FOOD + DRINK
inside THE KITCHEN :
CAVE
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A TRIO OF DINING CONCEPTS UNDERPINNED BY SENSATIONAL FLAVOURS
Secluded , luxurious and with an exciting air of exclusivity , Cave Hotel & Resort in Boughton just outside of Canterbury is a Kent foodie destination in its own right . Looking for the perfect encapsulation of what Cave stands for , there is no better poster child than its signature restaurant , Firepit , a dimly lit , oak-beamed dining room , alongside sister offerings , the Korean Cowgirl , where you ’ ll find the reimagined flavours of East meets West at three restaurant locations ( Cave , Canterbury ’ s Riverside complex and Camden in London ), and The Cheeky Ramen , where you ’ ll find authentic Japanese ramen served up at both Canterbury ’ s Riverside complex and in north-west London ’ s Chalk Farm Road .
For those of you yet to have had the pleasure , the menu at Firepit isn ’ t a standard ordered affair of courses , instead it is a taste-bud-tempting plethora of dishes designed to be paired , delivered in chefled order , and , most importantly , shared . Plates fall into three simple categories : fish , meat and vegetables , and the execution is anything but simple - it ’ s sophisticated , exciting , and ultimately , delicious .
“ The vision for Firepit was to create a contemporary , fine-dining , sharing-plate experience ,” explains John
Bingley , group executive chef . “ I have been inspired by both the delicate spices of Asian cuisines and the most flavoursome , smoky Texas BBQ restaurants and our menu combines a selection of smoked meats paired with unique vegetable dishes which are also finished in our smokers to give a depth of flavour . We love using Asian produce to set us apart from the rest - we like to go against the grain !”
The Korean Cowgirl takes the best of both sides of the globe to bring you a restaurant that delivers a unique blend of subtlety-spiced Oriental cuisine and the big , brash , smoked BBQs of the Texas Panhandle . Their signature Korean fried chicken is extra crispy , double fried and hand-brushed with flavour with the sole mission of bringing the joy of authentic Korean comfort food to their customers . Their brisket on the other hand keeps to central Texas simplicity with a full-flavoured rub , cooked low and slow overnight , every night , so it ’ s always fresh every single day with no exceptions .
The Cave team ’ s seemingly unstoppable quest to bring seriously unique and tantalising food to Kent has also culminated in their latest hit , The Cheeky Ramen . Offering intimate tables for couples or communal sharing tall tables for families , The Cheeky Ramen is the perfect spot for lunch or dinner in Canterbury . Based on the founding principle that authentic Japanese ramen takes time and love , they don ’ t just sell ramen , they make it . It takes ages , of course , but they know the effort is what makes the difference . They also champion local produce wherever possible and pride themselves on creating deeply flavoursome and carefully tended ramen broth daily from scratch .
John Bingley and his wider team have travelled extensively in order to develop dishes where the smoky , barbeque aromas of the American West combine with the delicate spices of the Far East , to create ambitious , exciting menus that showcases global cuisine and that the team are truly passionate about – each menu therefore becomes a test of what not to order , rather than what to pick .
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