Lunch, Chewton Glen, Hampshire
Chewton Glen is located just outside of Highcliffe on the south coast. The hotel and grounds are stunning and when we visited at the end of July, we were lucky enough to experience them in the summer sun. Glorious.
For lunch, we were taken through to The Dining Room which has wonderful views over the grounds. We were eating off the Estate Menu which is a set menu. This menu offers 2 courses for £25 or 3 courses for £32 per person. Drinks are not included. We were having lunch to celebrate my husbands birthday and when we arrived at The Dining Room, he was presented with a birthday card that had been signed by the team. A lovely touch.
The Pot Roast Quail with Roast Walnut & Chicory was bursting with flavour. The meat was extremely tender and fell off the bone.
Pot Roast Quail with Roast Walnut & Chicory
The other starter we ordered was the Chalk Steamed Trout Rillettes with Buttermilk, Dill and Toasted English Muffin. The trout was the most beautiful colour and again very flavourful. If I was to choose again though, I would have picked the Quail over the Trout because it was just so succulent and tasty.
Chalk Steamed Trout Rillettes with Buttermilk, Dill and Toasted English Muffin
On to mains and my husband ordered the Cold Poached Scottish Salmon with Ratte Potato, Asparagus and Cucumber. The salmon was very nicely cooked but the accoutrements weren't that 'exciting'. They just seemed to be very safe if that makes sense? However, we did order a side of Truffled Mash, which was to die for and really livened up this dish.
Cold Poached Scottish Salmon with Ratte Potato, Asparagus and Cucumber
On to my main and I chose the Roast Fillet of Sea Bream with Pea Fricassee, Fowley Mussels and Salsa Verde, which for me, was the best dish of the entire meal. I would go back for time and time again just for this dish. Every element of the dish was pure perfection and I honestly could not fault it at all. Bravo on this dish Chewton Glen.
Roast Fillet of Sea Brea with Pea Fricassee, Fowley Mussels and Salsa Verde
The dessert course is where I feel Chewton Glen really disappointed. Which is such a shame as dessert is the best part of a meal for me. I ordered the Summer Berry Terrine with Lime Leaf Chantilly and Pimm's Sorbet which was rather bland if you ate any of the element on it's own. When you combined everything, there was taste, but it just didn't quite cut it for me. Which was a real shame. I didn't really think the Pimm's Sortbet added anything to the dish in terms of flavour. It looked pretty, but that was really about as far as it goes.
Summer Berry Terrine with Lime Leaf Chantilly and Pimm's Sorbet
It was a very similar story for the Iced White Chocolate & Cherry Parfait with a Lemon Crisp and Cherry Syrup. I was expecting to have a silky chocolate dish with a sharp cherry oomph but it just wasn't there. I don't know if they didn't have their normal patisserie chef working, but it just felt so basic vs the rest of the meal, which is so odd for somewhere like Chewton Glen.
Iced White Chocolate & Cherry Parfait with a Lemon Crips and Cherry Syrup
However, as it was my husbands birthday, we were presented with a little chocolate dessert as well. This was actually the tastiest dessert out of all three sweets and again, a nice little touch to make the meal special.
After our meal, I have some mixed feelings about eating at Chewton Glen again. I think their dessert's fell short of the standard you would expect from somewhere like Chewton Glen. Although I would give it a second chance. The service was very good and I liked that the staff had made the extra effort for my husbands birthday.
I'm need a second visit before I can really make my mind up on this one.
(All pictures taken & owned by SistersDineOut unless otherwise stated)
