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hand picked restaurants

Situated in the peaceful hamlet of Ford in Buckinghamshire, close to Thame, Princes Risborough and Aylesbury, is the Dinton Hermit, a stylish restaurant, traditional village pub with a comfortable bar and thirteen contemporary and newly refurbished hotel bedrooms. The restaurant and bar menus have a range of a quality dishes available, with ingredients sourced locally wherever possible. The relaxing ambience creates an ideal spot for visitors to enjoy a relaxing meal during their stay in the pleasant country side of Buckinghamshire.

Starters feature soup, haddock fishcake and ham hock terrine with a goat's cheese crostini and crayfish with tomato and mango salad on the more adventurous side. Mains include wild mushroom risotto, salmon fillet and braised shoulder of lamb. The house special is the Dinton Hermit burger which appears at the table with green salad and chips.

Imaginative touches in the wine list include un-oaked chardonnay from Argentina and a pinot grigio from Hungary among the whites.

Under new ownership (2006) the Pheasant is embarking upon a new phase in its life, with Aaron Sheriff as the new Head Chef. His policy is to use the best of the local ingredients which, when you stop to think about it, is far and away the best, never mind most acceptable way of doing things.

So what is Aaron up to? First of all a sensible ten starters which could include soup of the day, a reasonable option now that chefs have learned the art of making really good soup, even if some isolated pockets of packet-pushers still exist in places; smoked duck and black pudding salad with a red wine syrup, a very good smoked salmon and prawn platter with capers, sauce and brown bread, or that old faithful, Thai fish cakes.

Twelve or so main courses call upon pheasant breast with sage and onion stuffing, slow roasted half shoulder of lamb, the pie of the week with all the trimmings, and mushroom carbonara with baked ciabatta bread. For my money it would have to be fillet of pork on a bed of bubble and squeak with a cider and mustard sauce.

It is inns like these that keep us all going. Minimum fuss, good quality cooking, good local ales, often a short but perfectly adequate wine list, all at affordable prices. Magic!

Desire is a restaurant serving Indian and Bangladeshi food, located in the famed Kingsbury Square in Aylesbury. A stylish and trendy place, they have a wide range of dishes on offer, along with a notable list of vegetarian options. Muted red and beige walls are offset by attractive black and white table settings, and the friendly and warm service makes dining there a pleasure, whether alone or with friends.

While the ubiquitous spicy and fried onion bhaji is there, a number of offbeat and unusual dishes dot the starter menu with king prawn puree, tender morsels cooked in a hot, sweet and sour sauce and wrapped in fried bread topping the list. Among the main courses, there are a number of chicken, lamb and tandoori dishes that are particularly appealing, while balti and seafood remain some of their long-standing specialities. The well stocked bar has a number of wines, beers and spirits to choose from.

For 500 years Rossini has stood in the heart of the village High Street, yet even today it feels as exciting and original as it was before, and continues its purpose of providing the people of Wendover with good food and drink. Enjoy an aperitif at the bar area before moving in to The Stable perhaps, with its reclaimed oak floors and stock bricks, for a cosier dining experience.

The menu has its roots buried in classical English, European and Mediterranean cuisine prepared using fresh local ingredients, complemented by a selection of daily specials. Ham hock and quail egg terrine with homemade piccalilli, and prawn, avocado and tomato rilette make for some interesting starters. Mains cover all bases from tournedos of beef Rossini and roast saddle of venison to oven baked fillet of sea bass and char-grilled honey glazed baby poussin. After that, consider trying an apple and pear tarte tatin or white chocolate crème brûlée for dessert.

Situated exactly opposite the Church of St. James the Great in the Buckinghamshire village of Bierton is The Red Lion, a 16th century public house. Geoff and Claire who have vast experience running pubs and kitchens make it a delightful place to enjoy a drink or dine. The interior features traditional low ceilings with oak beams, and log fires in both the public bar and the restaurant area.

The menu balances classic dishes with a modern twist, resulting in something for all. The daily specials board offers dishes such as fresh fish and seasonal produce. Options at lunch include chicken Caesar in a brown petit baguette with chunky chips, and homemade steak, ale and mushroom pie with shortcrust pastry and pan crispy potatoes. Oyster mushroom risotto with green beans, asparagus and courgettes and peas is a real treat for vegetarians.

Hartwell House is a magnificent 18th century country house situated some 45 minutes by car from London Heathrow and only one hour by road or rail from central London. Formerly the home of the exiled King of France, Louis VIII, it has been the home to many eminent guests and is now one of the top country house hotels. Standing in 90 acres of parkland with a lake spanned by a stone bridge, a ruined church and many 18th century follies and garden buildings, Hartwell House is the perfect venue to enjoy a superb lunch or dinner with friends, or linger overnight to fully enjoy this wonderful house.

The 3 AA Rosette restaurant situated in the John Soane dining room continues the theme of regal dining, producing mainly English dishes of the highest quality using both local, British and international ingredients, cooked simply yet retaining clear flavours. The à la carte dinner menu may include duck liver parfait with rhubarb crumble and corn leaf salad, pan fried fillet of wild seabass with crushed potatoes flavoured with herbs, globe artichokes and fennel froth, and lemon pavlova with wild strawberries and rose syrup.

No self-respecting French monarch would be without his wine cellar, even in exile, and the owners of Hartwell House have seen to it that this area has not been neglected either, with some 400 wines tucked away in a perfect temperature.