Off the Eaten Track
by Lea Harris on May 2nd 2009
La Tour
If there is one place I’ve got marked down for a break, it has to be the 16th Century tower, La Tour, nestled in the Dordogne halfway between Perigueux and Bergerac. Owned by John and Nichola Fletcher (they can be found on their stall at Edinburgh Farmers’ Market), this tiny gem is right in the heart of one of the best food and wine producing areas in France. La Tour has been lovingly restored; the bedroom and stairs have been made by the Workshop of Tim Stead (those of you who have eaten at La Garrigue on Jeffrey Street would have sat on chairs and eaten at the tables made by the same studio). Set in about two acres of private meadow with a huge pool, what better way to spend lazy days whatever the season.
Southern Star
I spent a few days in Cornwall back at the start of March and had the pleasure of dining at Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant, one of the south’s talented chefs. Having achieved Michelin status in 2008 and gaining ‘Rising 2 Star’ status this year, I can report that food produced from his kitchen is divine, staff are exceptionally friendly and the setting is beautifully romantic with tables overlooking the Fowey estuary. It’s not cheap (the Tasting Menu with wines is £100 a head) and the eight courses feature local seafood and fish, as I’d expect, but what came as a bit of a shock (a pleasant one) was the venison came from the Buccleuch Estate! That’s not all that’s Scottish - three of the chefs are from Edinburgh – two of them from Martin Wishart’s stable and one young waiter is from Glasgow. Not for every day dining, but for a bit of sheer indulgence I’d hop on a budget jet to sample his peanut butter mousse, with banana ice cream and espresso syrup.
The Marina Villa Hotel & Restaurant Nathan Outlaw, www.themarinahotel.co.uk
Esplanade
Fowey
Cornwall PL23 1HY
Tel: 01726 833315