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LLOYDS
Restaurant, Canterbury, England.
Eponymous
former Bank building near Westgate.
The décor was
stripped hardwood floors, Burgundy painted walls,
tie-dyed murals, wall hangings, ‘batik paintings’ and
candles on walls.
Chef’s
tidbit was tomato and olive oil emulsion.
The wine
was Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 from Napa
Valley. As usual dark cherry colour, cassis and big oak
+.
The water was Ashe Park estate bottled in
Steventon, Hampshire. Soft and neutral.
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Starter:
Trio of foie gras with toasted brioche, apple chutney
and Earl Grey jelly.
Foie gras and pistachio
sausage with crushed salt grains setting off the
harmonious marriage of tastes; my favourite +++. Earl
Grey jelly was an interesting partner with the salty
meat.
Foie gras, confit of duck and squab pigeon
terrine (with apple chutney) was almost as good with
particular mention of the chutney, which made balanced
counterpoint with the richness of the fat ++.
Potted
foie gras and Barbary Duck was always going to be
difficult, both produce being immensely rich. I found
that the apple chutney helped things along +.
At
first, I thought the portions too large for a starter
but was glad later…
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Wild
Boar braised with juniper and red wine on a bed of
woodland mushrooms and tagliatelle.
This type of
meat is challenging for the cook as it can be dry and
indeed it was. The meaty sauce was a little bland and
needed lifting with salt and perhaps, a piquant
accompaniment e.g. sweet-sour chutney. Furthermore, the
pasta was overcooked and wet.  On the upside, the meat was cooked until
tender.
Lemon and thyme sorbet [no picture]
cleansed the palate with a suitable tartness, which was
lifted by the thyme ++.
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Dark
Chocolate Tort, which I nicknamed Darth Vader Tie
Fighter Too.
Cherries marinated in alcohol were
perfect with the bittersweet chocolate
++.
Conclusion:
Lloyds is reputedly one of the
better “French-style” restaurants around Canterbury.
Based on the general ambience, staff attitude, starters
and desserts, perhaps I was unlucky with my main course.
I would not give my unqualified endorsement yet; a
return visit is called for to check out the rest of the
main courses.
[For the Canterbury Tour, please
see Travel Forum]
[For the Marlowe Story, please see
Belles Lettres and Beaux Arts Forum]
Pictures
and text copyright Melvyn Teillol-Foo
2003.
MTF
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