White House, Affcot Review
White House Restaurant, Affcot, Shropshire
Farm Fresh & Friendly Gourmet-Life is proud to champion fresh, local produce. Being the key promoter of said dining club, we all dream of meals in a farm kitchen using their own ingredients. Well, the White House at Affcot is the next best thing. Both Sarah and Ray Hall come from local farming stock but a few years ago turned from producing it in the fields to preparing it for the table. Ray is a most accomplished chef while Sarah offers the warm, homely hospitality that we all seek.
Their friendly restaurant set in an old Smithy on the busy A40 Shrewsbury to Ludlow road has stunning views of the Ragleth Hill and the Longmynd. It is a short walk from the car park, through a pretty garden to the back door entrance.
The menu not only tell s you what there is to eat, but where it all comes from –the meat from up the road, the butter from down the road, the vegetables from around the corner.
Ray’s menu is well-balanced and makes full use of seasonal produce that he handles with care and consideration.
I was sorely tempted by the thought of a celeriac and potato soup, but was enticed away by a chicken liver and mushroom paté with damson jelly and walnut encrusted goats cheese with olives and marinated figs. Although the olives and figs came from further afield the rest were all very local, the walnuts from a customer’s tree! The paté’s rich, deep flavours were lifted by the lifted by the mild tang of the fresh goat’s cheese.
From the wine list Sarah suggested a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc from the South American vineyards of the old Spanish master, Miguel Torres. Crisp and refreshingly full of gooseberry and tropical fruit flavours it was served in a lead crystal glass and for only £3.25 was excellent value.
While waiting for my main course I overheard a neighbouring table excitedly discussing the size of their lamb dish – ‘Small! is that small?’ the diner exlaimed, with secret delight… This rather concerned me however, as I certainly did not need the cod that I had chosen to be the size of a Beluga whale. I need not have worried. It was a fair size portion for a Friday lunch served with proper sautéed potatoes and accompanied by crisp, fresh broccoli, peas and carrots all full of colour and cooked crisply on the retirement side of Al Dente. The loin of cod was coated in a fresh herb crust that broke away revealing the white flesh perfectly cooked.
- White House Affcot - Rice Pudding
Fresh raspberries with rice pudding and jam, well I ask you, who could refuse such a delight? Innovatively presented it was lifted to high heaven by Ray’s hot jam and cherry liquor sauce. (shown opposite)
Looking around the half-full restaurant I could only think of the awful damage that this never-ending recession is doing to our catering industry. The obvious shortage of disposable income is making it difficult for so many of us to eat out. But then that is the beauty of GOURMETLIFE, my 20% discount carving my modest £17.00 bill down to a much appetising £13.60.
As I left, once again admiring the view, and the receipt showing just £17 minus my Gourmet Life discount of 20% Totalling £13.60. I could n’t help but chuckle – Why are n’t more people dining out on a Friday afternoon?
Website: www.dinewithus.co.uk/white-house
Prix Fixe Menu Served:
Tuesday-Saturday 2 Courses £20.50, 3 Courses £24.50
Friday Lunchtime 2 Courses £11.00
Traditional Sunday Lunch 3 Courses £17
Regular events, call for details: Tel: 01694 781202
Posted by James Day, of Midlands Dining & Lifestyle Club Gourmet Life Oct 09
