We visited The French on 20th April 2013, very much looking forward to another opportunity to eat Simon Rogan’s food and we were not disappointed.  This was also the first time we tried Nyetimber… This has led to an expensive habit, if you haven’t tried it you really must. It is the most stunning British sparkling wine. 

Not photographed 

Nyetimber classic brut 2008 – West Sussex

Butternut squash ‘pebble’ with natural yoghurt 
Photos: not the best quality but a record of the meal.

Manchester ale bread, French baguette, chestnut bread 

Parsnip crisp, smoked eel, pork belly 

Pickled mussel and apple gel on a pastry shell coloured with squid ink 

Beetroot mousse, laxholme goats cheese, salted hazelnuts, apple marigold 

Razor clams, egg yolk, celeriac, roasted crispy garlic and sea herbs 

Boiled sole, onions, truffle, ramsons and onion consommé  

Ox tartare in coal oil, pumpkin seeds, kohlrabi and chrysanthemum  

Fresh crab and caramelised January king cabbage, horseradish sauce, chicken skin and crow garlic 

Early spring offerings, vegetables herbs and flowers with lovage salt ( broccoli custard, carrot purée, salsify, cauliflower, radish, grilled brassicas, pea shoots, chilli garlic sauce) 

Hake fillet, buckwheat, watercress, smoked roe butter 

Reg’s duck, ruby chard, king oyster mushroom, mulled cider, nasturtiums ( duck cooked sous vide then in oven very low then coloured in the pan) 

Chamomile ice cream, chamomile crisp, rhubarb and rhubarb purée, toasted oats, Douglas fir  

Pear, pear granita, pear gel, meadowsweet mousse, rye crisp, buttermilk, linseeds 

Saspirilla parfait, saspirilla meringue, saspirilla soda 

Coffee from a small local roasthouse called Mancoco roastery