insideKENT Magazine Issue 51 - June 2016 | Page 41

FOOD+DRINK SUNDAY LUNCH Fit for a Queen It was on a beautiful early summer Sunday afternoon that I found myself driving up the leafy, winding drive to the beautiful Eastwell Manor. Situated just a short distance from Ashford in the heart of the Eastwell Park estate, Eastwell Manor sits proudly at the end of the gravel drive, amongst perfectly sculptured lawns, carefully tended gardens and in the midst of glorious countryside views, like a hidden gem enclosed in its high brick perimeter walls. The bright summer rays only added to the stunning views and to the splendor and allure of the grand manor house. BY SAMANTHA G Eastwell Manor's origins date back as far as the Domesday Book, with a rich and varied history of regal connections. Queen Victoria frequently stayed at the house, visiting her grandchildren. The Manor is simply delightful – the ornate stonework, the imposing grandeur, the stunning grounds and views and the wonderfully warm welcome from the dedicated team with a passion for faultless customer service and standards – it is no surprise as to why this is a such a popular place, not just for visiting royalty! And of course with head chef Neil Wiggins' inspired team at the helm in the restaurant, my guests and I needed no persuasion to return, especially when we were able to combine the delight of a family Sunday lunch with the plush comfortable dining room, fresh Kentish produce and traditional modern British menu. Escorted to our corner table to the sounds of the relaxed jazz tinkling on the ivories from the resident pianist, it was apparent that the Sunday lunch appeal wasn’t solely ours. A host of diners also settled into the refined Manor Restaurant dining room and perused the lunch menu, from which my guests and I had soon chosen the carrot soup and the pork terrine to start. The soup was rich, smooth and creamy with a tastebud-tingling hint of spice and warmth and was soon devoured not just by my older guest, but by the youngest too with calls of ‘more please mummy!’ My pork terrine arrived as a thick hearty slab of delicious textures, and the taste of the different cuts hitting the palate was wonderful, offset with sweet beetroot and a fresh piccalilli. But of course our focus was on our main course. After seeing the silver service trolley calling at neighbouring tables, my guest opted for the roast pork, which came plated with crisp roast potatoes, braised red cabbage, carrots and green beans; whilst I, (swayed by the trolley), and my younger guests opted for the roast sirloin of beef which is carved table side, meaning that portions could be adjusted for the little ones and also allowing diners to choose how they would like their meat cooked. The tender, flavoursome beef was served with roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding and a rich red wine jus as well as seasonal vegetables. It wasn’t long before my guests decided that pudding was necessary, and after much decision making and agreements to share we opted for the vanilla crème brûlée, the lemon tart and the sticky toffee pudding. My guest’s brûlée was just as it should be with just the right amount of vanilla, and the honey Madeleine certainly didn’t last long enough to share! The lemon tart was sharp and zingy, offset by the delightful raspberry sorbet – this was the clear summer dish of the three, but I claimed pudding winner with my sticky toffee pudding. The rich, sweet-sticky pudding was awash with hot butterscotch sauce and cool vanilla ice cream; batting away the waiting spoons it was almost instantly devoured. 41 Talk was easy around the cosy round table (when we paused from the lunch before us), drinks flowed from the attentive maitre d’ and the dulcet piano melodies were wonderful. Once lunch was finished we were able to venture out of the archway door to the grounds beyond where we ambled around the Maid’s Garden, the Rose Garden and the fountain whilst the girls ran carefree amongst the tall hedges – a perfect end to a perfect Sunday afternoon at the Manor. Eastwell Manor, Hotel, Spa & Golf Eastwell Park Boughton Lees Ashford TN25 4HR 01233 213000 [email protected] www.eastwellmanor.co.uk @EastwellManor /eastwell.manor