Dining out at the Haycock
While planning a trip to the Peterborough area recently, my wife, Barbara suggested making it into an occasion.
So, with the map out, we looked for a suitable place to dine for the evening meal. Suitable is really not the correct word to use, as "exceptional" would be more proper to describe the dining experience awaiting all who enter The Haycock at Wansford, the charming village just off the A1, near Peterborough.
With a fascinating history dating back over 300 years, The Haycock is proud to have had then - as it is indeed nowadays too - many famous guests crossing their threshold. Mary Queen of Scots has been a resident, as too has Queen Victoria. Many armies, who marched northwards, found sustenance and beverage at The Haycock in those days. Dick Turpin, the famous highwayman, would have thundered past on his way to York, astride his trusty steed Black Bess. The Haycock at Wansford has a truly fascinating history and today, a charm and attractiveness worthy of a venue of this calibre.
On Entering the building, the history, quality and excellence is apparent. We were very warmly greeted by Michael McGingley, duty manager, who after taking our coats, brought the menus for us to study while we enjoyed pre-dinner drinks in the bar area. Audrey, the restaurant manager, informed us our table was now ready and escorted us to the extremely attractive restaurant where all tables were candlelit, adding to the ambience, with the background music.
With freshly-baked breads of various types coming from the kitchen - sun-dried tomato, onion, to name two - all warm and really delicious, our lovely waitress Victoria informed us that the kitchen is producing breads and rolls, sometimes every two hours. It doesn't get any fresher than that!
For our starters Barbara had chosen the tian of avocado and Cromer crab with gazpacho dressing and I, the seared scallops on roasted beetroot with endive leaves and Tandoori oil. Both of the first courses were perfect, the flavours were particularly matched for each dish and I particularly enjoyed the roasted beetroot with the seared scallops.
After just the correct amount of time our mains arrived. Barbara had selected organic sea trout, samphire, brown shrimp and caper berry butter. Barbara said it was superb. Quality ingredients, well-cooked and presented perfectly, again with flavours to die for. I had decided on the emperor bream fillet, deep fried seaweed with beurre rouge. Once again, this could not be faulted. I do like bream very much and compliments to chef on this one. Both main courses were served with local vegetables and potatoes. With the wines we had chosen - a Pinot Grigio and a Merlot - to accompany, plus the hot tableware (Villeroy & Boch) we are talking serious quality here. Barbara chose the warm pear and pecan tart with Madagascan vanilla cream for her dessert, while I opted for the dark chocolate marquise with a white chocolate sorbet. OK - I have a thing about chocolate! Barbara loves warm pears and of course I had to try a little - as you do! I had to agree, it was "extremely" good. My chocolate creation was great. It is always a shame to demolish a creation of this quality and I feel that it should have been photographed first. With cappuccinos finishing off our evening at The Orchards Restaurant, which we took in the lounge, we both reflected on the truly wonderful dining experience at The Haycock, with particular thanks to Audrey, who ensured that absolutely all our requirements were catered for in the restaurant.
The new head executive chef is Paul Bray, who has been cooking for some 22 years. Having worked in hotels and also on cruise liners including the QE2, plus several restaurants, Paul has a whole wealth of experiences and can cater for all cultures, nationalities and food intolerances. Working alongside great chefs with Michelin and AA Rosettes quality, Paul has won many medals and awards from competitions and was recently in the top 20 chefs in the country for Compass Group National Chef of the Year. Paul has five other chefs in the kitchen with him, all with a lot of experience. Ably assisted by staff with two rosettes experience and also Michelin restaurants' experience from around the world, apart from top restaurant skills learned at Claridges Hotel, London and The Savoy in Prague, this is a team of superb quality. All fresh produce is used, locally-sourced where possible and the menus change every few weeks to reflect the availability of the fresh produce.
With 48 superbly-designed individual bedrooms it is really a serious consideration to stay over. Indulge the one you love with an overnight stay plus champagne, handmade truffles and dinner in the orchards Restaurant. Go on - impress her, or him! There is also an array of outdoor pursuits to take part in which can be arranged, such as Quad Biking, shooting, archery, rafting, fishing and crossbows, plus clay pigeon shooting. In fact I think on our next visit we had better stay for two nights to fit it all in! Not forgetting the golf packages and pamper packages, if those are your thing. I would certainly recommend a visit to The Haycock at Wansford. More information at www.thehaycock.co.uk telephone 01780 782 223.
As always - enjoy
Trevor Langley
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Stamford
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -5 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North west
