An exciting experience like no other:

Se7en: An Enticing Experience Like No Other

In the kitchen with Matt Egan, Head Chef at The Royal Hotel, Ventnor

A few weeks ago, we headed back up The Royal’s curving palm-fringed driveway to see Head Chef Matt Egan — who was right in the middle of launching something rather exciting. Together with Sous Chef Jacob Gough, he’s been working on a new contemporary dining concept (named Se7en) featuring a uniquely curated seven-course tasting menu.

At the exciting, superbly received, Se7en launch evening, Matt tells us what to expect. Combining global influences and the best-sourced ingredients, each of Se7en’s courses will include “enticing, sleek and vibrant plates, each one fulfilling my personal philosophy that food has no rules”. Matt’s playful and inventive style has already won him a legion of fans from local foodie connoisseurs to the AA Rosette inspectors and even celebrity chef visitors Ainsley Harriott and Angela Hartnett — and with endorsements like these piling up, we’re sure to be in for a treat.

Ushered into a newly revamped dining room, featuring teal-painted panelling and sophisticated table settings, we take a seat. On hand is The Royal’s front-of-house manager, Stefan Dobre, who offers the added bonus of expertly paired wines from home and abroad to complement each dish. Soon enticing fragrances emanate from the kitchen and the evening’s experience begins. With this intimate dining experience in full flow, the room is bursting with chatter and more than a few gasps of delight as each connected course is brought through. The artistry on the plate is exquisite and the aromas are enhanced through the immersive experience delivered in person by Matt and Sous Chef, Jacob. Every course challenged (such as the surprising but rather divine pig’s blood macaron canapé) and delighted — the Koji Sorbet being highly acclaimed by the room of Se7en diners. Sitting close by is Sally Perry, from OnTheWight, who declares that, “all the dishes were a gastronomic delight”. On another table, we see local food reviewers Matt and Cat from the Isle of Wight Eating Out Guide, who described the sorbet as “unlike any sweet we’d ever tasted”. As the night draws to a close we catch up with Head Chef Matt, who tells us how pleased he is with the way the new experience has turned out. “The first evening was really special and for it to be so well received makes me excited for the future of Se7en, and for what is next to come in The Royal’s culinary journey.” The Se7en tasting menu is regularly updated and there’s a new menu for the New Year – unleashed, uncompromising, unequivocally exquisite!

For your enticing Se7en tasting experience at The Royal, please call our fabulously friendly team on 01983 852186.

Carefully curated wine pairings

Se7en tasting at The Royal

Chalk stream trout