Provenance and afternoon tea..

Provenance and afternoon tea..

Provenance and afternoon tea..

 
Interview
Provenance and afternoon tea..
 
Critically acclaimed Chef Skye Gyngell has worked in some of the best restaurants in the world, including The Dorchester. After achieving and then, in true rock’n’roll style, rebelling against the Michelin star awarded to Petersham Nurseries Café when she was head chef, she moved on to become the culinary director of Heckfield Place, a luxury country house hotel nestled in the Hampshire countryside.
 
What is the best thing about the English food scene?
It’s the most exciting country in the world for food at the moment and the variety is amazing. You can buy the finest shellfish like lobsters and crabs in Dorset and Cornwall, some great English sparkling wines in the vineyards of Kent and Sussex, and there are incredible cheeses to be found all over the country. And you can eat your way through the world in London. Places such as Coya, the new Peruvian restaurant in Mayfair, and Zuma in Knightsbridge, which puts a modern twist on Japanese izakaya-style cuisine, really stand out.
Which restaurants do you rate?
I adore The Sportsman in Whitstable as it sources the finest local produce, including Whitstable oysters which are a favourite of mine. I also love Bar Boulud at the Mandarin Oriental in London’s Hyde Park for glamorous yet quick and easy food that’s
absolutely delicious. They do the best burgers ever. For drinks afterwards I’d head to The Fumoir in Claridge’s. It’s just the most wonderful little bar with beautiful art-deco interiors.
Where do you go for afternoon tea?
It has to be Fortnum & Mason. Not only can you stop by for afternoon tea but they also have a whole floor dedicated to tea. You can buy some exquisite blends there – you get an all-round experience. It’s one of the best luxury food department stores in the world, and of course a favourite with The Queen.
Which food festival strikes you as unmissable?
Ludlow is a real foodie city and it has an incredible food festival. There are so many amazing cheeses to try and it’s all set inside a medieval castle in the beautiful Shropshire countryside. Ludlow is also home to some fabulous Michelin-star restaurants too, including Mr Underhill’s and The Clive, both of which I love. I also love the Port Eliot Literary Festival in Cornwall which is magical. It’s just the perfect combination of food and literature.
Share a secret foodie gem with us...
Daylesford in Gloucestershire makes for an amazing gourmet experience. They produce all their own food, including the award-winning Organic Daylesford Cheddar which is divine. In the evening you can enjoy a three-course meal created with their farm’s finest seasonal produce.