Wiltshire, lunch at Michelin-starred The Harrow at Little Bedwyn

 

The Harrow at Little Bedwyn

Another adventure in Wiltshire this year started on a high note at  The Harrow at Little Bedwyn,  a small  Michelin-starred restaurant situated in a charming and hidden country lane in the village of Little Bedwyn in Wiltshire.  It was established about 18 years ago by Sue and Roger Jones. Roger, I was told, heads the kitchen, devises the menu and is in charge of the wine list. Sue meanwhile, looks after the front of the house and service.  They accommodate a maximum of 34 patrons at a time. In Summer they open the Garden Terrace.

I was very excited as I have been looking forward to a meal at The Harrow for a long time. Leaving the Big smoke, I headed off to Wiltshire. After driving along the motorway and through the winding beautiful country lanes of the area, I arrived at the restaurant in just under 2 hours. It was a very pleasant trip and I arrived famished.

The Harrow is well-known for its excellent food as well as their  900 bin wine list which has been admired by many discerning customers and the industry as a whole.  The ingredients are carefully sourced according to seasonality, locality, and use of free-range suppliers as much as possible.

I arrived and encountered smiles all around.  Izzy was fronting the house on this occasion as Sue was away on business.  Izzy and the team looked after me impeccably in a kind and genteel manner.

The meal at The Harrow

The Harrow is formed by two small rooms, with tables nicely dressed. The rooms are light and airy with very comfortable chairs.  The wine flight that accompanied the dishes were spot on! That just shows why The Harrow has retained its Michelin star for so many years.

Amuse-bouche: Salmon

Cured salmon (cured in house with five different citruses for 24 hours; lemon, orange, grapefruit, yuzu, a tiny bit of lime), capers tomato yoghurt fennel toasted sourdough

Pickled cucumber, garlic, olives

Fresh and full of textures Torbay Crab salad, tiny watermelon balls, watermelon consumé, cucumber balls, cherry tomatoes, brown crab meat  purée Wine: Larry Cherubino Laissez Faire Field Blend 2016, Pemberton Western Australia

 

Simply stunning Cornish Line caught Turbot, sea and land Asparagus, lemon dressing  – the fish was perfectly cooked and served with a smooth and sweet pea puree. Wine: Adega de Pegoes, Seleccionada 2015, Adega de Pegoes Portugal

Slow cooked beef cheeks in breadcrumbs, parsnip purée, amazing PX caramel, Highland fillet cooked without blood running,  peas and greens, horseradish, separate jus.  Wine: Andre Brunel Rasteau Les Sambiches 2009, Rhone Valley France


A tasting of British cheeses:
Mild: Wigmore Sheep, Cerney Ash goats, Lincolnshire poacher cheddar – cow’s milk. Sharp cheeses and cow’s milk: Stinking Bishop – cow’s; Perl Las Blue – Welsh cheese.
Flatbread:   Fennel and Almond, Ginger biscuit excellent with cheeses
Wine: Pedro Ximénez

Palate cleanser

Boiled egg and soldier

Boiled egg and soldier  – It was a pleasant surprise.
Mango and passion fruit purée, Crème Anglaise, topped with  Italian meringue and dusted with vanilla salt. Beautiful visually and on the palate.

Dessert

Dessert : Lemon at The Harrow at Little Bedwyn

Lemon – it was four delightful desserts in one!
Passion fruit, mango yuzu parfait; a light vanilla and lemon sponge; vanilla ice cream was just delicious, creamy and flavourful and yuzu macaron with white chocolate and lemon ganache. The macaron was fresh, light, just a little chewy, and soft – melted in the mouth. This dessert excites all senses.  Wine: Echeveria Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 20123, Curico Valley Chile.

I had a brilliant time at The Harrow, what a gem of place. Pity its miles away from London but the pilgrimage is worth it!

Disclosure: I was a guest of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn organised by Visit Wiltshire. All views are my own.

Save

Share:

9 Comments

  1. June 1, 2017 / 9:22 am

    We always pass this on the way to visit my mum's house – we really need to stop off next time we pass by!

  2. Helerina
    June 1, 2017 / 3:07 pm

    Everything here looks delicious, it's all so beautifully presented too! I'm quite disappointed I live too far away from The Harris to give it a go myself.

  3. ana de jesus
    June 1, 2017 / 6:27 pm

    The food looks delicious, especially the palette cleanser and the desert. Glad you enjoyed it x

  4. Leigh Travers
    June 1, 2017 / 8:11 pm

    Everything looks so wonderfully presented and perfectly curated! I could really go for that dessert right now too! ♥

  5. June 1, 2017 / 11:42 pm

    What a gorgeous location, and the food is so beautifully presented! I love the look of the plates too x

  6. Fashion Du Jour
    June 2, 2017 / 3:34 pm

    What a little delight and love that it's not TO far away from London. Like that it seats a smaller number of patrons too, as that makes it more special! This looks an incredible meal – that palate cleanser is so clever!!!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Leigh at Fashion Du Jour LDN x

  7. June 2, 2017 / 6:04 pm

    oh wow! look at the presentation. Looks like a very special meal

  8. June 2, 2017 / 7:37 pm

    Wow, the dessert looks like a showstopper! I am sure you had a fantastic meal. I love eating at such restaurants.

  9. Stephanie
    June 2, 2017 / 7:52 pm

    Wow! What an experience, I'd love to try something like this! The food looks amazing! xxx