insideKENT Magazine Issue 88 - July 2019 | Page 111

FOOD+DRINK
SHAMPAN
AT THE SPINNING WHEEL
BY ADAM READY
FAMED THROUGHOUT KENT AND BEYOND FOR ITS SUPERLATIVE FOOD AND HOSPITALITY, THE
CONTEMPORARYV SHAMPAN AT THE SPINNING WHEEL IN WESTERHAM WAS A PLACE WE JUST
COULDN'T WAIT TO VISIT. WITH A MENU LOVINGLY CREATED WITH AUTHENTIC FLAVOURS FROM THE
RICH CULINARY HERITAGE OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT, DAZZLING INTERIORS AND A BUZZING
ATMOSPHERE, SHAMPAN AT THE SPINNING WHEEL IS TRULY A DESTINATION RESTAURANT.
Whether you choose a lounge table for a few bottles
of bubbly, fabulous cocktails and sharing platters,
or reserve a private room for a business lunch or
family get together, Shampan will not fail to impress.
Having won another leading accolade with a top
award at the British Curry Awards 2015 for the Best
in the South East, this was Shampan’s 5th award
with previous years’ wins in Best Newcomer and
Outer London Suburbs.
Entering the stylishly decorated restaurant to a
genuinely warm welcome, it was clear to see that no
expense had been spared on the décor. Mood lighting
and luxurious wall tiles complimented the dark
wooden features, and provided a fresh yet cosy
backdrop to the clusters of tables and booths that
can cater for intimate dates to large parties.
Soon after taking our seats, my guests and I were
served a basket of mixed poppadoms and chutneys
while we perused the extensive menu. We decided
the best approach was to pick a different starter each
so we could all get a chance to dive into the table’s
offerings. We enjoyed dishes of griddle-seared king
scallops, cumin peas, cauliflower purée, a chicken
tikka and large grilled freshwater king prawns with
smoked garlic and dill leaves. Presentation and taste
of each were divine!
Main courses took slightly longer than anticipated
to choose, with the fine dining options looking very
appealing, paired with the lure of traditional dishes
like a korma and vindaloo. I decided to order from
the à la carte menu and asked for the slow braised
leg of Kentish lamb ‘salli’ with straw potatoes and
biryani rice. The lamb was baked in its jus, tenderly
served resting on fried onions, lamb mince and
aromatic spiced sauce.
Also from the à la carte menu, my guest (a massive
fish lover) went for the seared haddock with a ginger
and coconut sauce and coconut rice. The fillets
garnished with crab meat and kokum spices, drizzled
with a fresh ginger and coconut sauce with a hint of
chilli, were simply perfect.
The final dish to arrive at the table was the Punjabi
red spiced chicken breast with sautéed spinach. The
Tandoori chicken breast was marinated in sweet
Kashmiri chilli, served with a slow-cooked tomato
and fenugreek sauce. With side dishes of saag aloo,
mushroom rice and garlic naan, the meal was now
under way.
Just when we thought we couldn’t eat another thing,
out came the dessert menu. We couldn’t resist sharing
the chocolate samosa served with vanilla ice cream
(truly delectable), washed down with coffee and
orange-flavoured Shampan chocolates.
You can see why Shampan continues to pick
up award after award and is firmly on the Kent
eateries map!
Shampan at the Spinning Wheel
Grays Road
Westerham
TN16 2HX
01959 572622
[e-mail]
www.shampangroup.com
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