After repeated plans for 3 years to get to the Michelin-starred Star Inn at Harome in Yorkshire, we finally made it last night! We were joined by our dear friends Sue and Steve celebrating their 2nd anniversary a day early.
The tiny town has barely a dozen houses and the Star Inn is definitely the largest building with its thatched roof and little pudgy Michelin tire man sitting not only outside the door but throughout the restaurant.
It's a charming spot with barely a dozen tables and be sure to book early as we did...a year prior.
There is a tasting menu but we did not know it had to be prebooked so that's a great reason for us to return after having one of the best meals we've ever had in Yorkshire. The adorable cloth animals on the wall made for a fun replacement of the typical antlers and taxidermy.
We started with a refreshing 2017 Alvarado from Portugal, but under the British label of Howard's Folly "Pernshire," which was super with our snacks of Mac 'n' Cheese with Yorkshire Blue, Scallions and Summer Truffle which was as deconstructed as a dish gets. The Ryedale Brown Lollipop which a paté on a stick with Gooseberry & Green Peppercorn relish and marinated olives for the vegetarian. Sam was loving his sweet Kopparburg Mixed Fruit Cider(from Sweden) as well and moved on to a Cropton Yorkshire Cider after.
Bread arrived in the form of multi-grain sourdough with a divine crust and salted local butter and the most novel bread-Black Pudding Buns!!
Our second white was a real novel treat in the form of an Argentine Viognier from Mendoza 2019 Villa Viejo. The starters were all divine starting with my Lobster "BLT" with poached North Sea Lobster with Pockley Grown Heirloom tomato Gazpacho, Smoked Bacon Ice Cream, Parma Ham and wilted Baby Gem with Elderflower Mayonnaise.
Ploughman's Ravioli had Pulled Ham Hock and Yorkshire Wolds Beer Relish with Dale End Cheddar whip, Ale-picked onions and Waldorf dressing. Poached white Asparagus had Village Organ egg with mayo, herb "caviar" and seas coastal vegetables from the varied vegetarian menu had Sam happy. Posh Norfolk peeled Prawn Cocktail with Oak Smoked Salmon had fresh basil and marinated tomatoes with sauce Marie Rose, Bloody Mary sorbet and fresh Horseradish.
As Will and I had ordered meat, we switched to red wine and enjoyed the 2013 Rioja while Sue and Steve went on to a Chenin Blanc from Stellenbosch South Africa for their fish dishes.
Many wines are offered by small, medium and large pour glasses, which is a great touch!
Will order the Pan fried belted Galloway 10 oz Sirloin Steak with deep fried chunky chips and Bearnaise sauce which came to the table as chewy as could be, but was quickly replaced by an entirely edible and tasty steak within minutes.
My Veal...Two ways was a huge dish with a Roasted Filet with Wild Mushroom Duxelle, Foie Gras, Black Truffle and Tarragon Sauce that was divine. The second part of the dish was Pickled Ox Tongue with Oakwood Mushroom served in a small cup with Celeriac 'Pot Noodle' that were dried and poured tableside; I've it all and the meat was as tender and tasty as could be.
Sam went for the Caponata & Garden Lovage open Ravioli with Warm Poached Egg and the two fish dishes were Grilled filet of East Coast Wild Sea Bass with home-cured lardo, garden lovage Lishman's of Ikley chorizo, garden bean Ragout and shellfish Bisque and then Roasted filet of North Sea Wild Halibut with wilted gem, Granny Smith and almond, Oat milk veloute and toasted smoke eel pikelet. Check out the great photos on Facebook.
That cheese trolley was positioned right next to our table when we sat down so there was no way we were not enjoying the cheese and opted for 6 to share:
-Baron Bigod, cow unpasteurized from Suffolk, which we had had earlier and absolutely loved this brie-like creamy rich cheese.
-Old Winchester, a cow pasteurized vegetarian!! That's was Gouda style and aged for 20 months.
The cheese menu said it was caramelized, smoky and with crystalline crunches, but I have to admit none of that was apparent and we had hoped that Sam would like this as he loves aged goudas but there was no way.
-St. Andrew's unpasteurized cow from Anstruther, Scotland made by Jane using her husband's cattle it is a 14 month aged Cheddar that was tangy and kicky.
-Darling Blue is a Northumberland pasturized cow blue made on Doddington farm near Scotland which was smooth and creamy.
-Sparkenhoe Blue ID an unpasteurized cow blue(also vegetarian) from Leicestershire that was dense and savoury.
-Stinking Bishop is an unpasteurized cow from Gloucestershire that we always love..pungent and gooey and truly a favourite.
We were thinking about sharing one dessert when a surprise anniversary dessert arrived for our best friends who were celebrating their 2nd anniversary with us. That and the chocolate truffles, black current paté a fruit, lemon verbena sugar cookies and fudge brownie mignardises was enough to keep us happy and send us on our way knowing that we will return.
