Kent Staycation [ 2024 ] | Page 71

FOOD & DRINK : ACCLAIMED DINING

ACCLAIMED DINING

Kent ’ s sensational dining does not stop with Michelin-star recipients . Proud home to a plethora of other top-tier award winners that are uniquely diverse and boast their own special venues , cuisines , styles and quirks - a visitor or local to Kent will never find themselves at a loss for gastronomic delight . The county is indeed awash with critically acclaimed fine-dining experiences , with everything from Bib Gourmand and AA Rosette winners to those featured in The Good Food Guide , the Michelin Guide and the Diner ’ s Choice Awards .
The Swan Wine Kitchen at Chapel Down , Tenterden Two AA Rosette and Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant specialising in modern British cuisine made from locally sourced , seasonal produce , with the added bonus of a private chef ’ s table , outdoor terrace dining with spectacular countryside views as well as wine tastings and vineyard tours . www . swanchapeldown . co . uk
Pearly Cow , Margate Sophisticated restaurant outpost of the new No 42 Guesthouse , boasting sea-fresh seafood , highestwelfare meat , and just-picked plants in an atmospheric yet mellow dining room by the sea . www . pearlycow . co . uk
Rocksalt , Folkestone AA Rosette and Michelin Guide listed , this stunning harbourside restaurant uniquely cantilevers over the English Channel offering the best in-season produce in a slick and stylish seaside setting . www . rocksaltfolkestone . co . uk
Firepit at Cave Hotel , Canterbury A contemporary , fine dining , sharing-plate experience . All the flavours of world cuisine meet and fuse in an indulgent , carefully conjured menu . The smoky barbecue aromas of the American West combine with the delicately spiced tastes of the Far East to create ambitious dishes that excite the taste buds and showcase the finest in global cooking . www . cavehotels . com / firepit
Winemaker ’ s Kitchen Balfour Winery , Staplehurst A collaboration between head chef and head winemaker . Seasonal , local produce paired with Balfour ’ s award-winning wines . A stunning setting overlooking the vines . balfourwinery . com / visit / winemakers-kitchen
Read ’ s , Faversham Michelin-listed restaurant offering classic French food with a British influence . An excellent reputation founded on the distinctive cooking of award-winning chef David Pitchford ’ s seasonal dishes which blend herbs and vegetables from the manor ’ s own walled kitchen garden . www . reads . com
The Old Bank , Westerham Michelin-listed , two-AA-Rosette-awarded contemporary British cuisine with a French influence that demonstrates a passion and love for fresh , seasonal ingredients . Dine in the elegant and relaxed dining room , complemented by a well sourced and stocked wine cellar : The Vault . www . oldbank-westerham . co . uk
The West House , Biddenden Michelin-recommended restaurant by chef / patron Graham Garrett housed in a 16th-century weaver ’ s cottage famed for offering locally sourced cuisine with an intensity of flavour . www . thewesthouserestaurant . co . uk
Number Eight , Sevenoaks Co-owned by acclaimed chef Stuart Gillies and his wife Cecilia , Number Eight has crafted a small-plate menu of luxury comforts that heralds the very best inseason produce as well as other local artisan suppliers . Guaranteed to showcase the very best of what Kent has to offer in a deliciously expert way , all year round . www . no8sevenoaks . com
Bank House , Chislehurst Offering relaxed yet sophisticated small-plate dining , artisan produce , carefully selected wines and speciality cocktails with just the right atmosphere in the contemporary reincarnation of the high street ’ s former bank . www . bankhousechislehurst . com
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