2 minute read

MENU OF THE YEAR:

from Style of Wight Issue 83 July / August 2023

from Style of Wight Issue 83 July / August 2023, page 130

Style speaks

The Hambrough Makes the Shortlist

If you’ve ever found yourself in the dining room of The Hambrough, sampling their roasted saddle of venison or maybe cracking the chocolate shell of their signature apple tart, then you’ll know that the food on offer is something really rather special. Behind the scenes, Executive Chef Matt Tomkinson and his number two, Craig Englefield, have been quietly honing and perfecting their seasonal menus (each with four starters, four mains, and four desserts) — a fact that hasn’t gone unrecognised by the industry.

A few months ago, The Hambrough was contacted by The Caterer (a specialist hospitality magazine, first founded in 1878), nominating Matt for ‘Menu of the Year’ in their annual Catey Awards. Having been reviewed by author and food writer Andy Lynes, The Hambrough now competes with four other nominees from across the country before a glitzy event at London’s Grosvenor House on the 4th of July, where the overall winner will be revealed.

“First of all, I was extremely proud to be featured in The Caterer,” Matt tells us. “But to be shortlisted for Menu of the Year 2023 as well, I was absolutely astounded! What makes it so special is that they found us. We didn’t reach out to them; they discovered us, tucked away on the southern tip of the Isle of Wight.”

Also in the running are Acme Fire Cult and Plates, both based in East London, as well as SY23 in Aberystwyth and Wilsons of Bristol. However, with Matt having previously won ‘Hotel Chef of the Year’ at the Catey Awards in 2015 (during his time at Hampshire’s Montagu Arms), we’ve got a very good feeling about his chances of clinching the title.

“It has been a rollercoaster ride since opening the restaurant at The Hambrough in 2021, but to be shortlisted for this award is a testament to the hard work we have put in to create a destination restaurant here in Ventnor. We put a lot of thought and effort into the menus; they’re often my only direct contact with our diners, apart from a quick hello as they step through the door. For me, this nomination shows that what we’re doing is working. If we can stand out against the big boys in London and the rest of the UK, then we must be doing something right.”

Mermaid Rum Cocktails

Sit in the sun and sip a sensational Mermaid Rum-based cocktail for the ultimate in summer relaxation

Back to the Island

Long, layered and fruity, dig your feet into the sand and enjoy on a sun-soaked day.

Taste

Refreshing and Fruity

Ingredients

50ml Mermaid Spiced Rum

25ml Lime Juice

75ml Pineapple Juice

15ml Orange Juice

15ml Grenadine

25ml Monin Lavender Syrup (optional)

Garnish

A single lime wheel.

Method:

Shake Mermaid Spiced Rum, lime juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice with ice and pour into an ice-filled highball. Pour in the grenadine and then the lavender syrup to finish and garnish.