When fast expensive cars and Michelin-starred food meet under the same roof, all is officially right with the world. This week, Hot Dinners was invited to check out the launch of the newest program at auto and dining hybrid The Porsche Restaurant at Silverstone, and we didn’t hesitate to put pedal to the metal (you'll have to excuse the motoring puns - there's going to be a few of them).
The Porsche Restaurant is an intimate dining space nestled in a balcony of the company’s Experience Centre, a playground for petrolheads with 3.1 km of specially designed track and gleaming cars to play out your racing fantasies. Horsepower and handbrake turns aside, Porsche appealed to foodies this week with the unveiling of ‘Fuel your Passion', a programme of seasonal dining evenings hosted by Michelin-starred chefs.
The programme was kickstarted off by Nigel Howarth, Lancashire lad and Chef Proprietor of critic’s darling Northcote Manor, who put together a fresh, seasonal menu to warm up a chilly night at Silverstone.
Working as partner and Northern consultant for caterer Baxter Storey, Nigel kicked things off with an imaginative goat’s cheese custard twinned with beetroot ice cream and rocket, which had the sommeliers scratching their heads (what DO you pair with cheese and beetroot). The menu showed the keen eye for best-in-class local produce which netted Northcote menu its Michelin rating. 
A wry sense of humour ran through the menu, with ‘lemon caviar’ pairing a beautifully-cooked native Muncaster lobster and a buttery John Dory resting on a bed of ‘squid risotto’ (flecks of tender squid without an Arborio grain in sight). High praise should also go to the beef carpaccio, softened with a pour-it-yourself runny egg and creating the perfect alchemy with marrowbone and caper toast, and wild Sika deer wrapped in herby ‘bread blankets’.
“I cook British food, but pull from flavours around the world,” Nigel said when we quizzed him on his menu inspiration. “I wanted a tight, seasonal menu with some of my favourite local ingredients – sexy food to enrich your Porsche experience.”
So what’s next for one of the North’s clearest culinary voices? “I have to remember I have a family”, Nigel confesses sheepishly. But don’t expect any slowing down. As well as judging the Great British Menu, planning a cookbook (or potentially four, based on the four seasons), Nigel is already dreaming of his latest menus back at Northcote Manor, having just closed a deal with a new supplier for Indian game bird.
In the meantime, look out for Nigel and a cast of Michelin favourites, soon to be popping up at a racetrack near you.
Further information:
Upcoming ‘Fuel Your Passion’ evenings at the Porsche Experience Centre will be featuring Nigel Howarth, Lisa Allen and John Campbell, as well as others to be announced.
‘Fuel Your Passion’ evenings will be running in March, June, September and November 2011, with costs from £95/head. Register interest now for tickets by calling 08443 573 911. The Porsche Restaurant also serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea daily.
