We’ve been meaning to visit this pub for ages. A local chef with good contacts around the area recommended it to us a year or two ago and last Sunday we finally made good our promise to try it out.
Set on the corner of a quiet residential area of Faversham the pub looks out over what I assume to be Faversham Creek and surrounding marshes. On sunny days like last Sunday customers take advantage of the various tables set out on the stepped terraces. We decided to take our Elderflower Fizz cocktails (elderflower cordial and Prosecco) down to the large garden while junior Pumpkin played on some rather rickety play equipment.
Inside we were greeted by a woman who was dressed more like a ballet teacher than a front-of-house but she did fit the surroundings. I would describe the decor as refined shabby-chic with muted cream walls, wooden floorboards and mis-matched wooden furniture. Jars of fresh lilies and trinkets are dotted around the various dining areas, while a selection of safari photos adourn the walls.
The food is likewise wholesome yet stylish. Home-made bread was served in an enamel pie dish while very fresh, moist small prawns arrived in an enamel pint mug with accompanying aioli. Our other starter was a mixed mezze and included a wonderfully smoky baba ganoush.
For main course I chose the plaice and was presented with three very plump pan-fried fillets in a rich chive butter sauce served with wafer-thin courgettes, samphire, sugar snaps and new potatoes. John had the local mullet with courgettes and tomato sauce which was again a generous portion of very fresh fish beautifully cooked. Junior Pumpkin had a child’s portion of roast lamb which they presented inside a giant Yorkshire pudding.
To round things off I chose a rhubarb and ginger ice cream with a crisp almond biscuit. The mix of flavours was wonderful – neither the rhubarb nor ginger was overpowering but instead mingled into a new, very refreshing flavour. John had the buttermilk and elderflower pudding with fresh raspberries which provided the flavour of elderflower and the texture of set yoghurt while junior Pumpkin struggled with a home-made Valhrona chocolate ice cream which was very dark, very bitter and very delicious.
Our chef with contacts always provides good recommendations and this was no exception. We must get in touch with him again soon to find out what his latest find is.
17/07/2009 at 10:08 am |
Hi Deborah,
Remember me, I was on the food writing course last autumn and have a catering company in Winchester?
Your blog site has inspired me to get my act together (better late than never!) and since we now have a new web site I thought let’s do it!
I am just writing my first blog and have come back to yours to see what sort of thing I should be talking about. I am going to have to be very strict about keeping it updated as I know I go off the boil quite quickly!
Hope your summer is going ok? We are quieter this year, however, events are coming in a lot later and It has made me more proactive with marketting etc.
Good to hear how you are sometime. Kind regards Kaye.