Located inside the ABode hotel in Canterbury lies one of Michael Caines renowned fine dining restaurants. Serving classic dishes with modern twists, the restaurant is simply stylish, creating a comfortable atmosphere.
We chose to sample the tasting menu with wine pairing, which began with pan fried scallops served with roasted cauliflower, apple and curry foam. This unusual take on a traditional scallop dish was delicious and not at all overpowering, allowing the delicate flavour of the scallops to shine. This dish was accompanied by a glass of Cave de Hunawihr, Pinot Blanc Reserve, 2010.
The next course was ham hock and duck liver terrine served with soused vegetables and mixed herb salad. The terrine itself was rich and extremely tasty, perfectly accompanied by a its simple sides. This was served with a glass of Izadi Rioja Blanco, Villabuena, 2011.
“The different lamb dishes combined beautifully to show off the wonderful flavours.”
The third course was a dish of sea bass served with baby potatoes, coco beans and bouillabaisse sauce. Another simple dish, the sea bass flavour was the main component of the dish, and it didn’t disappoint. The coca beans made an unusual addition to the meal but worked well with the sauce. This dish was accompanied by a glass of Lois 2011 Gruner Veltliner Fred Loimer.
The final main dish was a course of Romney Marsh lamb shepherds pie served with Provençal crusted lamb loin, sweetbread, fennel and pea and mint ragou. The different lamb dishes combined beautifully to show off the wonderful flavours. This dish was also well paired with Chianti Superiore 2009, Tuscany, Italy.
Finally, we were served an orange soufflé for dessert, served with orange confit sorbet. Well prepared and beautifully served, the soufflé was light and fluffy and held it’s shape while we were served our accompanying glass of Moscato d’Asti ‘Lumine’ 2009. This high quality was reflected throughout the meal and mirrors the quality that we always experience when visiting a Michael Caines restaurant.
The Bill: £55 per head
