The first of the summer wine

“In France, June is the month when the fruit is setting in clusters of little green grapes on the vines, epicurean markets crop up everywhere like delicious wild mushrooms and everyone prays for fine weather to bring a good wine harvest. In my adopted country, England, the summer is often so short that it feels we spend more time getting ready for it than we do enjoying it. But when it comes, it is glorious. Breakfast al fresco, coffee and lunch breaks taken in the sunshine, long lazy lunches with friends, and endless balmy evenings when we sit outside under the wisteria and share a glass of wine, a meal, and our day. Aah, life is good!

So how to make the most of this glorious, sometimes short, summer weather? As a Frenchman naturally I think the answer lies in the Summer Wine. To celebrate the noble grape we are giving a complimentary glass of wine to our guests this June, with every set menu – those in the know have more detail for you below!*

Chef Clive has produced some superb summer dishes so you can enjoy your wine with our beautifully delicate smoked beetroot & fresh curd salad or savour it with a summer favourite; poached baby plaice with summer vegetables and a herby white wine jus. I can almost feel all the flavours bursting on my tongue.

>Try the recipe for the baby plaice, or surrender to summer and allow my chefs to cook it for you at one of our brasseries, as part of our Menu Maman Blanc set menu for June.”