Late Summer Newsletter

August 29, 2019

Whether you are just back to school, back to work, or simply just getting back into London after a lovely Summer break – we welcome you back!

As many of you know the Shop and Restaurant have remained open throughout August, albeit with slightly adjusted hours, which has allowed us time to spruce up the Dining Room floors, touch up the paintwork and to carry out general servicing of the kitchen and bar equipment.  At the same time, most of us have managed to take a break, and, now refreshed, we are all ready and waiting for you.

 

Having raided my mother’s garden of many of its apples and herbs, the kitchen now has plenty to use, and to inspire. To be found in the markets will be the last of the late summer/early autumn strawberries, apricots, gooseberries, currants and sweet corn. In their place the plums and damsons will soon arrive, along with greengages, pears and perhaps some Reine Claude from France.   Raspberries of course will continue for at least another month if not 2, and then the English quince will be ripe enough to pick. We have already caught sight of our beloved cobnuts from Kent – so do look out for them, both on the menus and in the shop.

 

Don’t forget that the Restaurant is open almost all throughout the day:

From 8-10am for Breakfast, coffees and teas, from 12.30 for lunch (including Sundays) and for Dinner from 6.30pm.  The set menus are still very good value, both for Lunch and Dinner, and our Wine List boasts many an exciting bottle, from all over the globe.  Most of our customers prefer to reserve before arriving, but we often have a few tables available, both for Lunch and Dinner, for the occasional ‘chance’ booking at the last minute.

 

For those who are perhaps short on time, the Shop offers the most perfect range of dishes to ‘takeaway’. From a wide variety of grain salads with herbs, vegetables, toasted nuts and dried fruits, to roasted salmon or chicken with various garnishes, and then there is of course our Famous Chicken Pie (note the capital letters!) and a selection of savoury tarts, mostly vegetarian, and one made with pancetta.

Sausage rolls (2 sizes), the Clarke’s pasty and then 2 vegetarian options, the 2 bite- sized ricotta-spinach roll or the ‘pasty’ with leeks, onion seeds and Cheddar.

Soups to serve at home either chilled or hot are always available from the fridge shelves, and Neal’s Yard Dairy provide us with perfectly ripe, perfectly chosen cheeses to partner them perhaps – simply add a crusty baguette or sour dough loaf and your lunch time snack will be complete!

Whilst the Restaurant and Shop took a day of 2 off over the summer, the Wholesale Bakery continued its great work, (despite the heat) producing award-winning croissants, pastries, biscuits and breads both for our shop and our 120+ customers within central London.  We continue to hand-roll and hand-dip our more-ish chocolate truffles – which are still made to the original recipe, still using the original method – these go on and on!  As does the granola, made and bagged in small batches by the Bakery pastry team – this item is now a permanent fixture in many a kitchen store cupboard.  Simply sprinkled over Greek-style yoghurt with either fresh or poached fruits, this combination makes a perfect start to the day (or, if you are like me, a perfect ‘midnight feast’……….)

 

Turning our thoughts to breakfast, please do come into the Shop and see the wide array of our home made jams, chutneys and relishes. Made in the traditional way, by our Production Kitchen chefs, using low percentages of sugar, these products are very special indeed. We have made a record number of apricot jam and Seville Orange marmalade this year, and soon the jars of strawberry, raspberry and black currant jams will be filled, lidded and labelled ready for the shop shelves.

 

Finally, a gentle reminder that perhaps it is not too early to think about an autumn or winter Private Party….. The Wine Room, just a few steps down, below the Bar Room, makes an ideal venue for a Lunch, Dinner, Reception or even Breakfast.     Simply contact us with your preferred date, the approximate number of guests (ideally 12-30) and we will start planning it with you.  (If you need gentle persuading, do look on our website for some very complimentary comments from the hosts of past events!)

 

This newsletter will be updated throughout September, but in the meanwhile, please note the Restaurant and Shop opening hours below.  We look forward to seeing you!

 

 

Shop

Monday – Saturday Friday 8am – 8pm (- 5pm on Saturday)   and Sunday 9am – 4pm

Restaurant

Monday – Saturday Breakfast 8 – 10am (-11am on Saturday)

Lunch from 12.30 – 2pm    Dinner from 6.30 -10pm

Sunday Lunch – from 12 noon – 3pm

 

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