The Summer progresses in a typically English manner – warm weather interspersed with heavy rain! What we want is hot, dry and settled weather, what we get is changeable and humid! Still, it is warm day after day, the garden and the borders look stunning in their “careless” abandon and the produce is abundant! If the weather stays humid, the aubergines and tomatoes may well succumb to blight but for the moment these fruits are not only abundant, but deeply flavoured and intense. The tomatoes are super sweet though still with some acidity and rich in umami. The aubergines are creamy and dense.
Of course, there’s so much more … Padrons, Kale, Cavolo Nero, Agretto, Cucumbers, Courgettes, Leeks, Tomatillo, Potatoes, Celery and the rest. All picked fresh each morning and available to buy in the shop – if you don’t see what you want, just ask and, if it’s here, we’ll pick it for you!
It’s also that fantastic time of year when as much as 80% of the food on the menu is our own produce. Not only does this make the whole team of growers inordinately proud, it also means the food is at its most delicious… Do come and taste some of the freshest, most delicious food in the county over the weekend.
A “Last Word” this week for one of the favourite residents on the farm … Dolly, our Middlewhite Sow, mother and grandmother of many of our other pigs, a favourite of the home team and many of our guests, came down lame suddenly a couple of weeks ago and despite our best efforts – the team and I nursed her 24/7 and administered all the medicine the Vet prescribed – her condition worsened and we had to take a really difficult decision … So, farewell Dolly our first and finest Middlewhite …
We look forward to welcoming you to our restaurant over the coming days.
