The Hand and Flowers

It is not often I get to visit a Michelin starred restaurant so when I read an article in the Times listing some that were offering cut price meals, I jumped at the chance. I noticed that the closest restaurant on the list and the one offering the cheapest menu was the Hand and Flowers. Tom Kerridge runs this pub restaurant with his wife in the lovely town of Marlow (famed for its replica of the Széchenyi chain bridge). The place has an intimate, welcoming atmosphere without the formal poshness of other places given the imprimatur of the Michelin men. The black-clad waitresses who served us were a mixture of French and Eastern European. Having made our choices from the budget menu we waited with bated breath.

The first thing to arrive was, as the amuse-bouche. Not being accustomed to the ways of haute cuisine we were slightly puzzled by the appearance of these novelties. F. had had a beetroot consume served in an attractive wooden block. I had deep-friend sprats served in a newspaper cone in the style of chips and with sauce – and also served in that handy wooden block. There was also some fresh soda bread and rolls on the side.

We skipped starters and launched into the main course. My gf had a wonderfully presented asparagus risotto. An edible foam had been sprayed on top of the risotto in a few places. Very exciting! My dish was a wholesome lamb shanks in scoth broth. For dessert my gf was presented with a strange narrow cylindrial glass on which was perched a customised spoon. Inside was a tasty lemon posset. I ordered the rum baba with…

Hmmm I’ve left this post unfinished for months!

~ by Slackenerny on June 13, 2009.