The Lambing Shed – A Place to Escape and enjoy Cheshire #Review

Stephen Wundke
29th May 2018

The first thing you notice when you pull up at the Lambing Shed is just how quiet and peaceful it is. I could feel the stress flowing out as we walked towards the elegant Farm Shop and Café, walking past the shaded, large children’s play area.  I was looking forward to this visit because the Lambing Shed have won numerous awards recently for their farm shop and they have spent good money creating a café and restaurant area that gives them the chance to highlight all the exceptional produce they sell on a daily basis to the lucky people of Knutsford.

The thing that struck me as I walked through the door, into their farm shops, was just how nice their display of the various products was. Its much more than a shop it’s a deli in the true sense of the word with great meats, cheeses, pies, oils, dairy products and so much more. However, our job was to taste the food in the café and so we moved to the dining areas.

Immediately we were greeted by a big smiley face who asked us if we would like to sit inside or outside. Given that it was a beautiful day outside was busy so we chose inside so that people wouldn’t think us odd photographing our food. (We are but not for that reason). I noticed in the outdoor patio that it had a retractable roof and side panels so that if the sun was shining but the wind was cold they could keep that out to still allow you to sit outside in comfort. Good thinking.

We were quickly offered a drink and both chose the excellent Belvoir range of fresh sparkling juices whilst we contemplated our food choices. The specials were exceptional as you can see on the picture we took and these, change daily. The choice was a difficult one with lots of favourites but we decided upon the Lambing Shed sharing platter which featured many of the products from the deli. When it arrived, we were simply delighted and could see the food envy of other diners. It looked like a super charged ploughmans in the truest sense of the word and something that everyone would be delighted to sit down and tuck in to. Presentation outstanding and variety superb, now the most important bit, how would it taste.

Well that was the best bit. Rare Roast Beef that had been aged, with deep rich flavours, Honey Roast ham in thick pieces that was moist and tender, home made Pork Pies and Sausage Rolls, where you could taste exactly what they were meant to be, all with properly cooked, non soggy, pastry, so rare these days. Then we moved on to the cheeses with Mrs Burts Blue from Altrincham, Wooky Hall Cheddar as well as a Wenslyedale and Cranberry and whilst they all tasted great, if I were being picky I would love to see, in the county of cheeses, only Cheshire cheeses on the plate but that’s just because we are Taste Cheshire and we are massively biased, for good reason. The plate was accompanied by chunks of home made white and brown bread, with olives, balsamic and extra virgin olive oil but the star of the whole plate was the Lambing Sheds home-made Gooseberry Chutney. This unique flavour showed what can be done when you pair great ingredients with love. It’s a bit like a superb dress that’s simple and elegant topped off with one great piece of jewellery or handbag. Its lifts everything to a whole new level and this it did. We also ordered some chips and these were both brilliantly cooked and homemade.

After devouring the tasting plate, we were too full to eat any more but watched many of the dishes go out to what was now a very busy café and you can just tell they have a series of chefs who really love what they do. It was a pleasure to visit a place that is firstly a real discovery and secondly is so good and excited about everything they do. I guess it would be hard not to enjoy going to work where you are encouraged to link up with the land and its produce and it is right there every day. It’s a perfect combination for a chef with passion and skill.

Well done The Lambing Shed, we are proud to have you as a member of Taste Cheshire because you are exactly that – A real taste of Cheshire for every sense.