Muddy reviews: The Truffle Pig, Hythe
Deli dishes by day and five-course tasting menus by night, we have got the inside scoop about The Truffle Pig which has just landed in our new favourite Kent hot-spot, Hythe. Let us enlighten you…
THE LOCATION
You will find The Truffle Pig on the old Hythe High Street which is apparently the UK’s longest high street so save that one for your next trivia night.
If you haven’t explored Hythe yet, make a point about going as we love it for its stunning shores, unique history, expansive wildlife escapes and its strong community feel. There are indie stores aplenty as well as top notch eateries hidden away but despite all this it very much retains its low-key, down-to-earth vibe.
Once a strategic harbour, Hythe is now an upmarket seaside neighbour to fashionable Folkestone and provided the backdrop for Daisy Haggard’s BBC quirky comedy, Back to Life.
Accessible within an hour from London by train, with stunning views of the English Channel, you can see why more people are looking at Hythe as a holiday destination or a re-location. The M20 will take you into London, it’s 10 minutes to the Channel Tunnel and 30 minutes to the M25 so easy peasy to get to for some seaside fun.
THE LOWDOWN
Chef founders, Clare and Russell of Touchays Bespoke Event Catering company who operate weddings far and wide in Kent, are the brains behind The Truffle Pig. The wanted to create tasty grab-and-go dishes, using local and seasonal ingredients, perfect for holiday-makers and locals to take away, plus give back to the community on their doorstep.
We love the sound of the hampers, perfect for taking to the beach or the picturesque Royal Military Canal on a sunny day. The Truffle Pig also has a great range of dine-out food so you can host your own dinner party without all the hard work.
The deli has a restaurant area where the beautiful fresh deli dishes can be eaten on site. Choose from grazing boards, Truffle Pig specials, salads, sandwiches, bread of the day, afternoon tea and a selection of coffees and drinks plus their breakfasts are infamous.
Our Muddy mission was to try one of their Tasting Evenings (hosted every Friday and Saturday night) by their team of chefs who flex their creative muscles and create intimate tasting evenings.
THE VIBE
Expect exposed brick walls (the wallpaper variety although you need to look really hard to detect that) with potted plants, colourful artwork and rustic-chic furniture as well as deli items tantalizingly on display.
The vibe is cosy supper club rather upmarket dining which is part of the charm as it’s full and buzzing with energy on the night we visit so it is obviously a popular neighbourhood joint with a strong local following.
The staff are exceptionally friendly, and we get the impression that this is not just for Muddy’s benefit as everyone appears to be on the receiving end of their happy demeanour.
SCOFF AND QUAFF
There is one tasting menu as you call ahead with dietary preferences and like all good restaurants these days, the options change on a regular basis according to what is in season. You can go for the wine pairing menu too with hand-picked English and French wines so you can really get the measure of their wine list but sometimes it’s a bit overwhelming to keep up with the never-ending wine glasses. I know, I know, this is case personified of a first-world problem.
There are lots of surprises along the way including a couple of Amuse Bouchées to kick-start proceedings which included a mini–Scotch Quail Egg and a spoonful of Greek Salad which aren’t that dissimilar to canapes you have seen on the party circuit so you can see Russell and Clare’s catering heritage coming to life in their menu.
Our first starter was Roasted Duck Breast Served with a Citrus Summer Salad paired with Domaine Sainte Rose la Vie en Rose 2021 followed by Seared Scallop on Pea Cream with Local Freshly Picked Asparagus and served with lemon and parmesan with the Hoffmann and Rathbone Bacchus 2020.
Scallops were a united winning dish across our table, and we were grateful for the lack of bread baskets meaning we could focus more on the quality of food rather than indulging in carbs from the off.
Pan Roasted Lamb Fillet on a Parsnip Puree Served with Wild Mushroom and Truffle Jus, Gratin Dauphinoise and Wilted Spinach was a hearty blend of favours and interestingly partnered with a rose, Simpsons Derringstone Pinot Meunier 2021.
There was time for a quick refreshing Lime Posset before the medley of mini desserts (Caramel Profiterole, Chocolate Mousse Flower Pot, Tiramisu) including my first ever edible chocolate spoon and hopefully not my last. Believe it or not, there was room for cheese (Brie and Stilton) Served with House Chutney and Crackers.
On a quaff note, you can indulge in wine served by the glass or bottles off the wine pairing route and a special shout-out to the pretty glasses where our cocktails were served – we’ll let the photos do the talking.
ANYTHING ELSE?
The Truffle Pig has a beautiful, secluded courtyard garden for Al Fresco dining. The perfect spot to enjoy a delicious meal and a glass of fizz with friends in warm weather. There is also a selection of fresh flowers and second-hand finds to browse before you leave as well as all those deli items winking at you.
THE MUDDY VERDICT
GOOD FOR? Date night as you are within a fun and intimate atmosphere with bonus new talking points for each course. Equally, it worked well as a place for a four-some dinner (as we did) as there was a buzz in the room with many food surprises along the way – without any of the washing up to contend with afterwards.
NOT FOR? Large groups as the space is restricted so you will get to know your fellow diners quite well which is sometimes part of the fun. If you are looking for cutting edge dishes, this is maybe not the one for you as whilst the food is fresh and delicious, it is more of a home-cooked supper club vibe rather than haute couture cuisine.
THE DAMAGE
The five course tasting menu costs £55 with the wine pairing at £25 per person.
124 High St, Hythe, CT21 5LE, thetrufflepighythe.com, hello@thetrufflepighythe.com, 01303 239 092
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