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THERE are not many
places where you can enjoy an excellent meal, top wines, first rate service and
get picturesque, waterside surroundings thrown in for free.
Bruerne’s Lock Restaurant
in Stoke Bruerne Northamptonshire, has all this and the attractions of the
idyllic Grand Union Canal, one of the county's top tourist spots, on its
doorstep. The lovely towpath walk takes you past splendidly colourful boats and the neighbouring canal museum through beautiful countryside to the mouth of one of the longest canal tunnels still in use, the Blisworth Tunnel. The restaurant itself is in a
Georgian red brick building opposite the top lock of a flight of seven. It
hasn't always been an eating establishment in the past it was a private house,
general store, post office and a doctor's surgery. A flight of steps leads into
the gorgeous cellar where bottles of wine and champagne, carefully sourced from
all over the world by owner Nigel Hollick, line the walls. This is where you can
enjoy an aperitif and choose from the menu, after each dish featured is
explained by the waiters. We were spoilt for choice and
found it extremely difficult to make a decision from the numerous
mouth‑watering dishes listed. Each one sounded incredible. In the end I went for a
starter of lightly cooked quail's egg and bacon tartlet topped with gruyere (£5.95)
which was absolutely delicious and my husband, Russ, had bresaola garnished with
marinated mushrooms and parmesan shavings (£7.25). The bresaola, which was a
success, is marinated and hung to dry on the premises.
Our main courses of boned
poussin stuffed with a garlic and chive cream cheese (£15.75) and honey roast
duckling scented with lavender and a cherry compote, both accompanied by a
selection of seasonal vegetables, were equally lovely. Desserts were too tempting to
refuse and we both chose the same dish of passion fruit snuffle with passion
fruit and pineapple sorbet. Little details add the finishing touch to dishes and
are a specialty at Bruerne's Lock. Here the ice cold sorbet was served in
halves of passion fruits. The whole meal was washed
down with a lovely bottle of Australian Riesling and coffees afterwards. It was
the first meal out together we have had for ages with the added bonus of there
being no babysitter to rush home to as the children were staying with my
parents. And Bruerne's Lock Restaurant was the perfect setting for our romantic
night out. Bruerne's Lock is open Tues-Sat
from 7.15pm and Tues-Fri and Sun for luncheons from 12.15pm. Booking is
advisable on 01604 863654. A number of gourmet evenings
are held throughout the year at Bruerne’s Lock along themes like French and
Greek. A five course meal of dishes associated with the region is accompanied by
drinks from the area The Caribbean evening on September 21 has already sold out
and the next is an Alsace evening on Thursday, October 26. Bruerne’s Lock owner Nigel
Hollick and head chef Nick Collingwood can be heard on air talking about food
and drink every Wednesday at 12.10am on BBC Radio Northampton's Bernie Keith
show. They have been out to people's homes to cook up a meal in 20 minutes and a
recent venture saw them cooking American style picnic food on Northampton's
Racecourse. Back by popular demand top
chef Nick Collingwood has announced a new series of three cookery
demonstrations. Nick had hosted more than a dozen of the informal morning
sessions at Bruerne’s Lock Restaurant. New topics will be uses for the lesser
known and cheaper cuts of meat, vegetarian cooking and A taste of the Orient.
Nick said: "It will be great fun to run some more classes." Demonstrations start at 10am with coffee and finish in time for a light lunch and glass of wine. Places are strictly limited to 14 per session and cost £24 a head. The autumn
demonstrations are: September 14: Meat Uses for lesser known and cheaper
cuts. November 9: A taste of the Orient. To reserve a place
contact Emma North at Bruerne's Lock on 01604 863654. |
