Lympstone Manor is to host its first ‘Protégé Dinner’ on 19 September to celebrate Britain and Ireland’s lesser known chefs who trained under Michael Caines early in their careers.
Eight chefs, chosen by Caines, will join him in his Devon kitchen to collaborate on an eight-course tasting menu. The idea behind each dish is to showcase technique and flair – the culmination of their training. A matching wine flight will be selected by Edouard Oger, Caines’ formative sommelier and now a master at the Court of Master Sommeliers.
The menu will also look to pay homage to Devon produce. There’ll be the likes of wild river Exe fish with Exton saffron and estuary sea herbs cooked by Tom Williams-Hawkes of the Salutation Inn, Topsham, and Exmoor venison with celeriac, cavolo nero and blackberries from Liam Finnegan at The Castle in Taunton.
Indeed, many of Caines’ old chefs have stayed in the West Country; others now cook in Wales and Ireland. There’s a westerly theme, for whatever reason. Caines has clearly had an impact.
Caines is one of the UK’s top chefs
One star name to pick out is Robby Jenks, now head chef at the Vineyard Cafe. Harden’s reporters love the place, calling it a “quirky” bistro with “delicious” and “surprisingly good food”. It has a food score of five – just like Caines’ “stunning” Lympstone Manor.
Caines said of his evening: “It’s an honour and a privilege to watch chefs flourish in their careers, heading up kitchens across the UK and Ireland and growing as culinary masters in their own right.
“I am incredibly excited to welcome these familiar faces to Lympstone Manor to create what will be a unique and exciting dinner, celebrating the strengths of these talented protégés”.
Tickets for the dinner start from £255 per person. The price includes food and wine. Accommodation is lots more, though does include breakfast.
Here’s the full menu:
Tom Williams-Hawkes, Salutation Inn, Topsham
Wild river Exe fish with Exton saffron, estuary sea herbs
2015 Pinot Gris, Mathis Bastian, Luxembourg
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Robby Jenks, The Vineyard at Stockcross, Newbury
Roast veal sweetbread raviolo, watercress and truffle
2015 Vin de France Carignan Blanc, Domaine Ledogar
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Chris Cleghorn, The Queensberry, Bath
Pan fried scallop, mushroom ketchup, leek, shellfish reduction
2015 Chardonnay, Dog Point, Marlborough
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Sam Moody, Ballyfin Demesne, Co. Laois, Ireland
Butter poached turbot with sour onions, mushroom and broccoli
2016 Rioja Bianco, «La Bastid», Olivier Rivière
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Allister Barsby, Grove of Narbeth, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Aylesbury duck from Fishguard, roast fennel, chorizo, buttermilk, five spice sauce
2016 Pinot Noir, «Boot Hill», Gusbourne Estate, Kent
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Liam Finnegan, The Castle at Taunton, Somerset
Exmoor venison, celeriac, cavolo nero and blackberry
2016 IGT Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, «Il Rospo», Montesecondo
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James Mason, Kentisbury Grange, North Devon
Thai green ice cream with pineapple foam, coconut crisp
2012 Riesling Spätlese, «Graacher Himmelreich» J.J Prüm, Mosel
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Mike Tweedie, Adare Manor, Co. limerick, Ireland
Caramelized white chocolate, raspberry, pistachio
2015 Jurancon Moelleux, Domaine de Souch
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Sylvain Peltier
French Patisseries
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Coffee and petits fours
To book a reservation, please visit www.lympstonemanor.co.uk or call 01395 202040.
