Eat and sleep in Cornwall
Aside from the great attractions, like endless beaches and stunning natural scenery, Cornwall is also a foodie paradise. This makes sense, since the region is surrounded by the sea. Some famous chefs really made a name for themselves in the local culinary scene, and the rest of Cornwall quickly followed their example. So, if you're thinking of visiting this incredible place, read on! I'm about to reveal some of the best tables in Cornwall, so you won't miss out on a thing!
Where to sleep?
There are loads of great seaside resorts, some lovely little local cottages for rent, and some pretty stylish boutique hotels in Cornwall. Whatever you're looking for and whatever your budget, there's something for everyone.
The Idle Rocks
We opted for The Idle Rocks, a countryside inn situated on the waterfront in the charming town of St Mawes. The rooms are tastefully decorated with a contemporary flair, offering stunning vistas of the quaint harbor and the sea. An aperitif in the lounge or on the terrace as the sun sets is absolutely priceless!
And then there's The Reef Knot, the hotel's fantastic restaurant where the chef makes brilliant dishes with the freshest ingredients. Breakfast is so good it'll make you smile. Have you ever eaten grapefruit brûlé? Not to mention the homemade pastries, the crusty bread, the toast with avocado, poached egg and chilli oil. You'll love it!
The Reef Knot, het fantastische restaurant van het hotel waar de chef heerlijke gerechten maakt met de meest verse ingrediënten. Het ontbijt alleen al tovert 's ochtends meteen een glimlach op je gezicht. Heb je ooit grapefruit brûlé gegeten? Om nog maar te zwijgen van het huisgemaakte gebak, het knapperige brood, de toast met avocado, gepocheerd ei en chili-olie. Hoef ik nog meer te zeggen?
Padstow Townhouse
Our next stop is Padstow Townhouse, an absolutely gorgeous 18th-century mansion that has undergone a perfect restoration. Top chef Paul Ainsworth is the creative force behind this hotel, which has six suites with their own unique themes. The hotel doesn't have a restaurant on-site, but that doesn't mean you're missing out on any gourmet treats.
At Padstow Townhouse, you get that warm, welcoming home-from-home feeling. The Kitchen Pantry is stocked with tasty delights and refreshing drinks. Just write down what you've taken. Breakfast is a real treat. In the morning, a large picnic basket is delivered to your suite, filled with goodies. There's homemade breakfast cakes and bread, fresh fruit, hummus, guacamole, cheese and charcuterie, even pancakes with blueberries, boiled eggs, smoked salmon, homemade jams and lots more, all served on beautiful fine china. Picture Fortnum & Mason in London! You'll be amazed at how much is in that basket and it's all really delicious.
Service is another great thing about this place. The house managers are friendly and very helpful. They take care of reservations at any of Paul Ainsworth's restaurants, make sure there's always a spot in the car park and they give tips and advice on what to do in and around Padstow.
Where to eat?
There are so many incredible restaurants, pubs and cafés to choose from – and we tried out a few of them. Our culinary adventures took us from pub grub to haute cuisine, but what all these places had in common was that the food was delicious.
The Reef Knot – St Mawes
We had such a great first dinner at The Reef Knot, the restaurant at our hotel in St Mawes, that we decided to go back the following evening for more. The dishes were creative, light, full of flavor and beautifully presented. We had a salad of fresh crab, which came with a piece of lukewarm lobster and a crisp carpaccio of fennel and apple. A piece of pork belly that had been cooked sous-vide and then grilled on the kamado, was served with a hand-dived scallop and capers. The steamed Dover sole came with a ragout of leeks, chanterelle mushrooms and samphire, and was just out of this world.
The Portreath Arms – Portreath
The Portreath Arms is a historic pub in the coastal town of Portreath, just a stone's throw from the beach and harbor. It's a family-run establishment that serves simple but very tasty food made from good-quality ingredients. We ate there for lunch and had some delicious local St Austell Bay mussels prepared Thai-style with yellow curry, ginger, pak choi and bell peppers.
The Mariners – Rock
From Padstow, we caught the fast water taxi across the Camel estuary, arriving at Rock Beach. If we'd been driving, it would've taken over half an hour to get there. Just beyond the beach is The Mariners, a gastropub owned by Paul Ainsworth. The pub has a large central window that offers great views of the marina and the hills around the estuary. The food is classic pub grub with a twist. It's made with top-quality ingredients and is really tasty. I had the best fish and chips ever, served with triple-fried fries and truffle mayonnaise. Didier went for a huge burger with smoked bacon, melted brie and tomato relish. All the good food left no room for dessert that night.
Caffé Rojano - Padstow
Caffé Rojano is Paul Ainsworth's take on an Italian trattoria. It's a lively place with a relaxed vibe and really welcoming staff. Like at The Mariners, there are different menus for people who are allergic or intolerant to certain things. Once again, the food is excellent and super tasty. We enjoyed flatbread with burrata and ham, and next to that, a serving of top-quality boquerones. I can't decide which of the main dishes I liked best. The penne with ox cheek and tomato ragout or the sticky barbecue chicken wings with chilli and Pedro Jimenez glazing. How can simple food be so divine!
The Seafood Restaurant – Padstow
This is the star restaurant at the heart of Rick Stein's business empire. He made Padstow a foodie destination and became a celebrity chef before Jamie Oliver. Rick Stein is a best-selling author, TV presenter, and travel expert who runs a cooking school in Padstow, plus a number of restaurants. He's a true authority on fish and seafood, and we got to taste his food first-hand. After a delicious serving of warm shellfish and a selection of high-quality sashimi, we enjoyed a generous Indonesian seafood curry. The grilled sea bass with olive oil and vanilla was a stand-out dish.
Paul Ainsworth at N° 6 – Padstow
If you're looking for a Michelin-starred experience in Padstow, Paul Ainsworth at N° 6 is the place to go. We sat at a table close to the kitchen, which gave us a great view of the chefs at work. We were served a really impressive gourmet menu, and all the dishes were absolutely delicious, but some stood out.
One of those was the crispy multi-layered potato with seaweed, crab and smoked pike eggs. The beef tenderloin was also amazing – so tender and paired perfectly with an oyster emulsion and crispy onion. And let's not forget the pigeon with salted plums and black cardamom. The Anjou pigeon had matured for 14 days. The breast meat was served with fine slices of red chicory and the confit leg with plum compote. There was also a crispy mini tart with liver mousse. It was all simply sublime. The dessert was heavenly: English strawberries with toasted pistachios, ice cream with toasted vanilla and madeleines with honey from Tasmania.
The whole experience was made even better by an excellent Sauvignon Blanc from Cape Town and a really professional service that was relaxed but attentive.
Are you hungry yet? I've got just the thing for you! Try my Caffé Rojano-inspired sticky chicken wings. They're absolutely delicious and I’m sure you’ll make them again and again!