Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Where to Eat
Brasserie Blanc
FRENCH/CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH Already a bit of a
dining legend in Oxford, Master Chef Raymond Blanc's
brasserie de luxe
has decor
inspired by turn-of-the-20th-century Paris, a row of unusual sculptures that runs up
the middle, and a hip and knowledgeable staff. Cuisine is beautifully presented and
prepared with the freshest available ingredients. Mouth-watering examples include
Raymond's hot smoked salmon and haddock fishcake; Loch Fyne mussels in white
wine and cream; and pork and leek sausages, with chive and mustard butter sauce
and mash.
Queen's Hotel, the Promenade.
&
01242/266801.
www.brasserieblanc.com. Reservations recom-
mended. Main courses £7.25-£15 lunch, £8.25-£16 dinner; fixed-price 2-course lunch £13, 3-course lunch
£15; fixed-price 2-course dinner £16, 3-course dinner £18. AE, DC, MC, V. Daily noon-2:45pm and 5:30-
10:30pm.
Daffodil
CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH It's hard to top this magnificent set-
ting in the auditorium of a former 1920s' Art Deco cinema, where the old movie
screen has been replaced with the kitchen. The food is top-notch—check out the
homemade salmon fishcakes or roast venison—and the service is usually friendly and
attentive, but it can be hit and miss when it gets busy. It is best to avoid the restaurant
altogether during the Christmas office-party season.
18-20 Suffolk Parade.
&
01242/700055.
www.thedaffodil.com. Reservations recommended. Main
courses £14-£21. Fixed-price lunch £14 for 2 courses, £16 for 3 courses. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Fri noon-
2pm and 6:30-10pm, Sat noon-2pm and 6-10:30pm.
Le Champignon Sauvage
FRENCH This Michelin-star winner is among
the culinary highlights of the Cotswolds, with top-notch French cuisine and espe-
cially scrumptious desserts. Main courses can include such artfully crafted dishes as
wood pigeon with a carrot tagine; lamb with pea purée, pistachio and wilted lettuce;
and hake poached with artichokes. Dessert choices include a sensational bitter
11
Festival Town
Cheltenham has a well-deserved repu-
tation as a cultural center, with an
especially rich line-up of annual festi-
vals. The
Folk Festival
(tickets from
£25)
kicks things off in February, while
the
Jazz Festival
(end Apr-early May)
features a roster of international artists
and the
Science Festival
(June) boasts
lectures from a who's who of British
and international science. Also in June,
the alternative
Wychwood Music Festi-
val
(www.wychwoodfestival.com) at
Cheltenham Racecourse offers 3 days
of music, comedy, cabaret, workshops,
and film from £100. The
Music Festival
(July) showcases classical music, while
the
Literature Festival
(Oct) offers an
eclectic schedule of events, talks, and
readings. See www.cheltenhamfestivals.
co.uk for more details. For something a
bit more offbeat, try the annual
Cheese
Rolling Festival
(www.cheese-rolling.
co.uk), at Cooper's Hill, 6 miles south
of town on the A46. Usually held at the
end of May, huge rounds of Double
Gloucester cheese are rolled down the
hill to wild (and boozy) applause—
check the website first, as the authori-
ties often try to ban or limit
attendance. Note that the “Cheltenham
Festival” actually refers to horse racing
(p. 432).
