Each trip we make to Yorkshire has been ending with us dining at our wonderful country house hotel, Judges and our dear friends Sue & Steve have made a tradition of staying overnight and joining us for dinner. This was no exception and the quality and experience is still one of the best fine dining options in the region.
Despite Will's opinion that the weather would suck the entire week we were in Yorkshire, it actually was a gorgeous afternoon with temps in the high 60's, so the five of us enjoyed cocktails outside along with some yummy amuses of Sweet Potato en Croute and Liver Pate Tartelette (Sam got a Beetroot option). We perused the menus and wine list, made some decisions and moved inside to the always beautiful conservatory with views on the gardens and grounds. The views were enhanced by our very cute server George.
A 2020 Viognier Les Argelieres was a creamy lemony white with our luscious starters. The Pigeon with Brick Pastry, Mushroom Duxelle, Bacon Jam, & Red Wine Jus was on the dry side and the bacon jam was intense. The manager/sommelier Umut (which means "hope" in Turkish) said it was not as good as the Rabbi with Wild Mushroom & Rabbit Terrine, Loin of Rabbit, Rabbit Jus, Lovage Oil & Noodle Potato Crisp, but Will and I both loved the way these dishes sounded and decided to split them. Umut was right as the Rabbit was tender (there was one small cartilage in the terrine) and tasty with lots of flavor and not dry at all. Score for Umut, we should have listened.
Sam & Sue started with the rich Veloute of Watercress & Baked Potato with Sauteed Asaparagus & Pea Shoots which was a winner, while Steve had to have the same dish he tried weeks before and loved: Scallop with Cauliflower Couscous, Onion Bhaji, Curry Sauce & Coriander Emulsion: the return engagement was a hit.
We moved on to a 2009 Artemes Domaine de la Citadelle, Cotes de Luberon which was jammy and plummy and had aged gracefully; Sam had his last rounds of his Kopperburg Mixed Fruit Cider.
Sam's main was a starter (double portion) of Ravioli of Wild Mushroom, Radish & Asparagus Salad with herb Oil which he liked, but ended up being very large and seemed to need a more exciting sauce, especially as a main course.
Sue went for the Halibut with Spring Onion Mash, Pea Puree & Smoked Seafood Foam which she paired with a glass of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 from Kuki in New Zealand. Steve did a second repeat engagement of the yummy Cannon of Lamb with Pommes Anna, Mint Emulsion(I would have chosen this save for the mint), Baby Vegetables & Lamb Jus, while Will & I had the huge portion of Pork which was a Parma Ham Wrapped Fillet, Pork Pie, Confit Potato, Sage Crisp, Glazed Carrot, Spinach and a rich gravy on the side which was deelish, especially on the pie and potatoes.
We all were in a dessert move, save for Sam and Will went for the Banana with Rum & Raisin Panna Cotta, Banana Sorbet * Almond Praline(brittle), but I think the big hit was the Raspberry with Pistachio Sponge(cake), Poached Raspberries and a Rose-Water Sorbet that was really more like raspberry sorbet! A yummy bottle of 2013 Taylor LBV Port was ideal and we had some more of that back in the cozy, yet huge lounge with it's 19th century decor and feel. it was the perfect end to a wonderful trip. we love Judges and feel so much at home there, we know we will be back again next summer.
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