insideKENT Magazine Issue 59 - February 2017 | Page 69

FOOD + DRINK
IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN :

THE CORNER HOUSE , CANTERBURY

by Sarah Green
CANTERBURY IS A BIT OF A HOTSPOT WHEN IT COMES TO GREAT DINING , BUT THAT SHOULDN ’ T WORRY CHEF OWNER MATT SWORDER – THE CORNER HOUSE REALLY IS A LEAGUE APART .
The Corner House is in a building that dates from 1570 . This charming setting starts any dining experience here off on a good note – the atmosphere of the past is most definitely still there , but the décor and styling of the restaurant offers a contemporary twist – the theatre of the open kitchen , for example , is a fun aspect that certainly creates a talking point .
The menu is one of those small but perfectly formed ones . Everything on it reads as being totally delicious , and any more choice than what is given would mean an evening spent reading rather than eating . We started with some nibbles consisting of some crunchy ‘ proper pork scratchings ’ and marinated olives . Because why not ? Skipping over the pre-starter when enjoying the extra course allowed us to watch a bit more cooking ( and sample one of the ‘ Seven Deadly Gins ’). Plus it was all very tasty indeed .
After deciding that we just had to have a bottle of Chapel Down wine to go with our meal , our starters arrived . Beetroot-cured salmon was something I had never tried before , and I have to admit to enjoying every last mouthful – the salmon was succulent and held all of its flavour and the sweetness of the beetroot helped it along . My partner went for the soup of the day : ‘ beautiful cauliflower with roasted florets ’. Now , he isn ’ t normally one for a soup , particularly one that contains no meat at all , but he couldn ’ t resist the sound of this one .
To the mains . When there is pork , beef , pheasant , fish and duck all on one menu , it is basically impossible to make the wrong choice , but it does make it a hard one . Fresh from his salad starter , my partner opted for the steak . That ’ s steak with triple cooked chips . He went for the sirloin served with confit garlic , shallot and thyme rub , and the smell that drifted across the table was divine . However , my beef and mushroom suet pudding was just as divine , and between us we managed everything that was put in front of us .
Dessert includes a little something for everyone – even for those without a sweet tooth there is a mighty cheeseboard . We do , however , have sweet teeth , and so opted for the crème brûlée , and the Corner House ’ s homemade brown bread ice cream . As desserts go , these oh so pretty , and utterly , devilishly delicious ones were the perfect way to round of a stunning meal ( especially the ice cream !).
The Corner House , Canterbury , has a lot going for it , and the one thing it won ’ t do is leave you hungry .
The Corner House Canterbury 1 Dover Street Canterbury CT1 2NA 01227 780793 www . cornerhouserestaurants . co . uk
cornerhousekent cornerhousecanterbury cornerhousecanterbury
69