A secret gem
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| Caramelized chocolate and peanut terrine with lime ice cream |
To round off my Cotswolds trip, the Sir Charles Napier was my final stop before on my way back to London. It is just 10 mins drive from the main motorway in the countryside of Chinnor. This gastro pub has a Michelin star to its name as well as a beautiful garden, filled up with sculptors and flowers as well as a helicopter pad, talk about arriving in style. The cooking is British with some innovative touch, diners can choose between a la carte and a tasting menu, which now seems like the standard formula of any current Michelin starred places, no matter if it is a pub or a restaurant.
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| Orkney scallops, pork belly, baby artichokes, golden raisins, curry and nasturtium |
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| Roasted squab pigeon, beetroot, blackberries |
Orkney scallops with pork belly was a remarkable dish, the scallops was cooked to the right level and the pork was as moist as you can get, the interesting addition of curry added a mild sweet spiciness to the finish as well as brought out the freshness of the scallop. The roast pigeon was the highlight of the meal, it was sweet and rich in taste with a lovely deep and earthy aroma. The fruity taste of the blackberries worked perfectly with the powerful flavour of the meat, it was a faultless dish. The main was not as strong on the other hand, the veal could have had a touch more seasoning as it was overshadowed by the sweetbreads. The chocolate and peanut terrine didn't just look pretty but also delivered in taste, it was not overly thick with a lovely hint of nutty aroma.
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| Rose veal, sweetbreads, radish |
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| Banana soufflé |
Overall, it was a lunch that filled me with joy. Apart from the less impressive main dishes, the quality of the cooking was outstanding and it was easy to understand why it was awarded a Michelin star. Beside the cooking, the service was also pretty charming and I just adored the surrounding and the setting, very informal, relaxed but yet felt like I was at a special place. I would be more than happy to return to try its tasting menu to fully experience what The Sir Napier can offer.
Food 4/5
What I paid:
£58 per head with a glass of wine
Average cost without drinks and services:
£50
Sprigs Holly, Chinnor OX39 4BX, United Kingdom
http://www.sircharlesnapier.co.uk/
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