For A Limited Time Only: Robert Thompson At Northwood House, Isle Of Wight
Originating in the US and ranging from rooftop restaurants atop famous department stores to front-room brasseries, the pop-up is the latest craze to sweep across the restaurant business. Appearing over night and disappearing just as quickly, these blink-and-you’ll-miss-it restaurants trade on their transience. They let food lovers enjoy great food in a less formal environment, and their brief life cycle adds an extra, for-those-in-the-know appeal.
The fact that Michelin-starred chef Robert Thompson has set up his own summer pop-up at Northwood House on the Isle of Wight is proof positive of the prevalence of this culinary trend. Having earned a reputation for serving exquisitely prepared, mouth-watering dishes that make use of the best Isle of Wight produce at the Hambrough in Ventnor, Thompson has chosen to branch out and head north to raise money for the Northwood House Charitable Trust and to offer visitors to Cowes Week the chance to savour the best food on the island.
Robert Thompson has worked hard to design a menu that can live up to the impressive surroundings of the Grade II* listed Northwood House, since the food is the thing when it comes to pop-ups. With the emphasis squarely on seasonality, he has designed a menu that’s as fresh as air. As well as a few crowd favourites from the Hambrough, lucky diners will be able to choose from a number of new dishes such as organic eggs, with watercress, girolles and summer truffles and Arreton strawberries with mascarpone, lemon and mint. In Thompson’s words, “it’s going to be all about the flavours of a perfect Isle of Wight summer.”
But if there’s a unique selling point here, it’s surely the setting. Thompson couldn’t have chosen a better backcloth against which to showcase his culinary talents. Exuding Regency elegance, Northwood was designed by John Nash and was built in 1837. Since 1929, the house has been held in trust by the town, and its trustees have to endeavour sedulously to ensure its preservation. A percentage of the pop-up’s profits will be donated to the trust to help secure the survival of this Isle of Wight architectural gem.
Having kicked off with successful charity gala, the restaurant has been up and running since July 15. And although Cowes Week is drawing to a close there’s still time to get in on the pop-up act, since the restaurant is going to stay open until the end of August. Don’t forget to pick up your ticket for the summer raffle to give yourself a chance of winning the top prize of a slap-up, Michelin-starred dinner for two and full B&B at the chic Hambrough hotel in Ventnor.
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