Page 10 - Enjoy-It 2023

EXCLUSIVE? EVERYTHING
AT CHEWTON GLEN IS
EXCLUSIVE...
The new Estate Lunch Menu from Chewton Glen in Hampshire is exclusively available on a Thursday and a Friday, let’s face it that’s nothing new as everything at Chewton Glen is exclusive!
Billed as one of the best hotels in the land, this estate
is one of luxury and class, and is an iconic trend setter. When Chewton Glen deformalised, others followed. When it built in the trees, others followed. When it developed a cookery school, others followed (but to be fair there is only one James Martin!) and when it designs a menu from the estate that is incredibly reasonably priced others will inevitably try to follow, but when it comes to dining, there is only one Chewton Glen!
The Dining Room is a peaceful area in which to enjoy time together and world class dining, inside the bright conservatory overlooking the immaculate gardens, or on the terrace by the swimming pool and newly curated Born Free sculptures discreetly adorning the grounds.
We were once again lucky enough to have one of the most glorious days of the year on which to visit Chewton Glen. The approach set the scene, a meandering drive up to the main entrance past the Kitchen at the gates which was bustling with lunchtime diners, past the discreet Treehouses, Spa and kitchen gardens to the landmark waterfall in the courtyard dripping in summertime blooms, and a welcome that we are fortunate enough to know so well: “Welcome to Chewton Glen!”
Along the main hall past the reception, lounge, the most impressive of flower arrangements and famous bar, to be seated for our Estate Lunch on the terrace.
We had the best service one could wish for, friendly and informed advice on alcoholic and non-alcoholic sparkling, wines and the menu.
This intelligent estate menu offers a choice of three starters, three mains and three desserts. Don’t be fooled by the relatively limited choice, we deliberated for some time before deciding and would have ordered all three choices for each of the three courses if given the chance!
Being that we were on our best Chewton behaviour we ordered the sweet potato and rosemary velouté with Old Winchester Cheese and lovage pesto and the salt baked Heritage beetroot with orange, chicory and Rosary goat’s cheese bonbons. The best simply gets better the velouté velvet smooth, subtly sweet and hearty with freshly baked breads and the beetroot earthy and classically paired with the goat’s cheese, quite remarkable.
The confit duck main was served with all the theatre one would expect, the gravy poured perfectly around the duck which fell apart at the merest touch, the king cabbage and Alsace bacon perfectly prepared and the plum and ginger giving the duck a fruity zest. The
butternut squash and lentil dahl with the most fragrant coconut rice was beautifully served in traditional cast iron pots. The dahl emitting Asian aromas and perfectly paired with the rice.
At this point my guest and I discuss the value of this lunch – and I mean value on so many levels; the time we spent together, the experience and what we learned from the team looking after us and the fiscal value – if you had ever mistakenly ruled out Chewton Glen based on price pre-conceptions think again!
Desserts were quite the creations, the iced banana parfait with caramelised bananas and raspberries was firstly, unique – we have never had such a beautiful dessert of banana and so tasty and textured and the New Forest strawberry pavlova, again beautifully presented, was delicious!
We enjoyed sparkling from Wild Idol, wines from Pure Mirabeau and Torres 2020 Garnacha Syrah Natureo and to bring our exceptional estate lunch to a close coffee and petits fours. A wander across the gardens to see the new Born Free art set in the gardens, just so evocative sharpening one’s senses.
Alas time to head home, smiling, happy and humble. Chewton Glen has a way of making everyone feel special and in turn grateful for all that is magnificent in life – of which it is top of the list!
www.chewtonglen.com
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