Aven is a casual fine dining restaurant located in Preston city centre where the very best of Lancashire’s produce is thoughtfully represented through a series of finely-tuned tasting menus.
Oli brings over 17 years of fine dining experience with him to Aven, having worked in Michelin kitchens across the world including Northcote, Hipping Hall and Gilpin Lodge. He was also a finalist on MasterChef: The Professionals 2018. Sean, meanwhile began his career working for Roux Scholar Jonathan Harrison back in Leyburn, Wensleydale where he is from. From there Sean went on to work at Root's York where he headed up the kitchen to receive their first Michelin Star. Together they provide and unstoppable duo who are coming together to create truly pioneering food.
The restaurant only serves tasting menus which guests can experience as a shorter offering for lunch, or as its full-length menu for dinner. There are also vegetarian-tasting menus available for those who don’t eat meat for fish. The dishes on the menu are described minimally so as to keep the diner guessing until the moment the plate arrives at the table.
For example, things might kick off with a plate of trout, chamomile and radish, follow with mushroom, hazelnut and crumpets, and wind up with 'snowball' juniper, rosemary, and pear. Other examples have previously beef tartare with hashbrowns and hot sauce, turbot, hay-baked turnip and mussel. Meanwhile, at the time of writing, the menu also features the likes of farmyard ale spent grain bread and Aven's own cultured butter. There is also the option to add a wine pairing to your meal for an extra cost which is devised by the knowledgeable team.
This one's best saved for occasions you want to remember, whether that be a birthday celebration, anniversary, or taking a very important friend out for dinner.