* PICTURES of our Privilege Card holders luncheon held here on 2/8/06

An offer for all LWL regulars, just mention when you book that you are fans of the site & you will receive a free glass of wine with your 2 courses for £17.50 lunch!

Visited February 2006  10/10  

When we found out that the new 2006 Michelin Guide has awarded a Michelin Star to Le Poussin At Whitley Ridge we decided we owe it to you all to investigate why it is so special.  We even put on our posh frocks for the occasion!

Whitley Ridge is a lovely old country house hotel set in beautiful grounds in the heart of The New Forest; it would be a wonderful place for a relaxing break with delicious food.  Have a look at their web site for details of inclusive rates.  Both The Parkhill in Lyndhurst & Simply Poussin in Brockenhurst are owned by the same family.  Only last month a colleague had a wonderful lunch at Simply Poussin but at the moment The Parkhill is closed for a refurbishment which will include a Spa; it re-opens at the end of next year & I am sure it will be stunning. Later discovered they have just bought a hotel in France, it needs a lot of renovation, so they have a few very busy years ahead of them.

We had already decided we were going to eat off the very reasonably priced £15 for 2 courses menu, £5 any extra course, but Alex (now he is our friend I can be familiar!) suggested we could also choose from scallops as a starter. Two of us did.  He then gave us a taster of Pork & Prawns, before we had our choices of main courses from the normal menu.  As we had also enjoyed the Amuse Bouche and the delicious home made breads we were feeling pretty full but he insisted we try his desserts, in his words "they are explorations in ingredients offering flavours and contrasts".  I should get him to write this, he is as creative with his writing as with his cooking!  Needless to say the desserts and all of our choices were very special.  So special that I have made a link to our personalised menu "Tasting Lunch Menu for Ladies Who Lunch in Hampshire" so you can read all the details, sorry, my pictures do not do the delicious food justice.  At the end of our visit he presented all 4 of us with our own copy of our menu which he had had printed out whilst we had coffee (served with very yummy chocolates).  He had signed them all & put a different quote on each one, mine is at the top of the menu shown.

His skill is even more amazing as he is self taught!  Alex comes from the Romsey area & started in the business as a waiter in many local restaurants.  Having being at Le Chanteclerc for 5 years he decided to take the plunge & open his first restaurant in Brockenhurst, it was the very early eighties.  He had always told the French chef at Le Chanteclerc (the cockerel) that his restaurant would be a smaller version, hence the name Le Poussin (the chicken)!  Amazingly he had never cooked before he opened Le Poussin so he learnt as he went along, we all know the successful outcome of his brave gamble.  His wife Caroline has always worked along side him as front of house and both of his sons are in the business so it's a real family affair.  Alex junior is in charge at Simply Poussin & Justin is the PR guru of all the establishments.  A story we loved; Alex met his wife on the No 66 bus from Romsey to Winchester, SA & I also met on this bus, we called it Route 66, at the age of 12, hundreds of years ago, when we both went to Winchester County High (for young ladies of course!).

All the staff, & in particular the Maitre d', are very efficient & knowledgeable but the service is not stuffy; they are happy to help with your food choices so don't be embarrassed to ask for explanations.  To continue with our lonely hearts service there is a very charming gentleman, a Maurice Chevalier look alike, working here.  He is also looking for love so now its the turn of all you ladies of a certain age to rush on over!

Cost £ £ £ £ £  including a bottle of Viognier. 

Yummy Factor 10/10 which, as we have only given this accolade to one other restaurant, I hope they will treasure as much as their Michelin Star! I know Alex knew who we were but from what we observed everyone certainly got the same special food & service, just not the taster of Pork & Prawns or the complimentary puds.

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