The top-rated restaurant at hotel used by I'm a Celeb just an hour's drive from Stoke-on-Trent
A Cheshire restaurant serving wine from its own vineyard has been awarded three coveted AA Rosettes. The Vines, one of Carden Park Hotel's three restaurants, was given an extra Rosette in the latest round of awards.
The AA's inspector described the restaurant as an "elegant setting" serving "finely tuned contemporary dishes." To be awarded three Rosettes, a restaurant must achieve 'culinary standards that demand national recognition well beyond their local area'.
AA inspectors also review the quality of the ingredients, as well as insisting the 'timing, seasoning and the judgement of flavour combinations be consistently excellent'. Good wine lists and intuitive service are also taken into consideration.
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Executive Chef Graham Tinsley MBE and Head Chef Harri Williams serve a seasonal à la carte menu at the hotel's fine-dining restaurant. The AA inspector was impressed with the surroundings, describing Carden Park golf and spa hotel as "sumptuous", and the village of Broxton as "pretty".
Of the restaurant, the inspector said: "Subtle shades of cream and warm whites, discreet lighting and well-spaced, linen-clothed tables make for an elegant setting to enjoy the finely tuned contemporary dishes. Start with pork pâté en croûte, apricot, pistachio, Madeira with figs and mushroom ketchup before Welsh lamb loin, confit Roscoff, lamb ragu, yeast crumb, smoked broccoli and morel jus.
"Leave room for Yorkshire rhubarb, ginger cake, sheep's yogurt sorbet and wood sorrel. The wine list includes bottles from their own vineyard." The restaurant is opposite Goldie's Lounge, a cocktail lounge offering locally sourced chef’s snacks and a varied pre-dinner cocktail menu.
Famous guests have graced the grounds in the past, including campmates from ITV's I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here - Hollie Arnold and Ruthie Henshall - when they stayed there after going through gruelling trials in the 2020 show.