Fine dining in a gastropub
Quail, black pudding, leek, apples |
Once again, I am back at Wild Rabbit for the 6th time. The gastropub in Cotswolds is one of my to go venue whenever I visit the Cotswolds for holiday. The restaurant is all about using top grade local British ingredients to create something that is refined but yet with a touch of classic old-school British vibe. Alyn Williams is now chef patron at the restaurant, with a new tasting menu installed and now at the Wild Rabbit for a few months, I was excited to see how the cooking has progressed. In a large group, we have managed to order pretty much everything on the menu.
Pork cheek |
Tomatoes, crab, burrata |
Daylesford market garden salad |
Cornish plaice, pea ravioli, ricotta |
Côte de bœuf |
My starter of Norfolk quail was one of the stands out starters of the year for me, the quail was tender and I really enjoyed the black pudding element which added a nice touch of texture and it was almost like a seasoning to the meat, with the apple offered a soft freshness. The main of Yorkshire grouse is what game season is all about, the heavy game taste was balanced off nicely with the sweet plum, it was a dish of finely balance of sweet and earthy taste. I normally would avoid steak in a restaurant and leave it to a steakhouse, but the Côte de bœuf was truly heavenly. The meat was so moist and loaded with so much smoky, charred and umami flavours with a mildly sweet honey finish, the quality of the steak was exceptional and better than even the like of Goodman.
Stone bass, courgette, caviar, lemongrass |
Yorkshire grouse, parfit, plums, celeriac |
South Devon beef rib eye new season garlic chip, spinach, tartare |
Salted caramel, peanut butter, puffyed pastry |
Peach, raspberries, white chocolate |
The a la carte experience was very different compared to the tasting menu I had last time. The dishes were generally richer and more in line with gastropub style dish presentation. Personally, I am more of a fan of the tasting menu format and that is something I would go for again when I return. The locals are lucky to have such a talented chef like Alyn heading up such a lovely gastropub in Kingham, I would suspect it is only a matter of time before it will get a Michelin star.
Food 4/5
What I paid:
£75 per head with wine
Average cost without drinks and services:
Tasting menu: £65
Church St, Kingham, Chipping Norton OX7 6YA
https://thewildrabbit.co.uk/
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