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CALDESI IN CAMPAGNA Bray’s best kept secret
Hidden down the leafy Old Mill Lane in Bray on Thames is a restaurant that the local village dwellers would prefer you didn’t know about. It’s still possible to get a table at Caldesi in Campagna , the rural idyll for Italian fine dining run by celebrity chef Giancarlo Caldesi, without having to book months in advance. However that may not be the case in the future. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph by reviewer Matthew Norman was high in praise for their food and this coupled with a raft of great TripAdvisor reviews has meant that Caldesi in Campagna is really making a name for itself.
Expect seamless service, a creative twist on rural Tuscan dishes, an extensive yet reasonably priced wine list and an experience to remember for all the right reasons. If you visit at lunchtime and take advantage of their two courses for £14.50 daily menu you won’t need expect a big bill. The essence of Giancarlo Caldesi’s cooking and menu creation is all about seasonality and using quality ingredients, often from small local suppliers and you’ll notice this in the full flavors and quality of the dishes.
Don’t forget Christmas! They book up with Christmas parties very quickly so it’s well worth checking out the website for Christmas dinner and lunch menus and getting your booking in early.
L’ORTOLAN Reading’s Michelin-starred restaurant
Michelin-starred L’Ortolan is ideally located for corporate entertaining with ample parking and just five minutes from M4 Junction 11 making it easily accessible from all over the Thames Valley.
The restaurant is set in a Grade II listed building within its own beautiful grounds. The stylish interiors and warm atmosphere are a perfect complement to the breath-taking cuisine, fine wines and first-class service.
Executive chef Alan Murchison directs the talented kitchen team, preparing artistic food with an awe inspiring array of tastes and textures. The menus are modern French but with influences from other cuisines, contemporary and exciting, and produced using only the finest ingredients available.
Lunchtime menus start at £28 for the two-course Menu du Jour. Evening and lunchtime diners can also choose from the a la carte or one of the spectacular tasting menus (vegetarian versions available), all of which may be accompanied by a flight of wines selected by the in-house sommelier.
For more adventurous diners the chef's table seats up to four people in the heart of the kitchen where you can soak up the atmosphere during a busy service and enjoy a succession of exquisite food and wine pairings.
L’Ortolan has three stunning private dining rooms with a variety of menus and no room hire charge, making this an affordable option for parties of eight to 22 guests, or 58 for exclusive use
SAMPLE LUNCH MENU Tortino di grana padano
Grana Padano flan, chargrilled courgette, salad leaves ––––
Fettuccine all’aglio selvatico e pancetta
Fettuccine pasta, English wild garlic, chilli, pancetta
–––– Filetto di merluzzo all’acqua pazza
Pan-fried fillet of cod, tomato, garlic, chilli, white wine and sautéed spinach ––––
Bomboloni
Italian style doughnuts, vanilla sauce, sambuca and berry jam £14.50 two courses
DETAILS
CALDESI IN CAMPAGNA Old Mill Lane, Bray, Berkshire SL6 2BG
Tel: 01628-788500 Fax: 01491-570528
campagna@caldesi.com www.caldesi.com
SAMPLE MENU
GAZPACHO Gazpacho, tomato confit, basil
SANDWICH Goose liver & smoked breast, pain d'épice, spiced cherries, chicory jam
TURBOT
Fillet of turbot, citrus fregola, fennel & anise salad, lemon pureé, sauce Vierge
LAMB New season lamb, loin, shoulder & ribs with BBQ flavours, red peppers, sweet corn & new potatoes
RASPBERRY
Poached raspberries, white chocolate cheesecake, raspberry sorbet
DETAILS
L’ORTOLAN Church Lane, Shinfield, Reading RG2 9BY
Tel: 0118-9888500
www.lortolan.com
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