FOOD+DRINK
SHAMPAN
AT THE SPINNING WHEEL
Famed throughout Kent and beyond for its superlative food and hospitality, the contemporary
Shampan at the Spinning Wheel in Westerham was a place we just couldn't wait to visit.
With a menu lovingly created with authentic flavours from the rich culinary heritage of
the Indian subcontinent, dazzling interiors and a buzzing atmosphere, Shampan at the
Spinning Wheel is truly a destination restaurant. by Adam Ready
Whether you choose a lounge table for a few
bottles of bubbly or fabulous cocktails, the dining
room for a sharing platter or intimate meal, or a
private room for a business lunch or family gettogether, Shampan will not fail to impress.
dishes of griddle-seared king scallops, cumin
peas, cauliflower purée, a chicken tikka and large
grilled freshwater king prawns with smoked garlic
and dill leaves. Presentation and taste of each
were divine!
The Shampan Group has recently won yet
another leading accolade with a top award at
the British Curry Awards 2015 for Best in the
South East. This was the Shampan Group's 5th
award with previous years' wins in Best
Newcomer and Outer London Suburbs.
Main courses took slightly longer than anticipated
to choose, with the fine dining options looking
very appealing, paired with the lure of traditional
dishes like a korma and vindaloo. I decided to
order from the à la carte menu and asked for
the slow braised leg of Kentish lamb ‘salli’ w ith
straw potatoes and biryani rice. The lamb was
baked in its jus, tenderly served resting on fried
onions, lamb mince and aromatic spiced sauce.
Entering the stylishly decorated restaurant to a
genuinely warm welcome, it was clear to see
that no expense had been spared on the décor.
Mood lighting and luxurious wall tiles
complimented the dark wooden features, and
provided a fresh yet cosy backdrop to the clusters
of tables and booths that can cater for intimate
dates to large parties.
Soon after taking our seats, my guests and I
were served a basket of mixed popadoms and
chutneys while we perused the extensive menu.
We decided the best approach was to pick a
different starter each so we could all get a chance
to dive into the table’s offerings. We enjoyed
Also from the à la carte menu, my guest (a
massive fish lover) went for the seared haddock
with a ginger and coconut sauce and coconut
rice. The fillets garnished with crab meat and
kokum spices, drizzled with a fresh ginger and
coconut sauce with a hint of chilli, were simply
perfect.
The final dish to arrive at the table was the Punjabi
red spiced chicken breast with sautéed spinach.
The Tandoori chicken breast was marinated in
sweet Kashmiri chilli, served with a slow-cooked
79
tomato and fenugreek sauce. With side dishes
of saag aloo, mushroom rice and garlic naan,
the meal was now under way.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another
thing, our waiter arrived with the dessert menu.
We couldn’t resist and decided to share the
chocolate samosa served with vanilla ice cream
which was truly delectable, washed down with
coffee and orange flavoured Shampan
chocolates.
With a four-course tasting menu also on offer at
the reasonable price of £29.90pp, Shampan has
it all. You can see why Shampan continues to
pick up award after award and is truly on the
Kent eateries map!
Shampan at the Spinning Wheel
Grays Road
Westerham
TN16 2HX
01959 572 622
[email protected]
www.shampangroup.com
@ShampanGroup