insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 05 - July 2015 | Page 63
getaways
The menu is traditional, offering seasonal dishes governed by produce
from the garden and local area. The starter menu boasted a spring garden
salad; flaked Dorset cock crab; hand dived Orkney scallops; tasting of
Gravetye smoked salmon; Heritage tomatoes and Ewe’s cheese; and
a pressing of Rougie foie gras, then for the main event: poached south
coast Lemon Sole; fillet of Cornish Turbot; roasted breast of confit thigh of
Guinea fowl; carved crown and faggot of Squab pigeon; and seared loin
steak of aged beef.
After coffee in front of the fire, it was time for a moonlight stroll through
the garden. There had been a light rain that afternoon, and the breeze
brought forth the mesmerising perfume. We could have stayed there for
hours watching the flora dance in the moonlight, but the open fire seemed
to be calling from within and I’m not one to argue.
It would be easy to rely solely on the tranquillity and ambience of the
house, or the sublime perfection of the garden, the romance and history
of the house and grounds, or the truly amazing dining experience; any
one of these would give cause to stay. But Gravetye Manor offers all of
this and more. This is, without a doubt, the very pinnacle of what a Manor
house getaway should be.
Desserts included forced rhubarb soufflé and hazelnut crème brulée, to
name but a few.
Though the à la carte choices looked spectacular, the night’s set dinner
appealed to me even more, and I was not disappointed. The starter of
ham hock, dressed with a soy and sesame reduction with radish and rice
cracker, was light and tasty. Then my main of pan-friend pavé of salmon
was simply divine, served with fresh Jersey Royals, sauté squid, fresh
spinach and a shellfish cream sauce.
The Lemon tart rounded the meal off, served with mixed berries and
raspberry sorbet to cleanse the palate. To describe my meal, I could
have used a host of words like decadent, rich, mouth-watering (the usual
barrage), but words simply can’t do justice to this meal. If you are a
‘foodie’, I implore you: book now, you will be amazed.
Gravetye Manor
Vowels Lane
West Hoathly
RH19 4LJ
01342 810567
[email protected]
@
www.gravetyemanor.c ˝Z