Food reviewer Lucy Milton recounts her glorious five-star experience at Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton in Fen Ditton, complete with seven-course tasting menu and luxurious overnight stay.
I had the most incredible experience at Ancient Shepherds by Mark Poynton in Fen Ditton.
I got to try their seven-course tasting menu and also got to stay overnight in one of their newly refurbished rooms.
As soon as I arrived I got the best service, in the restaurant they took the time to explain the menu and go through the drinks options as with us. The restaurant was a lovely setting, the kind of place you want to dress up for, but it was laid back so you didn't feel out of place.
I had never done a tasting menu so I couldn’t wait to start. We had a couple of courses off the menu first including the best bite of my life, their version of fish and chips, which was a potato gratin with caviar on top, incredible!
We then got a sticky Japanese milk bun with some delicious salted butter, the best bread and butter I have had to start!
We then moved onto the menu, starting with cured cod with bitter orange and chilli, out of all this was my least favourite course, but I appreciated the good flavours.
One of my favourite courses was up next and this was based around carrots, which I know may seem like an odd choice to be a favourite but it was incredible, I never knew carrots could have so much flavour and the goats cheese in the middle was divine.
Up next was the sea bream, this was delicious and it just melted in your mouth. This was followed by the quail which was one of the best dishes I have had.
It had such a rich flavour which blended well with the pistachio, and although it was small, the richness meant that this was enough.
As soon as we started the next item I didn't want it to end.
We had the most incredible Binham blue cheese, with an oatcake and stewed apple on top. I didn't expect the apple to be warm so that was a nice surprise and every mouthful of this dish was perfect and I was sad when I took my last bite
The first dessert was an apricot and almond ice cream with a thin almond cigar on the side filled with apricot cream. This was a really refreshing course to have to break us into dessert.
The final course was of course the perfect way to end, a chocolate tart with mandarin, the filling was delicious and the tart itself easily crumbled when you ate it. I was sad when the meal ended and really want to go back to have it all again!
The overnight stay was great, the room itself was massive, even the super-king bed looked small in the room, which of course it was not!
The bathroom was lovely with a huge bathtub which I had to try out. It was a very relaxing way to end the evening, although the automatic light did turn off whilst I was in the bath.
The room came with a Nespresso machine and fresh milk in the fridge which was a great touch as I hate when you have the little pots of milk.
I also had a breakfast delivered to my door in the morning, I got a couple of pastries, a yoghurt & a bottle of orange juice, all of these were very tasty and a great way to start the day.
If you are looking for somewhere to stay close to Cambridge then this would be a great base and you have to check out the restaurant as well!
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