Jumping into Jersey

21-Jan-10 - But there is, as they say, no rest for the wicked, and the following morning it was another flight, this time to Jersey on behalf of EAT JERSEY magazine. There were interviews with various of the island's gastronomes, including Sergio dos Santos, the sommelier at the Atlantic Hotel, Robert Jones, owner of the Castle Green gastropub, and Patrick Tweedie, the chef at The Oyster Box in St Brelade's Bay. This last is an amazing place with fantastic views out to sea, and was converted from an old café and gift shop in 2008. Oysters and other seafood are the main attraction, of course, but given my shellfish allergy I had a crack at the chicken, mushroom, pearl onion, smoked bacon and tarragon pie with rosemary sauté potatoes, which was simply superb - very much my kind of food.

I stayed the night at Longueville Manor, which is one my favourite places in the British Isles. It has 5/10 in the Good Food Guide, five red stars from the AA and four red towers in the Michelin Guide. The occasion was a celebration of a new book called A TASTE OF RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX, which features profiles and recipes from all 29 member hotels and restaurants in the UK and Ireland. We were hosted by Malcolm Lewis, who runs Longueville with his wife Patricia, and chef Andrew Baird cooked up the three recipes which are featured in the book: poached lobster tail and ham chowder, fillet of Angus beef with oxtail ravioli, and hazelnut sablé with chocolate and sesame ice-cream. The meal was, quite simply, sensational.

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