Yes, it's a pretty decent backdrop to enjoy with a glass of Champagne
If there was ever a point we felt quite lottery winnerish at doing the job we do, it would be on a recent trip to Great Fosters with the Champagne house Charles Heidsieck. Sitting down to lunch in the award-winning gardens of Henry VIII's former hunting lodge in Surrey, on a gloriously sunny day to a menu of beef dishes paired with Heidsieck's Rosé champagne, all really was well with the world.
But if that's enough to make you click away because you weren't there, then the good news is you could be. The Tudor monarch's lodge is now a four star hotel with a Michelin-star restaurant and their new Executive Chef Rob Chasteauneuf (ex-Dinner by Heston) was testing out a selection of beef dishes on guests that day to decide which would eventually go on the menu and be paired with the Chamapagne.
Rob and Daragh give us a beef butchery and smoking masterclass
After a quick beef masterclass from Rob and Darragh O'Shea of O'Shea's butchers who supplied the beef, we tried three dishes, a beef combo of fillet of beef as tartare and josperized, paired with Charles Heidsieck Rose Millesime 2006, then braised ox cheek with Charles Heidsieck Rosé Millesime 2005. And then finally there was a short rib of smoked beef served up with a glass of the superb Charles Heideick Rosé Millesime 1996.
And it's that smoked rib of beef that's now on the the hotel's four course tasting menu served with the Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve until the end of August.
So if you fancy heading out of London for the day (it's about a 40 minute trip from Waterloo on a fast train to Egham) and wandering through one of the best Arts & Crafts gardens in Europe before a leisurely lunch or dinner, then now's your chance.
The chosen dish - short rib of smoked beef
Hot Dinners were guests of Great Fosters and Charles Heidsieck for this lunch.
More about the Great Fosters and Charles Heidsieck pairing menu
Where is it? Great Fosters, Stroude Road, Egham, Surrey TW20 9UR
How much: Short Rib of Beef with 2 glasses of Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve is £60 for two. It's available lunch and dinner every day except Sunday.
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Twitter @GreatFosters and @CHChampagneUK
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