Inver - 2

I’ve already devoted a blog to the unique restaurant, Inver, which is a 20 minute drive from Loch Riddon Bothy, but it is so special I just thought it would be good to mention it again.

This week I was lucky enough to have lunch there.  It was a beautiful day and the scenic location on the shore of Loch Fyne just adds to the whole experience.  The restaurant looks out over the water to a little promontory where Old Castle Lachlan stands.  Although ruined it is a wonderful sight, crumbling stones draped in ivy and there is a 15 minute walk from the restaurant that takes you to the castle – but that will be in another post.

Old Castle Lachlan from just outside Inver

So, Inver.  The restaurant was unusually quiet.  There was only one special and, yes, it was the halibut head.  It is so delicious that I decided to have it again despite being assured, quite correctly, that it was big enough for two.

The Specials Mirror

The staff is attentive, incredibly knowledgeable but informal and relaxed too – a winning combination.  The dishes when they arrive are like works of art and almost (but not quite) so beautiful that you don’t want to destroy them with a knife and fork.

The View from our Table

Mackerel is plentiful in this part of Scotland and regular readers of this blog will know that I have devoted a couple of posts to mackerel fishing.  I was pleased to see that mackerel, freshly caught in Loch Fyne featured on the menu.  My mackerel starter was served with oyster tartare, mussel butter, cucumber and greengages.  It was strewn with some fish roe and marigold petals.  Although a keen cook it’s the sort of dish that you just know you can’t recreate at home.

Mackerel

My husband had langoustines to start which came with the perfect tools for extracting every tiny bit of flesh from the shell.  He then opted for the Crowdie dumplings with tomato and white beans.  It was decorated with thin slices of white strawberry and nasturtium petals and was apparently the tastiest dish he had ever eaten.

Crowdie dumplings

I was so full from the halibut that I couldn’t fit in any pudding but Colin chose the bitter chocolate tart with slightly pickled brambles with meadowsweet ice-cream.  The brambles are plentiful and juicy this year and we are surrounded by clouds of meadowsweet.

Another wonderful meal.  Thanks to everyone involved for a fabulous experience.