L’Enclume was the main reason for the road trip in November. A five hour or so drive from my home in Surrey to Cartmel is no mean feat, especially for someone who suffers from travel sickness. I blame my weak inner ear fluid. My desire to visit L’Enclume was born from my visit to Fera at Claridges (which Simon Rogan has recently announced parting ties with) earlier in the year. By no means was the meal at Fera bad. It felt rather industrialised which is unsurprising giving the number of covers. The cooking was polite and correct, but lacked character. It lacked soul. But as Rogan’s food is so highly rated by both food writers and chefs alike, I decided to make the long trek up to Cartmel to experience his cooking first hand.
My husband and I had a bit of a mini holiday up in the Lake District. I clearly use way too many hair products as I had earned us enough points buying Aveda products for two free nights at a spa hotel on Lake Windermere (annoyingly not good on weekends and also I don’t use that many as it took me about ten years worth of gathering points). It also included two free massages, so it seemed like a nice relaxing trip. We also found out that Simon Rogan’s restaurant L’Enclume in only a twenty minute taxi ride away, so we decided that if we were going to be in the Lake District, we should probably eat at the best restaurant there, right?
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We once saw Simon Rogan on a British tv program and been meaning to come here ever since. Located in the small but beautiful village of Cartmel in the Lake District this is a small hotel with a two Michelin starred restaurant.
The room we had was very nice and cosy and the restaurant was just a short walk away. The bed was comfortable and the bathroom had nice bath products from Simon Rogans line of bath products with local herbs and flowers. There is also a shop in town where you can buy his products to take back.
The restaurant serves a 19 course degustation menu and there is a vegetarian option as well. They grow all the produce in their own farm and also forage for herbs and flowers from the area. The emphasis is on the produce and extracting maximum flavour from them. Let me tell you, I was in heaven. The dishes albeit small were amazing. Once you get to course number 15 you want to stop but somehow you carry on and manage the rest :-)
Four courses of dessert which were fabulous and the Anvil - miso ice cream disc with Apple base was the best dessert I have had in a long time. The kale salad was fabulous as was the local lamb and lobster. Most of the flavours were new to my palette and I loved it. It's rare that I have the same opinion of the entire meal and not one course I did not like.
Would come back here in a heartbeat. Service was amazing and the wine list good. The ambience is fabulous and the restaurant is located in an old blacksmiths house. Worth the trip to Cartmel.
The presentation and flow of the tasting menu was excellent. The dessert was mediocre but no one comes to these restaurants for the desserts right?? I had a lovely cod dish that I enjoyed the most but I cannot complain about any of the dishes. Almost forgot that they make a dressing in front of you and it's delicious!! The waiter staff was interesting, there was what seemed to be a senior wait staff who was SO BLUNT! I wasn't offended but also was in shock as this is not the type of restaurant that you meet staff like him. It was funny but also strange. I enjoyed my dinner but have had better. I don't regret going but also would rather try somewhere new next time I'm in the Lake District.
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