So on Friday night, by way of thanks for his board and lodging at "chez Fink" , Ratty took Flyingpops, Jinx and I out for a treat...the choice was ours and I think we jumped up and down, shouting "
Arkle Manor!!" loudly and repeatedly enough to secure the booking (and yes, you do need to book, it's got rather busy in there since the tatty "Harvester" closed it's doors and the subtle and sympathetic conversion back to a nice country pub took place...the pricing on the menu is reasonable, but expect to pay about £25 a head (if you are going for starter, main and desert), plus drinks, oh and on that note, I counted 11 draft beers on tap (all sorts of English and European brews)...quite impressive.. ;) For starter we decided to share a whole roasted camembert, which arrived, studded with rosemary (still in it's little box) swimming in a sweet and fresh cranberry/red grape compote with plenty of hot herb bread to dip into the lushous creamy centre...So inspired by this dish was I, that I made exactly the same thing as a starter for us on Saturday night (but I managed to keep mine from bursting ;) Their's, though, was classically presented, and quite, quite delicious...
Fillet Steak, medium rare was mine for main...accompanied by a suitably complex deglaze that wonderfully complimented, but didn't overwhelm the simply melt in the mouth flavour of the beef, a subtle horseradish (more cream than bite) topped it off, leaving your palate free to explore the sweet and perfectly cooked vegetables...
For desert I had a very fragrant blue cheese, served with fine and fruity home-made chutney and Scottish oat cakes (joined by a small glass of port) which was sublime in it's harmony...
All in all, this is, without question, the best meal I have eaten in Surrey in a
very long time...bravo... ;)
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