Delicious food with a twist
By Russell Harness
When looking for food with a difference in a nice location, the Inn at Cranborne ticks all the boxes and you would be hard pressed to find a warmer welcome than the one we received. We were shown to a table for two where we had a drink while we chose our meals.
The menu offered an interesting selection of starters and mains and I decided on whipped goats cheese and salt baked beetroot served with spiced bread – an inspiring combination. Claire chose the vanilla cured salmon with celeriac remoulade.
We waited with great anticipation and were not disappointed. Both were beautifully presented and my goats cheese was creamy with a hint of herb. The beetroot and spiced bread superbly complemented it in flavour and texture. Claire found the salmon delicately flavoured and delicious and really enjoyed the celeriac remoulade, which looked similar to a fine coleslaw, but was much tastier. Having been served with such unusual starters, we could hardly wait for the main courses to arrive.
I can only describe them as amazing. I opted for the roasted pork fillet with parmesan gnocchi, cavolo nero, (black cabbage), cauliflower cheese and cider sauce. The pork was tender and perfectly cooked, and the gnocchi was the best I have ever tasted. I couldn’t fault the meal. Even the cauliflower was slightly al dente, just how I like it, with a hint of cheese sauce and the cider sauce gave a wonderfully sweet twist to a fantastic dish.
Claire being a vegetarian opted for the butternut squash, parmesan and sage risotto. Cooked to perfection, she loved the explosion of flavours and said it was “Rich and creamy and warmly satisfying.”
We attempted to resist the sweet menu, but finally succumbed to temptation. I ordered apple and elderflower nut crumble served with crème anglaise and vanilla ice cream, and Claire chose a coconut and pineapple cheesecake which was a great mix of crunch and creamy textures with flavours to match. Both desserts were as delicious as they sound.
The Inn at Cranborne has a friendly and warm atmosphere and is very popular with the local community and visitors alike. I would recommend it to anyone looking for the perfect venue for a romantic meal for two or a family celebration, and will be visiting again in the not too distant future.
