Le Paradis Restaurant

Should you need a break from the academic purlieus of Cambridge head down the M11 a short distance to this haven of relative normality where Churchill, Bader and Crosby sometimes took refuge during WW2. Surrounded by mature grounds, Le Paradis is the hub of the place.

The menu is a clever blending of English and French cuisines with quality and freshness of ingredients as its base. Starters usually run to about seven and could include home cured salmon in saffron and champagne with beetroot dressing and baby spinach salad, or pan fried quail and sweetbreads with pink grapefruit, infused chanterelles and sesame oil.

Funny how the starters almost invariably give the clue to the main courses and Le Paradis is no exception, headed by roasted loin of Limousin veal in rosemary, with white pudding sausage, apple rosti potato and roasted garlic sauce in the lead. The sauté turbot is served with squid tempura, shimeji, creamed potatoes and pancetta beignets, a really luxurious dish with great flavours.

The baked chocolate and cherry fondant with fig ice cream is yet another infusion of flavours that hits the mark for most, whilst others may be intrigued by a honey and mixed bell pepper mousse with thyme syrup.