insideKENT Magazine Issue 31 - October 2014 | Page 45

FOOD+DRINK sunday lunch on the farm Best known for its ghostly hauntings, tea, and of course the 1991 TV series, The Darling Buds of May, Pluckley is the epitome of a charming Kentish village. However, there is another hidden treasure that is deserved of a mention, and that is Elvey Farm. Nestled in the heart of the Kentish countryside, this beautiful medieval farmstead – with its clutch of buildings, history and natural character – has been tastefully converted into a stylish country guesthouse, perfect for those visitors seeking a peaceful retreat. by Adam Ready In May of 2014, CBH Catering from Ashford took over the running of the restaurant and launched The Dining Room at Elvey Farm. Serving good wholesome food, local ales and fine wines, it set about creating the perfect dining experience. All ingredients are freshly prepared and sourced from local suppliers including fish from Griggs of Hythe and meat from T L Coopers in Ashford. To follow, a choice of four meats are offered – roast loin of pork, roast ribeye of beef, roast cornfed chicken marinated in tarragon, and rump of lamb – as well as a vegetarian risotto option. Complete with all the trimmings, Elvey Farm's Sunday roasts include roast potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, seasonal vegetables and a red wine jus. Open for dining when the buildings are not in use for private events such as weddings, my guest and I arrived on a beautiful Sunday afternoon hungry and ready for our roast dinner. After being warmly greeted by Nick and the team, we were given the chance to look over the menu, whilst relaxing with a drink or two from the rustic bar. A choice of four delicious starters including ham hock terrine and red onion marmalade with aged balsamic, roasted butternut squash soup and croutons, smoked salmon with cracked black pepper and rocket salad, were on offer to today’s guests. The popularity of the ribeye of beef option meant the earlier diners hadn't left any for us, so my guest and I went for the equally tasty rump of lamb with a hint of rosemary, and the tender pork loin with delicate sage. The vegetables were garden-fresh and the roasties nice and crispy – just how we like them. All very appetising, I opted for the fourth option: a goat’s cheese and tomato tart, served with red onion marmalade, wild rocket and a pine nut sal ad. With a high puff pastry and a nice thick cut of goat’s cheese on top, the combined flavours of the marmalade and pine nut salad made this a very nice dish indeed. A perfick start to the meal. Main courses done and still only early afternoon (meaning there was plenty of time for dinner to go down), we willingly indulged in a couple of the delectable desserts on offer. I opted for the white and dark chocolate ganache, served with clotted cream and raspberries. Heaven on a plate, this sweet treat caused my guest’s spoon to dip in at any given opportunity. The lemon tart was just as amazing, matched with vanilla ice cream and a berry coulis. Lastly, it would have been rude not to finish off our meal with a pot of Pluckley tea from local Kent supplier, The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Company. 45 Elvey Farm really is a hidden secret in a beautiful part of the Garden of England. Using many local producers, you can really taste the fresh quality of the ingredients and what's more, the service and all-round dining experience is second to none. So why not book your table now? A sample à la carte menu is available to view on the website and The Dining Room is set to open over the festive period, with a six-course Christmas Day serving. Can't wait until then? Each week from Wednesday to Sunday, between 3pm-5pm, you can visit Elvey Farm for afternoon tea, served in either the garden or the restaurant. The Dining Room @ Elvey Farm Elvey Lane Pluckley TN27 0SU 01233 840442 [email protected] www.elveyfarm.co.uk