When the weather perks up it’s menu change time. We asked four local chefs to recommend a summer dish
Arun Manickan, The Stag
Arun Manickan, who heads up The Stag kitchen has worked at Raymond Blanc and The Grove amongst other top eateries. He had no hesitation about what he would recommend as his perfect summer dish
“Caprese Salad is really refreshing. We make ours with Heritage tomatoes, they come in a variety of shapes sizes and colours .. some look gnarly. The flavour is far superior to basic tomatoes and they have an amazing aroma. I always use Buffalo mozzarella, it’s softer and moister than cows milk mozzarella and tears apart so you get a good texture. We leave the tomatoes out of the fridge for a while, then slice and drizzle with Chiltern Virgin Oil and add fresh torn basil leaves. It’s a popular main course choice and at £7 great value! ”
As for the the perfect seasonal pudding..
“ Summer pudding, what else?! Fresh summer berries made into a couli mixed with soaked brioche with vanilla and honey, then served with Devon clotted cream.”
01923 282090
Grant Lawrie, Rose and Crown, The Common (Main pic)
“When the weather improves our sm
oked haddock hash comes off the menu and is replaced with ham hock hash which is just as popular as a lunch choice. It’s made of shredded ham hock and potatoes with a soft boiled egg on top. My favourite summer dish though is the grilled sardines… it brings a taste of the Mediterranean to Chorleywood ! … We serve it with tomato and onion salad on toast with pesto and a sprinkling of fresh herbs. We grow our own herbs conveniently right near the kitchen door – I tend to use chives and parsley the most.”
www.roseandcrownchorleywood.co.uk
Tel 01923 283841
Simon Sheil, The Red Lion, Chenies
One of our new salads is bulgar wheat based, with seasonal radish and spring onion. With the addition of raisins and goats cheese It has an interesting texture and colour and makes a change from conventional salad choices. Baked salmon fillet served with roasted baby pakchoi is always a favourite and a lighter dish for those warm summer evenings. But I would recommend crab salad with pickled samphire – it’s perfect for the new season.Our Chenies Mess is going down a “treat” with customers…it’s our take on Eton mess with mixed summer berries added to the strawberries which adds an extra bit of tartness
Tel 01923 282722
Adam Chamb
erlain, Bedford Arms
I would suggest Moules mariniere for a summer meal.. it’s a classic dish and the flavours are quite involved. The sourdough bread we serve with it is made in a local bakery has a great texture and is perfect for soaking up the juices. It is really French style! For dessert it would have to be Pimms Jelly – you can’t get more summery than Pimms. It is very refreshing and has the traditional recipe and is topped with cucumber shaved ice!
Tel 01923 283301
Allan Himowicz, Gusto Deli, Lower Road
Vanilla panna cotta is my perfect summer dessert, either with a mixed fruit jelly on top or espresso jelly, the slightly bitter taste of the coffee counteracts the sweet vanilla. And there has to be fruit tart option, again it’s about opposites.. sweet almond bakewell paste against the tart fruit – Raspberry jam then slices of apple sprinkled with almonds. Best served with fresh cream.
47 Lower Road, WD3 5LQ
Tel 01923 286331
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