insideKENT Magazine Restaurant Guide 2014 | Page 19

THE MARQUIS AT ALKHAM We hope you’re feeling hungry… Look forward to robust, fresh ?avours served with imagination and ?air. Head Chef Charles Lakin, who recently featured on BBC2’s Great British Menu, presides over heavenly menus that change regularly and uses locally caught ?sh and locally sourced produce. He takes inspiration from classic, traditional dishes and gives them a modern twist, often using unusual wild and foraged ingredients to ?avour and enhance dishes. Free range meats including pedigree beef and rare breed mutton come from nearby Sladden Farm. As well as growing his own herbs, edible ?owers and vegetables, he sources fruit and vegetables from the Brogdale national fruit collection in Faversham and Walmestone growers. Fish and shell?sh is landed exclusively from day boats in Ramsgate and Folkestone so he only uses seafood from local waters. Henry Haste creates a unique wine list with many unusual wines from little known regions of wine producing countries. He also works hard to produce fantastic ?avour matches to accompany the 6-course tasting menu – sometimes daily! “The chef changes the 6-course tasting menu regularly in accordance with what his suppliers tell him is great, so often we have to work on wine and food combinations. This is a great part of the job and it is wonderful to be able to talk guests through their menus and accompanying wines and see how these wines can enhance their experience. “Our philosophy at the Marquis is to offer the very best in quality while maintaining value for money. So whether you are looking for a simple glass of wine to go with your lunch, or a memorable vintage for special event, then we will have a wine for you.” He speaks regularly to suppliers to create his menus, and his signature 6-course tasting menu is always packed with the season’s best produce. “A tasting menu is a fantastic showcase for our locally sourced produce as I can feature what is the best on that day.” Cheeses from the Canterbury Cheesemakers and other artisan producers around England are always a feature on the trolley. Although a proud Yorkshireman, he is de?nitely an East Kent convert. “My suppliers are the cornerstone of my menus and I rely on the fantastic work of these guys to be able to produce the quality our customers have come to expect. We are so lucky in this corner of Kent to be able to source such a lot of our produce from less than 10 miles away throughout the seasons – what a privilege!” The Marquis at Alkham – Restaurant with Rooms Alkham Valley Road Alkham, Dover CT15 7DF 01304 873410 reception@themarquisatalkham.co.uk www.themarquisatalkham.co.uk @marquisalkham /marquisatalkham - 19 -