Spotlight on : La Popote
Kevin Evans visited the best for exquisite food, fine wine and exceptional service
La Popote is tucked away in the Cheshire countryside in the village of Marton and was established in 2009. In October 2019 it was taken over by Joseph Rawlins & Gaelle Radigon. Gaelle has vast experience in front of house in fine dining and it was here that she met Joseph whist working with him in the UK. When Gaelle returned to France Joseph followed – Gaelle’s words not mine!
Joseph trained at the well renowned Tante Marie cooker school which is owned by Gordon Ramsey. Joseph then went on to work in the UK and then in France for 7 years with established chef’s like Pierre Gagnaire and Guillaume Delage, which is no mean feat.
In October they really put their own stamp on the restaurant but with careful consideration to the existing customers. With only a few months under their belt they then faced the devastating impact of the Covid lockdown. They took this in their stride and used it as an opportunity to refresh the interior of the restaurant to a more stripped back elegant and simple décor. This definitely aligns with the style of food that Joseph and Gaelle have brought to La Popote, it’s a real mix of Joseph’s classic training in French cuisine partnered with quality local British seasonal ingredients and flavours. The lunch menu changes weekly and the a la carte menu changes monthly which means La Popote truly keeps it fresh and follows the seasons and there is always something new on the menu to try.
My colleague and I went for a Saturday lunch and started with Burrata which was served with a piquillo pepper coulis and rocket oil and was beautifully balanced. Along with this we also tried the Cheshire Heirloom tomato tart which was served with Kalamata olive puree and langoustine bisque, the freshness of the local tomatoes really sang here.
For the main course we opted for one of the lunch specials which was Venison Wellington, this was stunning! Cooked to perfection, it came with a rich jus and seasonal vegetables. Everyone’s head turned in the restaurant when this came to the table! I opted for the pan roasted scallops which were perfectly caramelised served with samphire and balanced perfectly with the acidity of roasted beetroots.
Our arms were then twisted to look at the dessert menu – very glad we looked! It was a struggle to choose one because the selection was so good. We opted for the Dark Chocolate Cremaux and Mille Feuille and we were not disappointed. The Dark Chocolate Cremaux was a chocolate lover’s delight with rich dark 70% chocolate at its heart but balanced with dark black cherries and yoghurt sorbet which cut through the richness perfectly. The Mille Feuille was a buttery pastry delight with crème patisserie and smoked salted caramel. Possibly some of the best desserts I’ve eaten in a long time.
We asked the team to recommend wines to accompany and they did not fail, Joseph and Gaelle explained that the wine is as important to the food to them, something that the French hold dear.
La Popote has taken a new but familiar direction and I really wish Joseph and Gaelle the best for the future and will be returning soon.
La Popote Restaurant, Church Farm, Manchester Road (A34), Marton, Cheshire, SK11 9HF
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