The top chefs` favourite foodie hotels

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Source URL: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/travel/holidays/food/article4157618.ece
Food Holidays
The top chefs’ favourite foodie hotels
From Michel Roux Jr to Angela Hartnett and Giorgio Locatelli, top chefs reveal where
they go for a gourmet break
Fiona Sims
26 Jul 2014 00:01:00
France
1. L’Herbe Rouge
Valaire, Loire
Recommended by Ed Wilson (Terroirs, London)
Just 15 minutes drive from Blois, this gem of a restaurant with rooms is the kind of place you dream still exists all over France but in
reality doesn’t. Owned by natural winemaker Thierry Puzelat and his wife Cécile, the restaurant with rooms (three two-bedroom
apartments) in tiny Valaire offers delicious bourgeois cooking and a thrilling wine list, Wilson says. “The charcuterie is always good
and the cooking precisely in season. The wine list is driven by local producers in Touraine and the surrounding areas as well as
some obscurities from further afield.”
Details: Rooms cost from £150 for the weekend (00 33 02 54 44 98 14, restaurant-herberouge.com). Dinner costs £20 for three
courses
2. La Bastide Saint Antoine
Recommended by Raymond Blanc (Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxfordshire)
“I really enjoy eating at the restaurant in the Bastide Saint Antoine, run by my old friend Jacques Chibois. He is a great master —
one time I had a particularly wonderful camembert with a farci of truffle — and his cellar holds some special Provençal wines too.
The rooms in the 18th-century building are either in Provençal style or contemporary and I always feel rested there. If you stay
there, go to St Paul de Vence and eat at the Colombe d’Or. The food is good and simple and the works of great artists, who over
the decades have paid for their meals in paintings, are scattered around the room. It had a huge impact on me at the Manoir.”
Details: Rooms cost from £316 a night, breakfast £24pp (00 33 4 93 70 94 94, jacqueschibois.com). Dinner costs £146 for a
five-course menu
3. Château ‘Flash’
Melle, Poitou-Charentes
Recommended by Henry Harris (Racine, London)
“This is one I recommend with my motorcycling helmet on (it’s only for motorcyclists),” Harris says. “In the medieval town of
Melle, this is more pension than hotel — it’s basically three days of stunning guided motorcycling, with a great French dinner every
night and the opportunity to talk into the wee hours about all manner of bike nerdery. For confident motorcyclists, this really is a
dream weekend away.” There are seven bedrooms, though none are en-suite.
Details: A four-night stay, including breakfast, dinner and wine, and the guided motorcycling, costs £430 per rider, based on two
sharing (flashtours.co.uk)
4. Hotel Thoumieux
Paris
Recommended by Michel Roux Jr (Le Gavroche, London)
“This is my favourite hotel with food. The hotel is small, well fitted out and very Parisienne. It’s by no means a palace but it has the
added value of not one but two great restaurants run by the inimitable star chef Jean-François Piège. The brasserie on the ground
floor is busy and revisits great classic dishes to give them a contemporary twist. The first floor is the gastronomic dining room. It
seats a maximum of 20 and looks more like a living room than a traditional restaurant. The food is firmly based on classic skill and
technique yet it is light, innovative and has a sense of love that food should have.”
Details: Rooms from £158 (00 33 1 47 05 49 75, thoumieux.fr). Dinner in the brasserie costs from £34 for three courses
Italy
5. La Villa Hotel
Mombaruzzo, Piedmont
Recommended by Eddie Hart (Quo Vadis, London)
“I would not hesitate to recommend this place near Asti for foodies. The hotel is run by an incredibly charming English couple, and
offers tastefully done up rooms. Its La Vie restaurant sells great local wines — the wife of the owner is particularly knowledgeable,
and chef Charlie Mozley serves up good value food on a daily changing menu that makes the best of local produce. The best time
to come here, though, is when we do — in white truffle season, in the autumn. We eat out in some very good neighbourhood
restaurants too.”
Details: Rooms cost from £155, B&B (00 39 01 41 79 38 90, lavillahotel.net). Dinner costs £45 for four courses
6. Da Vittorio
Portopalo di Menfi, Sicily
Recommended by Giorgio Locatelli (Locanda Locatelli, London)
“This is my favourite foodie hotel. It’s a great place with a stunning view and spectacular food, although there isn’t a menu, as such.
Someone will come to the table and tell you what is available so it may not be what you had in mind but there is no doubt that it will
be the best of what was fished, hunted or picked that day.”
Details: B&B rooms cost from £71 (00 39 0925 78381, ristorantevittorio.it). Dinner costs from £40 for six courses
7. La Sommita
Ostuni, Puglia
Recommended by Andre Garrett (Cliveden House, Berkshire)
The picturesque whitewashed hilltop town of Ostuni hides a luxury find — Relais La Sommita, with its 15 smart suites and
bedrooms. “It’s a lovely historic boutique hotel in an ancient city. The food is totally southern Italian — simple, fresh and amazing,
from sparkling raw seafood to handmade pasta to die for. A real gem,” Garrett says. Chef Sebastiano Lombardi recently won a
Michelin star.
Details: Rooms cost from £140 (00 39 08 31 30 59 25, lasommita.it). Dinner costs from £35 for three courses
8. Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci
Florence
Recommended by Skye Gyngell (Spring at Somerset House, London)
On the Via de Tornabuoni, near the River Arno, this is one of Gyngell’s favourite hotels. “The rooms are very simple, beautiful and
elegant,” she says, “and it has the most lovely rooftop bar. It has sweeping views across Florence rooftops all the way up to
Fiesole. The food is good here, but I prefer to go around the corner to Trattoria Coco Lezzone, in Via del Parioncino, for bistecca
Fiorentina, and then on to Vivoli, in Via dell’Isola delle Stinche, for gelato.”
Details: Rooms cost from £100 a night (00 39 0 55 21 26 45, tornabuonihotels.com). Dinner at Coco Lezzone costs from £30
for three courses
9. The Villa La Massa
Florence
Recommended by Frances Atkins (The Yorke Arms, Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire)
Villa La Massa dates back to Medici times and was converted into a hotel in 1948, so expect traditional Florentine style. The
restaurant, with its views over the Arno river to the Rufina Hills beyond, is overseen by chef Andrea Quagliarella. “The food and
service is exemplary and it’s so romantic,” says Atkins, whose second favourite thing is to head out to a local osteria near by for
supper, Vini e Vecchi Sapori (Via dei Magazzini 3, 00 39 055 29 30 45). “A wonderful basket of fresh porcini greets you as you
walk in, which says everything about this fab and unpretentious restaurant.”
Details: Rooms cost from £350, B&B (00 39 05 56 26 11, villalamassa.com). Dinner at Osteria Vini e Vecchi Sapori costs
about £25 for three courses
UK
10. Monachyle Mhor Hotel
Lochearnhead, Perthshire
Recommended by Tom Kitchin (The Kitchin Restaurant, Edinburgh)
With 14 bedrooms, this hotel is run by chef Tom Lewis and his wife Lisa May, with Tom’s brother Dick. “This is a Scottish hidden
gem in an idyllic spot overlooking the Lochs Daine and Voile,” Kitchin says. “It’s a real family-run business and some of the
produce is sourced right on their doorstep.”
Details: Rooms cost from £235 a night, B&B (01877 384622, mhor.net). Dinner costs £55 for three courses
11. The Pig
Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Recommended by Mark Hix (Hix Restaurants, London)
Even the cancellation list is long here, such is the success of Robin and Judy Hutson’s New Forest gem, the first of four Pig hotels.
“The Hutsons have created fantastic and stylish affordable rooms that make you want to go back,” Hix says. “The chef James
Golding used to work for me and has worked his magic on local and foraged produce from the forest. They also grow their own
fruit, vegetables and herbs. James does his own smoking and curing too, which makes the menu unique.”
Details: Rooms cost from £139 (0845 0779494, thepighotel.com). Dinner costs about £34 for three courses
12. The Magdelan Chapter
Exeter, Devon
Recommended by Nathan Outlaw (St Enodoc Hotel, Cornwall)
This is Exeter’s quirkiest boutique hotel, its 59 rooms kitted out in mid-century furniture and contemporary artwork housed in what
used to be The West of England Eye Hospital. “I love the style of the place, but it’s chef Ben Bulger’s cooking, made with fresh,
local ingredients and offering a menu of crowd-pleasers, which makes you want to go back again and again,” Outlaw says. Dishes
include grilled quail, smoked aubergine and pomegranate, accompanied by an interesting selection of wines.
Details: Rooms cost from £160, B&B (01392 281000, themagdalenchapter.com). Dinner costs from £26 for three courses
13. The Gallivant
Camber Sands, East Sussex
Recommended by Henry Harris (Racine, London)
New England meets Old (1950s) England at this 20-bedroom hotel, a shell’s throw across the dunes to one of Britain’s best
beaches and a short drive from Rye. The wild Romney salt marshes provide chef Ben Fisher with some of his produce. “It’s good
local produce cooked by an enthusiastic young chef, who has worked at The French Laundry among other great dining spots,”
Harris says. Expect dishes such as Rye frito misto, roast turbot with Jerusalem artichoke and lemon, and Winchelsea salt marsh
lamb with garlic aubergine and buttery mash.
Details: Rooms cost from £125 (01797 225057, thegallivanthotel.com). Dinner costs from £32 for three courses
14. The Gunton Arms
Thorpe Market, Norfolk
Recommended by Kevin Mangeolles (The Neptune, Old Hunstanton, Norfolk)
An old hunting lodge in the middle of a deer park, the Gunton Arms was taken over in 2009 by an art dealer, Ivor Braka, so there
is original artwork everywhere. “It might sound and look rather grand but it has a very relaxed feel — it’s almost like staying at a
friend’s house,” Mangeolles says. “The restaurant is also casual — chef Stuart Tattersall, who is ex-Mark Hix, cooks in an open
kitchen, serving up great rustic food. A highlight is the duck hearts on toast.”
Details: Rooms cost from £95 a night, B&B (01263 832010, theguntonarms.co.uk). Dinner costs from £28 for three courses
15. The Three Chimneys
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Recommended by Angela Hartnett (Murano and Hartnett Holder & Co)
“The Three Chimneys sits in the middle of nowhere on the Isle of Skye — the setting is truly beautiful. When I first visited, it was in
the middle of the winter with snow so white covering the landscape, the beauty almost made you cry. The food is fantastic. I love
the chef/director Michael Smith’s food and his style — he is a true master of Scottish gastronomy. There is an amazing array of
Scottish ingredients, from lobsters to Black Isle beef. Their six bedrooms have sea views.”
Details: Rooms are from £345 per night (01470 511258, threechimneys.co.uk). Dinner costs £60 for three courses
Spain
16. Sa Plana
Estellencs, Majorca
Recommended by Eddie Hart (Quo Vadis, London)
Estellencs is a picturesque village with streets that tumble down the hillside from the Serra de Tramuntana mountain behind. Sa
Plana is a traditional stone-built house with four bedrooms and a larger suite with views over the mountain and the sea, and also has
a swimming pool. It offers traditional local cooking and their own wines. “Sa Plana is a charming hotel,” Hart says.
Details: Rooms cost from £78, B&B (00 34 9 71 61 86 66, saplana.com). Dinner costs from £25 for three courses
17. Hotel Atrio
Caceres, Extremadura
Recommended by José Pizarro (Pizarro Restaurant, London)
“What I love about this hotel is the location — right within the old walls of Cáceres. The town is a Unesco World Heritage site, and
there is a peacefulness that makes it a perfect weekend destination. Then there’s the food, of course, which is the main attraction
for me, not to mention the views from the restaurant,” Pizarro says. Chefs José Polo and Toño Perez have won two Michelin stars
for their cooking, and for their wine cellar. Pizarro says the squid with pig’s ear is a dish he will never forget.
Details: Dinner and room costs from £330 a night for two (00 34 9 27 24 29 28, restauranteatrio.com)
Portugal
18. Aquapura
Douro Valley
Recommended by Matt Tebbutt (The Foxhunter, Nantyderry, Monmouthshire)
In eight hectares of land on the banks of the Douro River, Aquapura has 50 rooms and suites, and 21 villas. “We stayed here while
visiting Graham’s port lodge and vineyards. It has stunning views of the Douro. The restaurant serves a modern take on traditional
Portuguese dishes and provides a great opportunity to drink all the styles of port,” Tebbutt says.
Details: Rooms cost from £155, B&B (00 35 12 54 66 06 00, aquapurahotels.com). Dinner costs from £35 for three courses
Republic of Ireland
19. Park Hotel Kenmare
Kenmare, Co Kerry
Recommended by Rowley Leigh (Le Café Anglais, London)
This Victorian landmark dating back to 1897 boasts views over Kenmare Bay, and the Cork and Kerry mountains beyond, and
has an 18-hole golf course and spa. “Everything is beautiful, with a wonderful wine cellar and a true sense of conviviality,” Leigh
says. Chef James Coffey makes the best of local produce. The 46 bedrooms offer old-school splendour, with antiques and objets
d’art.
Details: Rooms cost from £150 (00 35 36 46 64 12 00, parkkenmare.com). Dinner costs £58 for three courses
20. The Tannery
Dungarvan, Co Waterford
Recommended by Richard Corrigan (Corrigan Restaurants, London)
In a friendly seaside resort beneath the Comeragh Mountains of Co Waterford, The Tannery offers modern Irish
cooking at its best. Owned by Paul and Marie Flynn, it opened in 1997 in a disused leather warehouse. Paul is well
known to Irish TV viewers and signature dishes include crab crème brûlée. “I particularly love the food and the decor,
and the style of building too,” Corrigan says. The Flynns also operate a small hotel just around the corner, Tannery
Townhouse, with 14 smart bedrooms.
Details: £45 per person for a double room, including pastries (00 353 584 5420, tannery.ie). Dinner costs from £25 for
three courses
Related Images
2. La Bastide Saint Antoine
2. La Bastide Saint Antoine
4. Hotel Thoumieux, Paris
5. La Villa Hotel, Mombaruzzo, Piedmont
6. Da Vittorio, Portopalo di Menfi, Sicily
9. The Villa La Massa, Florence
11. The Pig, Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Gareth Iwan Jones/The Times
12. The Magdelan Chapter, Exeter, Devon
17. Hotel Atrio, Caceres, Extremadura
18. Aquapura, Douro Valley
19. Park Hotel Kenmare, Kenmare, Co Kerry
Publisher: News UK & Ireland Ltd
Published Date: 26 Jul 2014 00:01:00
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