Stray Foodie reviews are written by Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkins. In 1997, Frances opened the Yorke Arms near Pateley Bridge, where she was the owner for 20 years. During her ownership, she held her Michelin-star status for 16 of those years. This week, Frances reviews Restaurant EightyEight at Grantley Hall.
The Japanese Garden at Grantley Hall is an amazing idyllic garden that has been created in this beautiful manicured establishment that sits in a dell of ancient trees and waterways.
Such creativity has been matched by the new Restaurant EightyEight Head Chef Shane Zhao… a lady Chef – hurrah!
Japanese Garden dessert
Being impetuous by nature, I have to tell you about the dessert FIRST. Shane has produce a sublime experience which is in keeping with the surroundings. Yuzu, Black Sesame and Raspberry are woven into a dish called the Japanese Garden. It was perfectly balanced in texture and on the palate, and a beauty to behold, instilling a lasting memory of a great experience.
First Impressions
On arrival at Grantley Hall my young man and I drove down the side of a waterway with an exquisite duck house, around the wild flower garden and into the car park for Restaurant EightyEight. Getting out of the car I thought I must have left the car radio on, which was funny as I didn’t have the radio on! The music came from the bushes in the car park, and it seemed to be somewhat at odds with the general tranquillity.
We walked down to the restaurant and were seated in a very atmospheric bar with great lighting, orchids on the walls and ceiling, and beautiful Oriental tables. Staff were proud, helpful and conscientious for our wellbeing.
Starter
Fighting shy of the usual large tasting menus (£65 per person for 8 courses), purely because of quantity, we were advised to have small plates to share to start with. These consisted of Korean Fried Cauliflower with a Chive Aioli; this is a sensational dish and the most humble one at £8 on the menu. One of the best treatments of Cauliflower I have ever eaten.
We also had Scallops with a pea puree, a bow to seasonality (£19.50) and Duck Liver with Blood Orange Marmalade (£18.50). These starters set the talented style of what was to come.
Main Course
Miso Glazed Sea Trout with Sesame Charred Asparagus, Shrimps and Fennel
Our main courses again, we shared. Flame Grilled Whole Quail, Smoky Aubergine Puree, Spiced Sausage & Pickled Cucumber (£29) was delightful. The Smoky Aubergine Puree an absolute hit as far as I was concerned with the Pickled Cucumber balancing the edge of the Smoke.
We are in the season for Sea Trout and Asparagus now, so therefore I felt it was appropriate to see how these ingredients were executed, with the Miso Glazed Sea Trout with Sesame Charred Asparagus, Shrimps & Fennel (£28). What a joy! It was the sort of dish that you would like to have ordered another one. The flavours of these two dishes were exceptional. It might have been nice to have been recommended some form of carbohydrate with these very elegant dishes, but hey, would I want to ruin such balanced flavours?
The Verdict – 4 stars
I can’t wait to return to the lovely terrace area overlooking the garden and to sample more of Chef’s Vegetarian and Vegan Menus if they are as great as the cauliflower..
The wines by the glass were slightly underwhelming. There was plenty of choice by the bottle, but who needs big wines with food like this?
I know bookings are in great demand. We felt very fortunate to be there and it is some time I have been wowed to this extent!
Well worth it and I am saving up for my next visit.
Read More:
Ripon’s Grantley Hall restaurant wins first Michelin star
The Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall restaurant has been awarded its first Michelin star after only being open for 18 months.
The restaurant, based within the 17th century luxury hotel in Ripon, is headed by well-known chef Shaun Rankin.
The restaurant opened alongside the hotel in July 2019 and both have since faced months of closures due to covid restrictions.
Despite this the restaurant has been recognised, Mr Rankin said this is a huge achievement and thanked his whole team.
Mr Rankin is originally from Yorkshire and centres his menus around locally sourced ingredients. The kitchen uses ingredients found in its own garden or within a 30 mile radius.
The restaurant is set within Ripon’s 17th century mansion, Grantley Hall. Photograph: Jack Hardy
He said:
“What a surprise and delight it was to be awarded our first Michelin star. I want to thank Michelin for believing in us and understanding what the restaurant at Grantley Hall is all about.
The biggest thank you has to go to the whole team, front and back of house. It seems odd not to be celebrating with a full service, however I’m itching to get back into the kitchen with them all. Here’s to a better 2021, this has certainly lifted the spirits!”
Read more:
- Michelin-starred chef, Frances Atkin, gives us her weekly recipe all about oranges.
- Local produce expert, Stephanie Moon, says spring is on the way.
This isn’t the first Michelin star for Shaun Rankin. He opened his first restaurant, Bohemia, in Jersey in 2003 and it gained a Michelin star two years later.
He did it again in 2013 at his second restaurant, Ormer in Jersey which was awarded a Michelin star after only four months.
District girlguides launch fundraiser to save residential centreGirlguiding North Yorkshire West has launched an online auction to help raise funds to complete the build of its new residential centre.
The building of the Birk Crag Centre on the outskirts of Harrogate is in its final phase but needs an additional £30,000 to finish.
The new centre will include a hall seating 120 people, activity and meeting rooms, a dining room and kitchen, as well as residential accommodation sleeping 40.
An online auction was launched on Saturday and will remain open until August 8. People can bid on a range of items and experiences including a Grantley Hall spa day experience, family tickets to local attractions such as Harewood House and the Jorvik Viking Centre, as well as a two-hour career coaching session from Sea Light Development.
Read more:
- Ripon charity set to grow despite coronavirus
- Horticap receives help to transform gardens as well as build a new cafe and shop
County commissioner Angie Lockwood said:
“We’ve come so far in our journey to build Birk Crag Centre, but there’s a real risk we won’t get this last phase of the build completed. We need to raise an additional £30,000 for doors, internal walls, staircase and fire alarm, and the auction marks the start of our activity to achieve this.”
Artist’s impression of the new Birk Crag Centre.
The new centre will be used by girlguides from across the district as well as members of the local community. For more information and to make a bid visit https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/auction/detail/auction_id/4517/.
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