SONNET

Tucked away in the medieval bustling town of Alnwick lies Sonnet. The newest adventure of chef Gary McDermott, his partner Claudia Mazareanu and their faithful friend and chef Rhys Veal. Playing on the concept of a fourteen-line poem, they entice you into a wonderful adventure focusing on simplicity and local produce.

The minimalist interior allows you to feel relaxed and focused on the dishes at hand, without being too serious, with their framed print of a tattooed William Shakespeare.

Our culinary experience began with three appetizers.

A chicken cigar filled with chicken liver parfait and smoked chicken served with sweetcorn and a chili jam garnish. Personally, I felt the chili sauce was too strong and masked the flavor of the chicken. However, my partner disagreed.

Next up was a thick silky pea purée topped with finely shredded ham and fresh chopped peas for an added texture (all I can say is….WOW!).

To finish off the appetizers: a crispy, salty seaweed cracker layered with meaty crab, crunchy apple, and caviar for a flavorful aftertaste.

The menu featured a selection of dishes such as French Toast, a seasonal asparagus dish called 'Spring is Here', ruby trout, cured cod served with a satay sauce and a peanut praline, and potato press accompanied by local lamb, lamb's liver with a sprinkling of crispy onions, and ham fat smoked aubergine.

"Cheese What?" A witty wordplay that brings a playful element to the menu. Traditionally, a cheese platter would be next. Instead, we were presented with a silky soft cheese ice cream surrounded by pickled walnuts as well as some candied truffle and honey. This divine food was a pleasant surprise taking us from savory to sweet. Not something I would have typically selected based on the menu description alone. I usually don't lean towards sweet foods, but I must say that the puddings and desserts truly stole the show during this meal.

The Cube: a delectable combination of chocolate mousse, miso caramel, and banana.

Then, before long we were bestowed with rhubarb & custard; however, not served in the traditional manner as many of us may remember from our younger years. This cloud-like rhubarb soufflé became a show as they poured warm custard on top, boring a hole straight through the center as the walls stood their ground until my last mouthful. This was all served with a cool refreshing rhubarb

compote.

Now just before you have had your fill, tea, coffee and a homemade sausage roll to take away with you finished our poem off with style.

I think Sonnet has definitely made a mark. I don’t know of anywhere else serving fourteen courses. Hopefully, they can keep up with an ever-changing menu and the pressure of running a restaurant. I hope to see you in the Michelin guide one day as it will be very much deserved. Going forward, I would hope they would consider offering wine pairings and invest in a few decanters. Last but not least, I must mention Alex who helped make our evening so enjoyable. I wish you all the best and look forward to returning soon.

Dinner - £85 per person

Lunch - £40 per person (5 courses)

Open Wednesday to Saturday