also available at a cost of £14.90 per person and £17.90 per person respectively.

 

The Freemasons at Wiswell, Lancashire

 

To coincide with the opening of new kitchen space, chef owner Steven Smith has launched a selection of exciting new menus at The Freemasons at Wiswell. The award-winning gastropub in the heart of the Ribble Valley in Lancashire now includes Mr Smith’s Table and Bench, offering guests the chance to dine in the heart of the kitchen. The Kitchen Table seats up to 12 – with a minimum of six needed to book – and provides a premium space for guests to try out tasting menus or celebrate special occasions. Meanwhile the Kitchen Bench features four stools in front of the kitchen, enabling guests to watch their meals being made from scratch.

 

Glasshouse at the Gherkin, London

 

In partnership with Perrier-Jouët Champagne, the Iris Bar at the top of the Gherkin has been transformed into a luscious botanical greenhouse. With splendid views of the River Thames, all of level 40 has become an oasis of greenery where guests can try an inspired seasonal menu, a delightful array of botanical gin cocktails and Champagne pairings by Perrier-Jouët. Glasshouse at the Gherkin runs until 1 September.

 

High Tea at the Orangery, Rockliffe Hall, Yorkshire

 

Rockliffe Hall’s flagship 4AA Rosette restaurant, The Orangery, has launched an indulgent afternoon tea experience. Executive chef Richard Allen’s offering includes an abundance of sweet and savoury treats and takes inspiration from the restaurant’s tasting and à la carte evening dinners. Expect a modern take on a traditional favourite, as the menu includes Duck Egg Mayonnaise and Cured Cumbrian open sandwiches, Warm Whitby Crab and Wensleydale Cheese Tart with Garden Chard and Raspberry Short Bread with Rockliffe Estate Honey and Candied Lemon, all served with loose leaf tea or fresh coffee. The Orangery High Tea is available daily between 1pm and 3pm for £35 per person. A Champagne Tea, including a glass of Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut, is priced at £49 per person.

 

Mahé Cookery School, Padstow

 

Chef Paul Ainsworth and wife Emma have continued to put their stamp on Cornwall’s culinary scene with the launch of their fourth venture in Padstow, the Mahé Cookery School. With space for up to five guests to hone their kitchen skills under the guidance of Michelin-starred executive chef John Walton, the kitchen will provide a range of courses including Pasta Masterclass, Bistro Cooking, Dinner Party Secrets and Sugar and Spice. From learning the essentials to making authentic Italian pasta, knowing how to create restaurant quality dishes at home and designing eye-catching deserts, each class will include one-to-one teaching and a wealth of expert advice. The adjoining Michelin-starred No. 6 restaurant, Mahé, will offer its cookery lessons during the day and a bespoke culinary experience at the Chef’s Table, capable of seating six guests in the evenings. A range of classes can be booked in the remainder of 2019, with prices ranging between £195 and £275 per person.

 

Boringdon Hall Hotel, Devon

 

The five-star country hotel Boringdon Hall launched its Tasting Menu to Remember package in June, giving guests the opportunity to transform their special memories into a bespoke culinary experience. The package includes the creation of a five-course tasting menu with matched wines from head chef Scott Paton to be enjoyed in the intimate surroundings of The Gallery dining room, an overnight stay in one of the hotel’s luxury suites, a welcome gift and a 60-minute treatment each at the hotel’s luxury Gaia Spa for £975 per couple. Each menu will be unique to each couple and will feature an array of skilfully executed dishes and seasonal local produce.

 

The Furnace Kitchen, Ironbridge Gorge Museums

 

Celebrity chef Marcus Bean launched the Furnace Kitchen at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums at Coalbrookdale in late July, offering a variety of brunch, lunch and snack options. Mixing British classics and European cuisine, visitors will be able to sample homemade cakes and tasty light bites, as well as fresh oven-roasted pizzas from the on-site pizza oven. Open to museum visitors and the public every day from 8.30am to 5pm, as well as on selected evenings, the restaurant is located in the former Long Warehouse of the historic Coalbrookdale Company, once the loading bay for rail wagons.

 

Bill’s Baker Street, London

 

Having undergone an extensive transformation, Bill’s Restaurant and Bar opened another new-look London restaurant in June at Bill’s Baker Street. Modern décor and luxurious seating have been combined with an enhanced evening menu, packed with cocktails and delicious treats. Seasonal additions include Steak and Rarebit Pie and Vegan Black Bean Chilli, while the cocktail menu features favourites such as a Coconut and Raspberry Daiquiri and an Apple and Elderflower Collins.

 

New menus

 

Little Kolkata, Covent Garden, London

 

To celebrate the sunshine, popular Bengali restaurant Little Kolkata has introduced a brand new seasonal menu. With more than 20 new dishes and a fresh summer drinks menu to sample, guests can choose from highlights including spicy jumbo prawn with coconut cream and green chilli, and beetroot croquettes with green chutney. Hidden away behind bustling Covent Garden, and with a restorative range of summery cocktails including spiced gin, Campari and Martini Rosso on offer, this little gem is the perfect spot to savour authentic Bengali cuisine in the heart of London.

 

Patisserie Valerie, nationwide

 

Sweet-toothed staple Patisserie Valerie has started the first stage of its redevelopment with a brand new summer menu. Focusing on ethical produce, fine ingredients and creativity, diners can choose from a range of tasty treats such as strawberry gateau with vanilla sponge, whipped cream and fresh strawberries.  With a brand new cold drinks range produced with British drinks brand Cawston Press, a new all-day brunch menu, and a wide range of plant-based and vegetarian options, the new menu is the sweetest way to savour summer.

 

Coming soon

 

Story by the Sea, Carbis Bay, Cornwall

 

Critically acclaimed chef Tom Sellers and the team from Restaurant Story are relocating to the Cornish coast for six weeks from early August. The exclusive residency in Carbis Bay, titled Story by the Sea, promises a delicious five or six-course menu that takes inspiration from the ocean and Cornwall’s incredible surroundings, alongside a carefully crafted cocktail menu. Restaurant Story also intends to work alongside ocean campaigners Parley to remove 50 tonnes of plastic from the seas during the residency at the Carbis Bay Estate, by creating a series of limited edition upcycled tote bags. Running from 2 August to 14 September, the pop-up restaurant will be open every day throughout that period. Experience the set five-course lunch menu from £95 and the six-course dinner menu from £125 per person.

 

Kindling, Brighton

 

Opening in September, ‘land-sea-fire’ concept Kindling promises to deliver a range of delicious vegetarian, ethically-sourced meat and sustainable fish dishes under the mantra “good food, done well”. Created by husband and wife team Ramin and Jane Mostowfi, the duo behind ground-breaking vegetarian restaurant Food for Friends, the restaurant will feature reclaimed wood, elegant décor and a wood-fired grill, for an ethical dining experience with style.

For more information contact:

Patrycja Woda

patrycja.woda@visitbritain.org

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Feasts from the Middle East
Feasts from the Middle East
The Mantl
The Mantl
The Mantl
The Mantl
The Mantl
Little Kolkata
Little Kolkata
Little Kolkata
Little Kolkata
Little Kolkata
Kindling
Patisserie Valerie
Patisserie Valerie
Patisserie Valerie
Patisserie Valerie