FOOD + DRINK
brasserie on the bay
The Lodge at Princes
Nestled on the Bay of Sandwich, The Lodge at Princes is by far one of Kent’ s most unique places to stay and eat. Not only does it reside in a stunning coastal location, but it also boasts 12 ultra-modern bedrooms across two floors, a fine dining restaurant, and an impressive 27 holes of championship links golf. BY ADAM READY
On a sunny( but brisk) early evening this autumn, my guests and I visited the historic Cinque Port town of Sandwich to try out The Lodge ' s Brassiere on the Bay restaurant and more specifically, head chef, Ricky Smith’ s autumn menu.
The sleek and contemporary look of The Lodge is carried through to the bar and restaurant and, after a drink and canapés in the bar, we took our seats in the restaurant, complete with panoramic views overlooking the ninth green and beyond.
Perusing the table d’ hote menu, we were surprised at the quality – serving up elegant offerings of venison, fillet of salmon, wild mallard, scallops and gnocchi – but more so the reasonable price of £ 32.50 for three courses. Admirably, the menus are created to coincide with seasonal produce, and wherever possible, Kentish. Using local producers ensures the experience you receive is of the highest quality, whilst also championing the native cuisine.
But for a unique dining experience we opted for Ricky’ s tasting menu and were not disappointed. First up was a delightful crown prince squash gnocchi with confit fig and walnut granola; this starter was very autumnal and on par with all my guests’ tastes!
Our second course was the pan-seared scallops with pine nuts, apple & fennel veloutè – three equally sized and delightful scallops which tasted fresh in a creamy and very moorish veloutè. In between the starter and main course came a large glass bowl with a buttermilk sorbet topped with lemon mousse and coriander which cleansed the palate perfectly.
The dish the table had been waiting for was the Chart Farm venison cannon cooked medium and served on a celeriac purèe, hazelnuts, chanterelles and a tasty venison jus, washed down with a glass of Malbec from the wide range of wines available.
The presentation of the main course was divine – and the venison tasted just as good as it looked on the plate. However, that wasn’ t the end. One more course yet to arrive was the scrumptious light and fluffy apricot soufflé which came with a elderflower sorbet – a great touch to end the meal.
In addition, The Lodge also offers a cosy lounge and bar with log fires where we sat back and relaxed with coffees. There is a wide selection of drinks and cocktails, and their award-winning mixologist has twisted the classics to compliment the dishes on offer in The Brasserie.
There is also the option to extend your evening to an overnight stay in one of the comfortable bedrooms upstairs and enjoy a wonderful Kentish breakfast the next morning whilst overlooking the green.
A mixture of great food, a unique location( with fresh sea air) makes this a must-visit for any foodie looking for a hole in one. It’ s clear to see why the Brassiere on the Bay has two AA Rosettes.
Brasserie on the Bay The Lodge at Prince’ s Sandwich Bay Sandwich CT13 9QB 01304 611118 reservations @ thelodgeatprinces. co. uk www. thelodgeatprinces. co. uk
@ lodgeatprinces
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