A very special guest piece by…..my wonderful mother!
For 2000 years, Canterbury in Kent has been at the heart of a thriving hospitality industry driven by its Cathedral and proximity to the Channel coast. Add in two universities and a thriving theatre scene, the result is a city with eateries to suit every pilgrim’s pocket. Recently London trained chefs have made the journey, tempted by the rich local produce and the award winning Kentish vineyards. Matt Sworder (31, worked as a chef in some of London's top restaurants, training with Gordon Ramsay (La Noisette), Anthony Demetre (Les Deux Salons) and Adam Byatt (Bistro Union)), opened his first restaurant The Corner House in Minster near Ramsgate three years ago and now has a second Corner House restaurant in Canterbury.
The restaurant, just outside the city walls, is set in a 1570 inn, once called The Rose. The main room retains that historic atmosphere with a new contemporary feel and an open kitchen theatre. There is also a spacious garden dining area and upstairs 3 excellent b&b rooms.
The food is all about local, seasonal, simple, fresh produce cooked to excellence and there is an emphasis on the famous sharing boards. Portions are generous which is just perfect for greedy people like me. There are daily specials, a la carte choices and sharing boards for each course including dessert and cheese. The wine list is interesting and ranges from about £18 to £55 per bottle and includes some of those prize winning Chapel Down Kentish wines. There are also some rather fabulous cocktails with an eclectic gin menu and a selection of local fruit vodka mixes. So, all in all, a winning combination.
We started with intensely flavoured pea pannacotta topped with crispy pulled ham and served with a mint and broad bean salad. Green heaven. It was a standout star. We also loved the confit of Kentish salmon served with beetroot 3 ways and a horseradish cream. We followed with a sharing board of Stour Valley loin of rabbit stuffed with apricots. The most succulent rabbit I’ve ever had, sorry Brighteyes! This was accompanied by seasonal vegetables: summer greens, mustard sautéed cauliflower and pureed carrots. There was also a sausage roll made from black pudding and the rabbit leg; creamy mashed potato and a succulent rabbit jus. Just the most divinely juicy and flavourful rabbit dish ever. Not a hint of dryness. Just moist, soft succulent flavour.
Then, the Corner House dessert sharing board. A wicked feast in itself! Intensely lemony creamy posset topped with raspberry coulis and accompanied by fennel and nut biscotti; homemade honeycomb ice cream, a luscious and deeply chocolate warm brownie with homemade peanut ice cream, finally a Gypsy Tart. Gypsy Tart is a Kentish tradition. A pastry base with a toffee cream topping. In this case Matt had made a toffee mousse topping which was just as intense in flavour and rich in unctuousness as the more normal tart but much lighter and fluffier in texture and much more enjoyable. A really good dessert.
Finally some of the excellent Corner House coffee. Prices are reasonable. Starters are £6. Mains are around £17 and desserts £6. If you’re even greedier than me, there is a wonderful local cheese selection priced at £8.
Loved the Corner House. Lovely food. Lovely people. Lovely atmosphere. A very welcome addition to Canterbury.
cornerhouserestaurants.co.uk/the-corner–house–canterbury/
Corner House, 113 Whitstable Rd, Canterbury CT2 8EF
Piece by Alison Boler – Food Goblin mother and wonder woman!
