Bilton’s TOT TENHILL
A
s if the name wasn’t a giveaway, there’s no danger of you failing to realise that Bilton’s is a family affair in every respect. You can’t miss this lovely pub, as it sits right on the A10 between King’s Lynn and Downham Market at Tottenhill, and you’ll be welcomed by Leslie Bilton, who’ll serve you drinks and maintain a motherly attention to detail throughout your visit. Her three children James, Joseph and Amy will almost certainly all be in the kitchen, playing their part in helping their father Jimmy create wonderful-looking food that tastes amazing. And while he admits to having no formal training as a chef, he more than makes up for the lack of culinary qualifications with a genuine flair and a great eye for carefully and creatively balanced flavours. The family recently came to Norfolk from London, and they’ve brought a great deal of metropolitan flair with them. The refurbished pub contains a clever mix of decorative styles, stunning antiques and a well thought out arrangement of tables and cosy spaces in which to relax – and feast your eyes on the beautifully hand-scripted menu. All the Biltons have big personalities, and they go to great lengths to make you feel part of the family. It all makes for a really enjoyable dining experience, especially when Jimmy leaves the kitchen in the hands of his more-thancapable children and asks if you’re happy with the food he’s just cooked for you. Proving that you don’t need qualifications for first-class service. The food at Bilton’s is just as impressive. To start, Jimmy’s sticky chicken wings are fantastic but the one to choose is the mixed beet salad, which is bursting with flavour thanks to the blue cheese, pickled walnuts (they’re lovely) and the lemon and honey dressing. If it’s available, go for the venison
A taste of London style in the heart of Norfolk... medallions as a main course. The meat is perfectly well cooked and is offset by a marvellous redcurrant and port reduction – something any qualified chef would be proud of. Failing that, the pan-fried seabass is a great choice – if only to enjoy Jimmy’s delicious caper butter. It’s also well worth visiting Bilton’s on a Sunday, as the roast dinners are exceptional. It’s a real family treat – prepared, cooked and served by a family. If anything, the desserts are even better. It’s hard to pick a stand-out choice as both the banoffee pie and cheese board are amazing, but the sticky toffee pudding comes close; largely thanks to the dried fruit in the accompanying vanilla ice cream and the wonderful toffee sauce. Bilton’s has the perfect recipe for a great dining experience; a great setting, a lovely atmosphere, and a close-knit family working together at something they have a true passion for – treating people to extremely good food. Food is available at Bilton’s from 6-9pm Tuesday to Saturday (it’s open later for drinks) and Sunday lunch is served from 12noon-3pm. The pub is hugely popular, so it's highly advisable to book in advance.
Bilton’s Eating House, Lynn Road, Tottenhill, King’s Lynn PE33 0RL Telephone: 01553 812200 Website: www.biltons-eating-house.co.uk KLmagazine Special Food Edition
Dry Scottish Scallops with green leaves, black pud ding and sweet chilli sauce Locally-sourced Venison with port and redcurrant red uction Raspberry Roulade
67