The hidden Cheshire foodie spot you NEED to visit!

La Popote or “the meal” is certainly a culinary destination that should be on your list.

We first visited La Popote in February 2020 where we met the proud new owners Joe and Gaelle. We were invited to their launch event to help spread the word… Sadly we all know what started to unfold a month after this event had finished. Nevertheless, we were floored with what we unearthed here in the little village of Marton. We’ve not stopped raving about it since. (Click here to read our first review)

As with most restaurant owners, when COVID hit Joe & Gaelle had to get creative, put pen to paper and find out how they were going to ride the rocky road ahead of them. Thankfully for this duo, they have creativity and innovation by the bucket load. They launched La Popote @ home. Providing high-end food for people to enjoy at home.

We were lucky enough to be invited back to try their taster menu. Seven courses no less. Seven tasters of their most popular and special dishes from the current menu. It’s the perfect way to eat if you’re as indecisive as me.

Joe and his brilliant kitchen team are driven and heavily influenced by the change of the seasons and the ingredients they bring. They change the menu roughly every 6 weeks to ensure ingredients are being used at their most optimal and tastiest time. To keep this up takes a lot of creativity, experience and love for what they do.

So, on to our visit; As always, we were welcomed like part of the family. La Popote is not just a restaurant but it’s also Joe & Gaelle's home. They live upstairs, don’t worry, not under your table. As this is their home, there is clearly a lot of pride that goes into the maintenance of the space and every little detail is thought out. From the placement of the ornaments to the centrepieces that are regularly changed to keep up with seasons too.

Course One: Cauliflower Veloute Amuse Bouche

A feathery and velvety Cauliflower cloud to start us off. A hint of Ras El Hanout Salt on top which is almost like a curried salt. Provided a great bite to this fluffy little cloud.

A special shoutout goes to possibly the best sourdough I’ve ever tasted in my bread-loving life. Made by the family-owned micro-bakery JoJo Jangles.

Course Two: Cornish White Crab with Detox Foam

Foams can often be scoffed at as unnecessary or too froufrou. A Detox foam, we found, has a heavier consistency than the regular foams you may have tried. It’s silky smooth and delicate. Made from compressed apple & lime, it has a surprising citrusy punch with a follow-up kick from a secret splash of tabasco. Underneath your Detox, as if hiding under a rock, you’ll find your Cornish Crab. The best kind of crab and I’m not saying this because I’m Cornish, it’s just the truth. It’s meatier and more flavoursome than other crab meat I’ve tasted.

Course Three: Veal Tenderloin

Before you chase me with a pitchfork, hear me out. I’m not an eater of younger meats like Veal, but it was on the taster and it was served to me.. and I’m so glad it was (Sorry, not sorry). Veal is beef, yes. But that’s where the similarity ends. Veal is much more tender than beef and tastes completely different. This dish is served with blood orange, white asparagus and thyme. The asparagus leaf and blood orange provided a bitter balance for this otherwise very subtle mouthful.

Course Four: Poisson du Jour (Fish of the Day)

Fish of the day is selected daily from the local Fishmonger. Whichever fish is best and whichever takes the team’s fancy. We lucked out with the Seabass on our visit. The seabass was cooked to buttery perfection. Soft and juicy on the inside with crisp skin on the outside! The seabass was served on a bed of round green courgettes, peas and chervil Emulsion. While eating I couldn’t help but notice a gentle taste of aniseed in the background… Not knowing where it could be coming from I had to google what Chevril was and it turns out it’s a plant that actually gives an aniseedy warmth. That’ll be it then! See, I am a foodie!

Course Five: Westholme Wagyu Rump Picanha

You’ll be forgiven if you’ve not heard of this rare cut of Wagyu, but you won’t be forgiven if you don’t give it a try. Triangular in shape, it comes from the top part of the rump. It also has a good layer of fat, which helps the meat baste itself during cooking. This Kobe-style Wagyu rump cap is very tender and full of amazing flavour, nothing like regular beef. The wild Garlic Salsa Verde is like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. Like a punch in the tastebuds, this is a sweet and strong mouthful. Not forgetting another hero on the plate, the Roscoff onion – pearly pink, full of flavour, fragrant, slightly sweet, and melt in the mouth! Pour over your Jus de Viande and thank us later.

Course Six: The Pre-Dessert

A architectural and visual delight. Compressed in Thyme Watermelon with a Greek yoghurt Sorbet politely perched on top. The pre-dessert is designed to clean your palate for the oncoming main dessert. This watermelon was deliciously refreshing and I can’t lie, I would have eaten bowls of the sorbet quite happily!

Course Seven: Calvia Cheshire Rapeseed Oil Chocolate Brownie

Calvia is a small family run Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil farm, located just outside of Macclesfield. La Popote is a huge advocate of supporting local businesses so we’re delighted to see this independent team pop up on the menu. The brownie was presented and described as a dark chocolate brownie, but it tasted so much more soft and sweeter than dark chocolate (Phew). Don’t be fooled by the additional chocolate piece on top - This is their own aerated chocolate. Light and soft, like literal chocolate air… does that mean I can eat loads of it?

While we sat back in our seats we couldn’t help but smile at each other (not sure if that was a sugar rush though). We are so blessed and grateful to have been treated to such a masterclass in both food and service. We were so relaxed and at home, we didn’t want to leave - we credit that to the excellent service from the front of house team. Nothing is too much trouble, they know everything about the menu if you have any questions and they love nothing more than seeing you have a good time.

I think it goes without saying, but La Popote is fit for any special occasion. Date nights, birthdays, anniversaries. You’ll be made to feel very special, regardless of the occasion. This is a fine dining restaurant without pretension or snobbery and is accessible to everyone. They have recently launched their Menu of The Week which is a set menu that changes literally every week (I’ve said it twice now, but the creativity is astounding). It’s available through Lunch & Dinner service on Thursday, Lunch on Friday & Saturday. You’ll be treated to two courses for £19, three courses for £24 or a five-course taste menu for £35.

La Popote is a true food lover’s dream and I cannot speak more highly of it.

*This food was gifted to us, however, La Popote are not exempt from our critique. This is a true representation of our experience.