7th July 2007
Fine Dining in Suffolk
Hidden away in the village of Bildeston is a gem of a restaurant called The Crown, which is located within The Crown Hotel. I heard about it from the Sous chef there, Duncan, and his photos and descriptions of the dishes they create were enough for me to persuade Alex to take a day off work and head up to Suffolk for a decadent night away.
Before our visit, Duncan asked me if there was any food that I didn't like.after I emailed him the long list he suggested we eat elsewhere! But he couldn't get rid of us that easily.
We arrived in Bildeston late-afternoon and checked into the hotel. Before our meal we decided to have a drink in the bar. A glass of Veuve seemed in order. We were given the dinner menu to peruse whilst relaxing with our champagne, and decided that we had to try the "Chef's Seven Course Tasting Menu" - each course would be a mystery until it appeared before us. Duncan popped into the bar to say hello and not long after a couple more glasses of champers appeared, courtesy of the chef - very nice indeed.
So, we moved into the restaurant and were given a huge table all for ourselves. We were the first ones in the dining room that evening (and the last ones to leave!). We felt like we were given the VIP treatment from start to finish - the young staff were professional and friendly, the restaurant manager was very personable, and the food was excellent.
The seven course menu grew into 8 courses.and could have grown even bigger but we had to yell stop - we were full! Presentation was top class and the combinations of flavours were well thought out and successful on all counts. Alex opted for the matched wines as well and was very impressed by the great range he got to sample.
Here is what we ate:
- Ceviche of Scallop & Summer Truffle, Scallop Ginger & Lime Tartare, Cauliflower Puree, Oyster Dressing
- Slow Cooked Quail, Braised Puy Lentils, Fried Quails Egg, Smoked Bacon Froth
- Suffolk Brown Shrimp Risotto, Grilled Sardine, Lobster, Bisque Sauce
- Breast of 'Label Anglaise' Chicken, Boudin Blanc, Seared Foie Gras, Truffle, Local Asparagus
- Roast Fillet of Turbot, Butterbean Pancetta & Confit Tomato Stew, Braised Oxtail, Vanilla oil, Horseradish Air
- Cannon of The Bosses Lamb, Shoulder & Red Onion Cannelloni, Dauphinoise/Boulangere Potato, Glazed Sweetbreads, Broad beans & Peas
- Warm Rhubarb Compote, Poached Rhubarb, Hot Rhubarb Jellies, Champagne Sabayon
- Peanut Butter Parfait, Pistachio Florentines, Morello Cherry Sorbet, Crackle Crystals, Caramel Marshmallow, Bitter Chocolate Oil
My favourite courses were the 1st and the last. The melt-in-your-mouth slivers of scallop were perfectly matched with the slight crunch of the summer truffle. And that Peanut Butter Parfait was really delicious, not to mention the sorbet which had 'crackle crystals' hidden underneath it - the way they pop and crackle in your mouth adds another dimension to the dish.
Our meal at The Crown was fantastic - one of the top 5 culinary experiences we have had in the UK to date. Highly recommended for a decadent night away.
Loading...
Add your comment
Post to facebook
Share with friends
(18/18 found this review helpful)
