New Cherwell Boathouse Tasting Menu
This year, the Cherwell Boathouse are launching a delicious new Tasting Menu for just £38.50 a head, and with a wine flight it’s £60, amazing value for great food and wine.
The Cherwell Boathouse is an iconic Oxford restaurant on the banks of the river Cherwell, close to the centre of Oxford. Alongside the restaurant is Oxford’s largest punt station open mid March to mid October with over 70 traditional punts built on the premises.
We caught up with the owner, Johnny Verdin, to find out a bit more about the history of the restaurant and how it has grown over the years;
My father was a student as Oxford in the early 60’s, and was familiar with the Boathouse. He saw it up for sale in 1968, and apparently camped out in the fields opposite to ensure he could close the deal, despite interest from some colleges. He always had a love of good food and fine wine, and we try to continue this philosophy, offering great food and wine at a reasonable price.
The punt fleet was in a bit of a state back then, and we have since rebuilt most of them on the premises. The restaurant was a more simple affair in those days offering a weekly changing short menu, very much aimed at the local neighbourhood.
I came back to work here in 2000 having had a catering business in London, as Gerry the head chef / restaurant manager was leaving – initially working in all different areas – restaurant, Marquee , and also the hut / café – though now confined more to admin!
In 2003 we rebuilt the kitchen along the back of the building, allowing us to expand the cover space from 35 to 75 covers, as well as utilising the decking / conservatory area. The Marquee and lower Boathouse areas continue to be excellent places to host all kinds of parties.
To the menu! Head chef Paul Bell joined in Summer 2017, and creates seasonal menus combining a more conservative set menu with interesting a la carte dishes. Where possible, they use local suppliers such as Vicars near Newbury.
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Jerusalem artichokes arancini
lemon balm pesto, roasted almonds
* Pinot Blanc, Les Jardins, Ostertag, Alsace, 2016 – 70ml *
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Chicken & mushroom tart Tatin
mushroom fricassé, cannellini beans
* Nebbiolo, Trediberri, Langhe, 2017 – 70ml *
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Cornish cod
wilted greens, Cornish clam chowder
* Chardonnay, La Roche Vineuse, O. Merlin, Mâcon, 2016 – 70ml *
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Caramelised Gressingham duck breast
Anna potato, chicory, blood orange sauce
* Grenache/Syrah, Chaume-Arnaud, Vinsobres, Rhône, 2015 – 70ml *
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Cheese
Please select a cheese from our a la carte selection
* Deluxe Cream, Capataz Andrès, Lustau – 35ml *
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Mulled cider poached pear
pear sorbet, toasted marshmallow
* Muscat de Baumes de Venise, Durban, 2013 – 35ml *
The restaurant has won several wine awards including; 2014 Good Food Guide Wine list of the Year, and 2013 Louis Roederer Wine List of the year from Imbibe Magazine.
Brice, the restaurant manager and sommelier, show cases these wines in their monthly tasting dinners (Sep- Apr), and has been at the Cherwell Boathouse for 10 years.
If you would like to salivate over more of their dishes, check out the Cherwell Boathouse menus, and book a table online.
Remember to tag us in your social media posts, we’d love to see what you tried in this beautiful riverside setting.
Love, Rosie
xxx
