Another great local supplier has popped up in Hambrook. Roger has started growing Oyster Mushrooms using straw and used coffee grounds from an Emsworth cafe as his substrate. The mycelium grows into the substrate log in a dark, warm room for 3-4 weeks, before being moved into a light, high … Read More
St Georges Mushrooms have started to appear nearly a month late. They are so-called as they tend to pop up on St Georges day, but with last month’s drought and cold, they very sensibly stayed tucked up in bed until it got a bit warmer. They grow in pastures and … Read More
This is such a simple dish, the trick is to cook the mushrooms right and be extremely generous with the garlic. Chestnut, button, or large flat mushrooms are great, and we also have a mix of more exotic mushrooms from the New Forest which include yellow and pink oyster mushrooms, … Read More
It’s wonderful to have Kent grown nuts available, along with their delicious oils, because while I’m just as keen on cashew as the next person, we need to support our local farms and producers, and I’d much rather have an English Walnut over its Chinese counterpart (where most Christmas walnuts … Read More
Last week we had a swarm of honey bees near the car park, and called up the Stansted beekeeper, John Geden to come and rescue them. A swarm forms when a bee colony grows too large for the hive. The existing queen bee moves out, taking half the colony with … Read More
This is the perfect fresh, green, garlic hit that our bodies are craving at this time of year. Picked from the local woods by our chef, Adam, and full of healthy nutrients, anti-oxidants, and free from pesticides, fungicides and herbicides, this is food as it is meant to be. You … Read More
We have a selection of wild, foraged spring greens available this week, hand-picked by Adam. With the mild winter this year, spring is already underway and many plants are coming through earlier than usual. We have 3 cornered wild garlic (£3.50), Sea Beet and Miner’s Lettuce (£2.50) available in punnets, … Read More
Wild Garlic is popping up in the woods as we speak, and at this early stage of the season, the flavour is mighty, while the leaves are tender – making it ideal for salads or blanched and seasoned as your greens. It’s also great as the base for pesto or … Read More
This year the pannage season has been fairly short, despite huge amounts of acorns in some areas of the New Forest. Richard has had his pigs (rare breed Middle White / Landcross) out on the acorns fattening nicely. They’ve enjoyed the relatively mild weather this autumn and have been hoovering … Read More
Wet Walnuts are a true seasonal specialty – they describe walnuts that have just fallen off the tree – the kernel inside has not yet dried, but is soft, a bit juicy and with a milder, more delicate flavour. They are also local, unlike the dried supermarket varieties that are … Read More
We have a great selection of wild meat available this week, natural, sustainable and delicious. With wild rabbit that has been ferreted from Cobnor, this is a pre-war favourite dish that is gradually coming back into favour. It is lean and healthy white meat, that works best in a stew … Read More
Every hedgerow and wood side seems to be heaving with Elderflower at the moment – and now is the time to pick some blooms and make some wild Elderflower cordial Elderflower fritters, or your own Elderflower wine. While we’re on the subject of drink, elderflower cordial also combines with gin … Read More