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Did you feedback to the kitchen about the Duck?

Actually think it is really good value for money - "We are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Good Food Guide with an exclusive evening with food created by Simon Rogan and our guest chef, the amazing Jason Atherton. You will receive a complimentary copy of the GFG anniversary cookery book and during the evening there will be a questions and answers session with Elizabeth Carter, editor of the GFG and the two chefs. Come and join us for this unique event with 'lots' of courses, wines and accompaniments that will start at 7pm on the 13th February 2011 and priced at £149 per person" The actual costs I am sure are more considerable than £30. The special addition cook book is I am sure worth in the region of £20 and to incude wines with every course, should be a really great evening.

Maybe you should have a read of this and reflect abit more, after reading this L'enclume will be next on my list http://www.squaremeal.co.uk/feature/hit-list-uk-top-50-restaurant

Having dined at Rogans on may occasions I just wanted to add comment to your observations. You mentioned that you selected the set lunch menu and at that price, I think what you actually get is a quality product made with the corresponding ingredients - a Yorkshire blue cheese tart would have been made exactly as it says on the tin......and not with a more expensive roquefort. You could have selected the a la carte menu?? I think in this climate offering less expensive set menus is the only option for many restaurants/pubs. "Point taken, however the food comes from the same kitchen,with presumably, Tom Kerridge and assists doing the cooking except using cheaper ingredients As pointed out above,some chefs have the ability to put a bit of magic into their food,thats what makes them special" I believe this was your post on the Hand & Flowers £10 lunch thread. Not only does Rogan's have to deal with customers being selective over price but they also have to cater for what is a predominately local market, completely the opposite to L'enclume. Your comment about Rogan's above the door is a fair point but just because he has opened a casual drinking/eating establishment does not mean he is going to recreate a L'enclume 2 in the same small village, as that would definitely not make good business sense! I don't want to nit pick over your post but I will be very interested to hear what you say about L'enclume.

The Highwayman is south of Kirkby Lonsdale

Would have been my choice, why not try lunch at their new place Rogan & Company and go for the whole Cartmel experience.

I cannot believe they haven't changed the name, Juniper is Paul and Kate and many young chefs who worked for them. They need to find their own identity. (I love you JB)

L'enclume - 2 of course!

When is it on?

Oooh are you staying in one of the garden suites? Stayed in one a couple of years ago and had a memorable night in one of the hot tubs in a howling gale!

I am looking to visit RHR in October and have tried to bypass the 2 months reservation policy - it's a long story. Does any one know what it's like to get a table at the moment on a friday night?

I'm not sure why your friend would make that comment. Surely you would visit L'Enclume for a completetly different experience to that of Rogan & Co.

Any suggestions for an evening meal out in Newcastle, up to £50 a head for food would be ok. Apologies if this has been asked before.

I agree with Rogan & Company

Interesting you should compare it to the Drunken Duck/Punch Bowl. I find both way to £££££ for what you get, espcially the Drunken Duck. I am always a bit confused by them. Are they gastro pubs, restaurants, pub, bar, hotel, restaurant with rooms?? I prefer the Punchbowl of the two. Rogans is more a restaurant, its more focused. I look forward to returning there. ← I suppose my comparison only relates to what else is in the local area, as really you can't put them in the same league, but I know which of the 3 I won't be visiting again. I was at Rogan's on Sunday night and it was suprising to see how many non diners where downstairs which gave the place a great atmosphere equal to any city centre wine bar.

Hmm. An interesting one. I didn't put up a review because, uhhr, I also have a very mixed reaction--I had full notes on the menu, but thats elsewhere in the country right now. We did the full 25-courser (part of my continuing 'recovering vegetarianism'). Some of it (deconstructed cartmel pudding, surrealist tequila slammer, something involving eggs being poached in front of you) was superb. Some of it was dreadful (the 'main' which was venison with banana was, well, even thinking about it brings me out in spots. I thought I'd have trouble with the venison, but, no, just the combination), and some of it was so-so. All of which is fine. I don't expect to like everything on the menu at such an experience. The real problem is to compare the L'Enclume experience to its peers (Fat DUck, etc). A 25-courser done with Rogan's expertise has to be about performance, the surrounding elements have to be right. And in the current venue, with the current staff, they're not. The staff are lovely, but the majority of them have such heavy accents its difficult to decipher what the dishes actually are (we only worked out the tequila slammer on viewing the menu the next day), which has to be part of the sheer delight at meeting such combinations. One of the dishes I totally misheard as 'liver' rather than 'vanilla', and my preconceptions of the mix implied led me to hate something that should have just been a bit bland (and Mrs W. loved). The room is still more suited to a leisurely lunch than to a very special (and very expensive) evening meal. With the exception of the opening 'dehydration/rehydration' and the use of a syringe for poaching egg in a chinese soup, there was no performance associated with the presentation, something that adds to the taste, the anticipation, everything. Heck, there wasn't even someone to thank us and say 'goodnight' on our way out, which, when you've spent 300+ sovs on a meal for two, is a little insulting. So, still mixed. We'll be back as its only ninety minutes or so from Manc, and its such a lovely village, but can it improve if Rogan is also working on the new place? ← Back to the original post........my understanding is that Simon has a new team in at Rogan & Co and therefore he is still at the helm at L'Enclume and 100% committed to it.

It's a shame you didn't enjoy your visit as much as you had hoped. I have been twice now and was also lucky enough to be at the opening and I think the place is fantastic! The food is wonderful and the service is relaxed but professional and just what Cartmel needs. I think what is also nice for the village is you can go just for a drink and I know it will be my local from now on. I think Simon and Penny have got it just right and it knocks spots off places like The Punch Bowl and The Drunken Duck. Good luck guys

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/lei...ith_sadness.php

Why dont you take it for what it is ! A description of the dish. Maybe you will enjoy it, may be you won't but at least give the place and the chef a chance. There are too many people like yourself that make they're mind up before even visiting a restaurant. Places can suffer from these kind of comments ie there too expensive,there too pretentious. Visit the place first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L'enclume was targeted by foie gras protesters on friday evening, just as it was two weeks earlier i am told. Is this a step up in tactics from these people or is it typical now across the UK. I eat out a lot and quite honestly i have never seen anything like it!

Unfortunately they are fully booked already!!

I am looking for a venue in Leeds that would be suitable for a party of 20 for a evening meal in December on Saturday 16th, preferably in the city centre. I have tried the top end of the market - Anthony's, 3 York Place, Brasserie 44 and even Simply Heathcotes but to no avail. Spend per head in the region of £50 excluding drinks. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Thanks.

Myself and three friends are off to l'Enclume tomorrow night hopefully taking in the 20 course gourmand, Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!! Glad to see Bertie enjoyed himself, its a shame he could'nt have made it for dinner and had one of the bigger menu's as this is when you see the true picture of L'Enclume. I've not managed to get to Leeds yet but just read Gary Marshall's latest posting on yet another culinary experience at Anthony's maybe i'll get there in the next couple of weeks and maybe bump into Mr Marshall himself as it sounds like he is part of the fixture and fittings!

HI SUZI MESSED THE FIRST POST UP WASNT SURE WHAT I WAS DOING, BUT THANKS FOR THE EMAIL. I'VE BEEN TO HOLBECK NUMEROUS TIMES AS I LIVE HALF AN HOUR AWAY, THE FOOD IS ALWAYS COOKED AND PRESENTED WELL BUT TENDS TO BE PRETTY SAVE, IN FACT I VISITED FOUR TIMES LAST YEAR AND THE MENU WAS MORE OR LESS THE SAME EVERY TIME, VERY MUCH TYPICAL COUNTRY HOUSE "ONE STAR" DISHES. TRY IT IF YOUR IN THE AREA BUT NOT REALLY WORTH A SPECIAL JOURNEY BUT THEN AGAIN I MIGHT BE BIASED AS L'ENCLUME IS A FIVE MINUTE TAXI JOURNEY A WAY !!!! HAVE BEEN FREQUENTING L'ENCLUME SINCE IT OPENED BUT NOW THINK CHEF ROGAN HAS FOUND HIS TRUE DIRECTION, BACK FOR DINNER HOPEFULLY NEXT WEEK !