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FJB Hotels
The family owned FJB group of hotels is
responsible for four of the area’s finest
restaurants! Each year when the FJB reviews come
around it is practically impossible to decide how
they should be listed – as every one is a winner
– so this year we go from west to east!
La Roche restaurant at the four-star Haven Hotel
is simply sublime in every respect. From the view
– the restaurant is on the water’s edge
at the
mouth of Poole Harbour overlooking Studland
and Poole Bay – to the menu. And it is a wonder
that the menu gets the attention it deserves with
the distraction of the boating bustle immediately
in front of your table! However, once you have
torn yourself away from the view, you realise that
the menu does deserve your full attention and
this is down to the superb and regularly changing
dishes that are created by head chef Carl France
who has been with FJB for four years and has
maintained the well deserved two AA Red Rosettes
for cuisine. So once you have marvelled at the
view, choose for your entrée: Paris market foie
gras
with spiced Burgundy wine jelly, toasted brioche
and pepper shoots or artichoke velouté with truffle
spatzle or blue vinney cheese and chiffonade of
spinach. Main courses include fresh fish and locally
farmed meats – choose from diver caught Cornish
scallops with Pierre Robert panna cotta, capsicums,
peppered water shoots and beetroot relish or
New Forest farmed venison, Wellington style
candied roots, sloe gin and blood orange jus –
and excellent vegetarian options.
No review would be complete without a mouthwatering
teaser of the delicious desserts including
an Enjoy! favourite Valhrona dark chocolate
mousse, tea infused Agen prunes and Armangac
cream. Naturally the menu is complemented by
an elaborate and appropriate wine list. Booking is
essential for dinner particularly during the summer
months.
The much-loved and beautifully positioned
Sandbanks Hotel is the home to the recently
refurbished Sands Brasserie – which occupies a
conservatory style, octagonal glass building which
extends from the promenade to the Sandbanks
beach. The building is a stroke of genius as it
provides every table with panoramic views of
Poole Bay.
Diners can choose between a table inside where
the stylish furnishing includes a granite bar and
open fire or a table on the terrace – a fabulous
way to spend a relaxing afternoon or evening over
a glass of chilled wine. On to the menu and to
the accreditations which include four-star status
with the AA and an AA Red Rosette for food.
This summer you can also enjoy the spectacular
firework display on August 2nd right outside the
restaurant! Choose between tempura king prawns
with sweet chilli sauce or fresh pasta with wild
mushrooms, asparagus, sun blushed tomatoes and
Parmesan cheese or steamed mussels with white
wine, chilli and lemongrass. The main courses are
equally enticing with, amongst others, seared tuna
steak with linguine pasta, fresh herbs and red salsa
or baked whole Camembert with farm fruit bread
and grape compote (great for two to share!). Then
for dessert; peppermint parfait, poached kumquats
and milk chocolate ice cream or baked crème
brûlée, fresh raspberries, sable biscuit
and raspberry
sorbet or delicious 70% chocolate fondant with
dark cherry ice cream.
Harbour Heights joined the FJB group in 2003
and after a complete (and extremely stylish)
refurbishment, this boutique hotel’s fine dining
restaurant, ‘harbar Brasserie’, is now well
and
truly on the gastronomic map! Already critically
acclaimed with two AA Red Rosettes for food and
renowned for the most breathtaking view over
Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island – unbeatable
for sundowners on the terrace!
Once again choose between a table inside or
outside on the split-level terrace, both are so
beautifully lit by night. Starters include baked
‘Crottin de Chavignol’ goats’ cheese
with khol
rabi, Bramley apple, watercress and hazelnuts or
whole boneless grilled Portland mackerel filled
with creamed fennel, piquant soft herb salsa and
a
hint of Pernod. Then tenderloin of Dorset landrace
pig wrapped with basil and Parma ham, creamed
potatoes and Swiss chard and sherry sauce or the
house speciality ‘harbar’ coq au vin served
with
fresh pasta, wild mushroom risotto, grilled spring
onions, confit garlic and truffle oil. Desserts include
plum and lemongrass brûlée with shortbread
biscuits or warm chocolate fondant with pistachio
ice cream or warm orange sponge with marmalade
ice cream – all of which are divine!
And finally, the award-winning Seaview Restaurant
in the glorious and traditional Chine Hotel in
Bournemouth with, as one would expect, more
beautiful sea views over the treetops towards
the Isle of Wight. This charming restaurant also
overlooks the mature gardens and provides a really
relaxing environment in which to enjoy a leisurely
meal with friends, family or business colleagues.
Why not start your Seaview experience in the
cocktail bar while you peruse the menu? Then
choose between; butternut squash ravioli served
with marinated Shiitake mushrooms and tarragon
oil or skate rillete with samphire and lemon finished
with chive syrup then, for mains, rump of English
lamb served with smoked bacon and mint panache
with a red wine jus.
Wherever you stay in the area an FJB restaurant is
not far away – why not try more than one during
your stay? Between the four venues the menus are
varied and views captivating.
Booking is recommended and essential at peak times.
La Roche
01202 707333
Sands
01202 707377
harbar
01202 707272
The Seaview Restaurant
01202 396234
www.fjbhotels.co.uk
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