insideKENT Magazine Issue 90 - September 2019 | Page 77

Arriving during the summer months meant that we
were able to take our seats at our large wooden
farmhouse table in the bright and airy marquee.
The sides were up, the sun was shining and not only
did we have great views of the pretty main barn
restaurant and adjacent gardens, my children (who
are known for their inability to sit still for more than
23 seconds) were able to run freely around the
grounds outside the marquee, which was not only
welcomed but positively encouraged by Lisa-Jane,
who as well as affably working the restaurant every
single day making each diner and guest feel personally
welcome, appeared with some space hoppers left
behind from a recent wedding much to the wide
eyed delight of a 2 and 4 year old usually told to sit
down and behave at dinner time! Which of course
helped us all to feel relaxed and at ease.
It’s the little touches like this that contribute to the
already brilliant Frasers ambience and ethos that
make this place special, and that’s before you even
mention the food!
Lisa-Jane, as an avid homecook used to farm living,
was pioneering food miles before it was even a thing
and this commitment to locally sourced, high quality
produce, and tasty home style cooking with an added
layer of sophistication is evident across the dishes
created by the equally passionate and committed
kitchen team.
As Sunday dinner starters go, this was a lesson in
perfect presentation of the decadently simple; as little
tea cups of pea, blue cheese and almond veloute
were delivered alongside a slate plate of the most
delicious appetisers of Asian style pork belly,
parmesan cracker with goats cheese, mackerel on
toast and pate en croute - made from farm caught
game, and plenty of fresh bread and homemade
herb butter.
Now in all fairness I could have eaten slate upon
slate of those appetisers all day and gone away
happy… but… again this was Sunday and that to
me means Sunday Lunch, Sunday Dinner, Sunday
Roast, whichever way you call it, and I was going
nowhere until the main event arrived.
I make no secret of the fact that Sunday Dinner is
my most favourite meal, not just of the week but
probably ever! You know in the realms of “what
would your last meal on earth be?” mine would
without question be a heaving Roast...and Roast
Beef is top of my roast dinner table.
The downside of having this as a favourite meal
is of course that I am somewhat of a roast dinner
connoisseur, and with high roast dinner standards
comes disappointing meals out, soggy yorkshires,
wilted veg, tasteless meat and don’t even get
me started on the ultimate sacrilege of poor
roast potatoes...
So with high expectations, and a silent mantra of
‘please be good’, arrived our family farm style sharing
Sunday Lunch platter…
And. It. Was. Amazing!
Fresh green beans and carrots, a heaving, steaming
bowl of cauliflower cheese, (which produced such
insta envy we had to take away a dish for my sis-in-
law for later!); and the main event, beautifully cooked
melt-in-the-mouth and totally delicious slices of
medium-rare roast beef, giant yorkshire puddings
with that all-so-important crispy base (so good I may
have finished the kids too…) and a mound of fluffy
on the inside, crispy on the outside perfect roast
potatoes; which were promptly fought over before
being drenched in the most delicious home-made
gravy… happy (Sun)days!
Reluctant to leave even a mouthful, even though
the kids had abandoned us mid-meal for yet more
space hopping, we had to remind ourselves that
Sunday lunch here is a three course affair (send help!)
and after some much needed downtime, which we
used to walk across the grounds to see Lisa-Jane’s
horses in the neighbouring field, we returned to our
(now we know why it was so huge) table to be
presented with a sticky toffee pudding for about 20
people and a jug of fresh cream.
Fighting an epic battle we ate about half (aided not
least by my 4 year old’s third helpings - praise indeed)
before not so subtly demanding to take the rest home,
(which I am currently eating - without sharing -
whilst reminiscing about yesterday’s lunch…)
Thank god they are finishing the new rooms soon
as I might just move in…
Family farm style Sunday lunches at Frasers start at
£23pp and must be pre-booked. Gift vouchers are
also available online.
Frasers
Coldharbour Farm
Barham’s Mill Road
Egerton
Nr. Ashford
TN27 9DD
01233 756 122
[e-mail]
www.frasersegerton.co.uk
frasersegerton
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