
Having first visited there almost a year and a half back, we were convinced at that time that Jon and Helen would make Lumière a huge success and that for once, we had stumbled upon a truly great restaurant in its blossom of youth. We had we believed found a winner, something that is even more evidently true now than then.
A lot has happened for them in that year and a half including nationwide recognition and a swanky new kitchen, one that I know would be the envy of many chefs. Long overdue a revisit, my UK walkabout wouldn't be complete without stopping by to visit Lumière and see for myself the progress made since my last meal there.
So how have they come on? The answer is of course fantastically well, with both cooking and front of house increasingly reflecting Jon & Helen's confidence to put themselves in the mix and do it their way, and so they should for there's an abundance of talent here. I took two dining companions with me that day, one a vegetarian, and both new to Lumière: both loved everything from start to finish. I too was thrilled to see that Lumière was once again shooting the lights out with every plate.
The canapés delight from the first moment: how about a smoked Lincolnshire poacher cheese scone with truffle cream cheese and beetroot jam as the first thing you eat? Crispy crackling with Bramley apple sauce was also soon dispensed. Following that, an amuse of chervil tuber velouté, white pudding bonbon, trompettes and ceps with truffle ash had everyone round the table cooing. After that, things never looked back.
The conclusion from our previous post on Lumière hasn't changed: Jon, Helen, and their restaurant Lumière represent the bright future of British cooking. They're lovely people who combine hard work with talent and therefore deserve to succeed, and we have no doubt that their success in the years to come will be huge. Visiting Lumière is simply a pleasure every time.
Visit Lumiere website
Previously I visited: Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter
Next stop: Simon Radley at The Chester Gosvenor
Location map for Lumiere