This week Experience Henley were invited to the exclusive pre-launch of the opening of The Oak Room at Danesfield House where guests can now experience an outstanding seven-course tasting menu.

The pre-launch event featured a wonderfully curated menu of dishes by Executive Chef, Matthew Edmonds. All brilliantly executed and beautifully pared with excellent wines for each dish.

The menu is quite playful but holds on to tradition. ‘Snacks’ were delivered to the table and gave a great indication of what was to come. Excellent bread, whipped butters including a chicken & Foie Gras butter with crispy chicken skin, the most flavoursome chicken liver parfait, cheddar gougere and a wonderfully briny mouthful of Loch Duart salmon with oyster.

All of the courses were creative, bold and punchy. A particular favourite was the Orkney Scallop Ceviche with exciting pops of citrus and heat, with lime, passionfruit, jalapeno and pomegranate gels (top image).

What followed were classic Autumn flavours using local produce, Berkshire wood pigeon with wild mushrooms and truffle, whipped Wigmore Cheese with grape and raisin, and Miso Langoustine in a deep, umami rich bisque with caper puree and radish.

Chocolate and venison are a perfect match but it takes skill pull out the nuances of flavour of the chocolate sauce to complement the venison. Chef accompanies the deer dish to the table to dress the plate which is served alongside Crisp Pommes Anna with blackberry and the accompanying root vegetables on the plate were wonderfully earthy.

To finish the autumnal journey, Toffee apple but not as you know it, and Pumpkin, parkin and chestnut…perfect. All we needed was a crackling fire.

Petit fours ended the meal with fluffy oven warm madeleines, macarons and salted caramel chocolate bonbons that gave a wonderful crack & pop followed by a little river of caramel.

Hat tip to Chef Matt Edmunds and the team for pulling this experience together, it was thumbs up from Experience Henley and we would highly recommend a visit.

The official opening of the tasting menu at The Oak Room, Danesfield House is from Wednesday, 9th October and bookings are now open danesfieldhouse.co.uk/dining