The Man Bird and I went to experience the Chefs Kitchen Table at The Cavendish Hotel, Baslow at the kind invitation of Head Chef, Alan Hill, in July 2016. So blown away were we by this amazing experience (which can accommodate up to 4 people per sitting) that I was determined my Mummy and Daddy Bird should have this as one of their Christmas surprise presents. Many emails flew back and forth between Sticky HQ and the Cavendish Hotel team setting the date and discussing dietary requirements etc etc. Having to keep it secret was just about killing me, but I did manage to do it, knowing that the end result would be well worth it.
Fast forward to the festive season, and a rather hefty envelope landed on the mat at the Tribal Elders nest informing them of their treat. Soon after, I received a telephone call from a feverishly excited Mummy Bird and it was then a matter of waiting for Saturday 4th February 2017 to arrive.
Knowing that a fair amount of alcohol would be involved during the course of the evening, The Boy Wonder offered to be chauffeur; so I booked a table for us in nearby Bakewell that would mean we could be on standby to pick them up later on.
The Kitchen Table experience menu varies according to seasonal availability of produce, Chefs whim and any dietary restrictions of the guests. This means that no two nights will be exactly the same. Normally there are eight courses, excluding Champagne and Canapés (Mummy and Daddy had an extra surprise course from Chef Steve of Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas in homage to it ALWAYS being Fish & Chip night on Saturdays at the Elders nest!)
I shall quickly list the evening’s menu, bullet point style, for your perusal dear reader;
As far as drinks go, there are a couple of options available; adhoc beverages, a bottle of wine or the Wine Pairing with each course. We had included a bottle of wine up to a certain value as part of The Elders Christmas gift, but on the night itself they fancied upgrading to the Wine Flight (we just settled the difference at the end when we collected them). The Sommelier himself was very knowledgeable and my parents said how much they had learned during the course of the evening from him.
They enjoyed each and every morsel that passed their lips, and I have never in my life seen them so animated! To say they were overwhelmed by the whole experience would be the understatement to end them all. Truly, there aren’t enough superlatives to describe how thrilled they were with their evening. I think that my Daddy in particular really didn’t get all the fuss that The Man Bird and I made when we went in July, and having gone himself he now can appreciate its brilliance.
Another thing that impressed The Tribal Elders was the efficiency of all the staff within the Cavendish Hotel; nothing was too much trouble for them and they were always extraordinarily polite and efficient in their service. The Boy Wonder and I were thrilled ourselves to see a familiar face in the team when we arrived to collect Mummy and Daddy Bird at the end of their evening. You may recall that we visited Peppercorn in Dore Village in May 2016 and a lovely young man named Michael had only been there a week when we went. Anyhow, he recognised us and came over to say hello; bizarrely he had only been in employ at the Cavendish Hotel for two weeks, but was absolutely loving itJ Michael has such a lovely unflappable nature that I think he will quickly become popular with fellow workers and guests alike.
If you or someone in your family enjoys great food then this is definitely something they would be keen to experience. The Cavendish Hotel team are extremely friendly, helpful and professional so contact them to discuss your requirements.
I cannot praise the Cavendish Hotel team enough; they have given my parents an unforgettable evening that they will always cherish.
