Food and Drink July 10, 2010
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West Yorkshire
Box Tree
Location: 35-37 Church Street, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, LS29 9DR [map]
Phone: 0844 980 8396
Open: Tues-Thurs 7pm-9.30pm; Fri & Sat noon- 2pm, 7pm-9.30pm; Sun 7pm-9.30pm
Website: www.theboxtree.co.uk

Every once in a while a dining experience comes along that alters the way you look at food, created by a chef whose reputation, list of accolades and portfolio very much speak for themselves. At the Box Tree restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Simon Gueller is offering this opportunity for enlightenment to every guest. Simon upped sticks and took residence at the famed Box Tree in 2004 – an eatery that has kept Ilkley on the culinary map since the 1960s – and, alongside his wife Rena, now runs this excellent restaurant with the meticulous care and attention necessary to maintain the highest standards. A firm believer in using only the finest quality ingredients sourced from local growers and farmers, Simon has been able to create constantly evolving menus that utilise what is in season and readily available.

The result is a modern French classical gastronomic treat from start to finish. The restaurant itself is a clever combination of the old and the new. The latest equipment in the kitchen and highly skilled staff throughout work in perfect harmony with an interior full of antique furniture, luxurious fabrics and classic art pieces. The effect is an eclectic mix of country-house opulence and classic drawing-room comfort. Once settled in the well-spaced dining room, your attention turns to the menu. Expect such creations as roast scallops with butternut purée, crispy Alsace bacon and summer truffle, or gateaux of Cornish crab with sauce gazpacho, tomato, avocado and apple to start. A main course of fillet of beef with celeriac mash, Bourgogne garnish, buttered baby spinach and red wine sauce proves how simple ingredients can be treated elegantly; while fillet of Cornish sea bass is also given the royal treatment, being partnered with aubergine purée, deep-fried ceps and a chicken, lemon and juniper jus. Round off with the likes of hot apricot soufflé with Grand Marnier sauce, or a decadent arrangement of Valrhona milk chocolate delice, Earl Grey tea ice cream and apricot purée before partaking in an after-dinner brandy, relishing the feeling of warm satisfaction. Find prix-fixe menus available in the evenings from Tuesday to Thursday, and on Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunchtimes. Both menus showcase a choice of three dishes per course, giving diners options from a spectrum of flavours and ingredients. Expect the likes of pan-seared yellowfin tuna Niçoise, confit duck leg with pomme purée, and warm chocolate fondant. A Sunday lunch menu is also available.

The Box Tree specialises in private dining, offering bespoke menus. Whether your event requires the intimacy of the private dining room, or can be accommodated in one of the interconnecting rooms within the main restaurant, Simon and the team can capably cater for you. Box Tree Events has become one of Yorkshire’s premier outside catering services, allowing guests to experience Simon’s first-class cuisine at their chosen venue.

With one of the most extensive wine lists in The North and a menu that is as exciting as it is carefully created, the Michelin-starred Box Tree is nothing short of exquisite.


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