Location: Butler’s Hard, Beaulieu Estate, Hampshire, SO42 7XB

Web site: www.themasterbuilders.co.uk

Telephone number: 0844 815 3399

Date of visit: 23/10/2011

Approx. cost per head: £57

Comments on wine list/beer: Ringwood Brewery beer from the barrel in the hotel bar. Wine list in restaurant mainly European.

Media link:

Review:

We recently stayed at the Master Builder’s Hotel for a one night break in the New Forest. We were very pleased with our choice of hotel and equally so with our evening meal in the hotel restaurant.
Like the rest of the hotel, the restaurant is decorated in a nautical theme with much timber and maritime décor. To quote from the hotel flyer, “the award-winning chef, Neil Dowson, adds his innovative flair to simple British and local food”. The seasonal game menu was very appealing not only for its content, but also for the way it was presented and printed containing old local photographs. My game salad starter was delicious with generous slices of perfectly pink pigeon breast served with leaves, grapes and sherry vinaigrette. The gamekeeper’s broth was my wife L’s choice which was a consommé served with an interesting addition of pheasant tortellini. My main course was the venison pudding – a wonderful suet crust full to bursting with chunks of venison served with a herby parsnip mash. I felt that the dish was a little on the dry side and had there been more gravy in the pudding I would have elevated my rating from very good to excellent. L moved from the game menu for her main course and gave a five-star award to the fish of the day – a generous fillet of brill served on kale, bacon and chestnuts alongside a creamy mash. Serving fish with kale seemed an ambitious and unusual combination until we tasted it and agreed that it works very well. So much so that L served grilled plaice on a bed of kale at home a couple of days ago!
The crème brulee of the day was ‘coffee’. It was large and scrumptious but coffee? Either the coffee flavour was too subtle for my palette or there had been an omission in the kitchen. The cheese board was a superb variety of flavour and texture. I must single out the Godminster organic cheddar which was unusually creamy for a cheddar and absolutely delicious!
The cost of three courses was £28.50 and we enjoyed a bottle of 2008, Tempranillo Arbucala, Valviadero for £26.00.
Would we return? Definitely, yes!

Mike Hibbs

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/food/ENTREE+Insects+Brave+eating/5624783/story.html

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