Atmosphere: Fine Dining| Budget: $$$
I’ve always wanted to dine in a castle. I mean, who wouldn’t? It’s every Disney kid’s dream! So, when Kevin and I went on a road trip through the Scottish Highlands, we decided to splurge and treat ourselves to a fancy dinner at the Inverlochy Castle Hotel, a 19th century castle in Fort Williams which has now been converted into a gorgeous country hotel and restaurant. We had originally planned on staying the night there (the rooms are absolutely magnificent!), but in the end, couldn’t justify spending the 400-500 GBP/night. Dinner was still pricey (67 GBP/person) but it was definitely worth the price for the experience.
Being new to the U.K., I wasn’t familiar with the names of the chefs at Inverlochy (Albert and Michel Roux Jr.), but apparently they are household names (Michel Roux Jr. was a judge on the cooking competition TV show, British Master Chef)! There are several articles about how much influence the Roux family have had on British dining, including this one here: “How the Roux Family Educated the British Palate“.
The grounds of Inverlochy Castle are beautiful, but the inside of the building is absolutely exquisite. Everything felt so lavish and luxurious – from the elaborate patterned curtains, to the vintage mahogany furniture, and the sparkling chandeliers. We were told to relax in the lounge while our table was being prepared, so Kevin and I played an intense game of chess (we ended in a draw, in case you’re wondering…much like all of our chess games) while sipping on some wine and enjoying canapés.
After our table was prepared, we were taken to a gorgeous dining room with a table overlooking the castle grounds. We didn’t know what we would be eating, just that it would be a multi-course feast (the restaurant offers a set menu, with the menu changing daily based on seasonal ingredients), and we were not disappointed! The courses seem to continue, each more unique and tasty than the last.
Course 1 – Watermelon Soup, Feta Cheese, Watermelon Jelly, Sea Asparagus, and Marcona Almonds
Course 2 – Runny Duck Egg, Parmesan and Bone Marrow Crumble, Herb Sauce, and Winter Truffle
Course 3 – Roast Beet Salad with Grapes and Quinoa
Course 4 – Fillet of Shetland Turbot with a Roasted Garlic Sauce
Course 5 – Loin of Highland Hogget with Asparagus and a Red Wine Glaze
Course 6 – Selection of British and French Cheeses from a Trolley AND a Ali and Freiderike Gowers Handmade Bean to Bar Chocolate, Cherry Compote, and Passionfruit Sorbet
Course 7 – Tray of Assorted Sweets including Clotted Cream Fudge, Raspberry Macaron, and Pistachio Shortbread
Amazing right? When they rolled out the cheese trolley, I almost fainted of happiness and then proceeded to ask if I could have a sample of each of the cheeses (most of the other guests were selecting 1-2…embarrassing I know). They were more than happy to oblige, and even took the time to explain their favorite cheeses and what best to pair them with (for example, apparently blue cheese is REALLY good with truffled honey). The service was outstanding, the ambiance spot-on, and everything was delicious. Seriously, one of the most unforgettable meals we’ve ever had.
I loved reading your account of Inverlochy Castle and the dinner you had. This brought back so many memories as I did this a few years ago. How I am missing the highlands of Scotland, the charming people, the old buildings, the beautiful surroundings. Need to get back there asap I thinks. Fantastic photos as well. 🙂