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Chewton Glen
N
30
ot to be confused with newly launched The Kitchen, The
Dining Room at Chewton Glen has been turning out
country house fine dining for decades, with no shortage of
plaudits along the way. You can take Captain Marryat’s English
Afternoon Tea for £29.50pp, named after the celebrated naval
officer and featuring smoked salmon, egg and cress, roast beef
and horseradish or Somerset brie sandwiches, plus cakes,
scones, jams and teas using local ingredients. Tea is served
from 3pm to 4.30pm on the terrace when weather permits. Take
it up a notch if the mood suggests with a Celebration Afternoon
Tea (£39.50) which includes a glass of Taittinger NV Brut. Or
enjoy afternoon tea with a festive twist from 25th November.
The sandwiches include turkey and cranberry, mince pies
appear on the cake stand and the scones get a cinnamon and
golden sultana make over.
If anyone should know what it takes to put together an
impeccable afternoon tea, it’s Executive Head Chef Luke
Matthews, who started out aged 16 at The Green Park Hotel in
Bournemouth. Having joined Chewton Glen in 1993 and risen
steadily up the ranks, Luke brings an astute understanding of
the level of refinement and detail guests expect from a country
house tea.
Although afternoon tea can sometimes be a rather restrictive
discipline for a chef, Luke and pastry chef Suzanne get to
express themselves by reaching beyond the standard scone
and sandwich formation.
“We offer five types of cake,” says Luke, including “a New
Forest strawberry tart with fruits from Beaulieu, a carrot cake
with fondant icing and pistachio, a chocolate gateau, and a
raspberry pavlova.”
On the scone side, there’s the promise of a golden sultana
variety, and the sandwich roster goes the extra mile with egg
and cress sandwiches using free range eggs from Flambard’s
and crisp, peppery cress from Winchester Watercress. As with
the lunch and dinner menu at The Dining Room, as much as
possible is grown or sourced locally, and the restaurant even
produces its own jam.
Not surprisingly, there are fans. “Afternoon tea at Chewton
Glen is immensely popular,” says Luke. “We’re averaging about
60 a day, both locals and outsiders.” The secret is in indulging
the guests.
“Afternoon tea is a meal in itself. You either come for lunch,
afternoon tea or dinner. We’re very generous with the portions,
and people take home what they don’t eat,” says Luke. The
setting doesn’t hurt. “It’s a lovely occasion to sit out in the
gardens on a glorious summer day.”
Best for: No wrestling with the Nespresso or tea urn here.
Your tea is served by a dedicated Tea Steward.
Chewton Glen
New Forest, Hampshire, BH25 6QS
www.chewtonglen.com
01425 275341
www.menu-dorset.co.uk