Going local in North Luffenham
In and Around meets a man on a mission at the Horse & Panniers
If you, like me, are increasingly concerned about what goes into the food that you eat and you worry about the health hazards linked with some modern farming methods, then you need travel no further than North Luffenham for an experience that will restore your faith and delight in the experience of dining.
Tucked away in this beautiful old Rutland village is the Horse & Panniers. This traditional English country inn is owned and run by Chris Richardson, a dynamic young chef who is passionate about food-not just any food, but local food, organic food, food filled with flavour and goodness. Since he took over the pub 18 months ago, Chris has spent much of his time out and about sourcing produce to include in his menus and designing dishes which make the most of the abundance of fabulous natural foods produced in the Rutland area.
The dishes at The Horse & Panniers are often kept simple but the food itself makes them extraordinary! For example, if you order gammon, egg and chips, the gammon is supplied by locally acclaimed Grassmere butchers, the eggs are free range from a supplier in the village and the chips are made using Lincolnshire spuds and taste of, well, potato-as they should, but many don't!
Going local is a theme Chris continuously builds on. He hosts regular local produce evenings, where everything on the menu has been produced within 25 miles of the pub, and last month he held his first Sunday market in the courtyard garden at the front of the pub, with stalls selling wines, local meats and cheeses, and homemade desserts, as well as local interest items such as books and prints. It was a roaring success and the next one will be held on May 6, then once a month throughout the summer. Call Chris for dates.
In and Around meets a man on a mission at the Horse & Panniers
If you, like me, are increasingly concerned about what goes into the food that you eat and you worry about the health hazards linked with some modern farming methods, then you need travel no further than North Luffenham for an experience that will restore your faith and delight in the experience of dining.
Tucked away in this beautiful old Rutland village is the Horse & Panniers. This traditional English country inn is owned and run by Chris Richardson, a dynamic young chef who is passionate about food-not just any food, but local food, organic food, food filled with flavour and goodness. Since he took over the pub 18 months ago, Chris has spent much of his time out and about sourcing produce to include in his menus and designing dishes which make the most of the abundance of fabulous natural foods produced in the Rutland area.
The dishes at The Horse & Panniers are often kept simple but the food itself makes them extraordinary! For example, if you order gammon, egg and chips, the gammon is supplied by locally acclaimed Grassmere butchers, the eggs are free range from a supplier in the village and the chips are made using Lincolnshire spuds and taste of, well, potato-as they should, but many don't!
Going local is a theme Chris continuously builds on. He hosts regular local produce evenings, where everything on the menu has been produced within 25 miles of the pub, and last month he held his first Sunday market in the courtyard garden at the front of the pub, with stalls selling wines, local meats and cheeses, and homemade desserts, as well as local interest items such as books and prints. It was a roaring success and the next one will be held on May 6, then once a month throughout the summer. Call Chris for dates.
Chris is also about to take the meaning of "locally produced" to another level as he has just aquired an allotment five minute's walk from the pub. He aims to include at least one item of produce grown on the allotment on the menu every season ... the strawberries are already looking promising for this summer.
The main restaurant at The Horse & Panniers provides an intimate atmosphere, seating just 20 diners at one sitting. The menu changes with the seasons, with the new spring menu just launched and offering an array of enticing new dishes, but as always utilising as much local produce as possible.
Chris likes to offer original ideas throughout the year-for example, you can take up his "Eat in or Eat Out" option for homemade pizzas, curry and burgers on Mondays and Tuesdays in the winter, and every Sunday through the summer months he does a barbecue out on the terrace where he can seat a further 30 diners. Enjoy the European-style of table service offered here on a sunny afternoon and you will be hard-pressed to tear yourself away.
Before coming to The Horse & Panniers, Chris worked all over the world and this is reflected in many of the dishes on his menus. For example, he will be offering Spanish wines and tapas throughout the summer, and the wonderful Italian salad which you will find on the new spring menu hints at his time working abroad ... as do the cocktails he loves making in his bar. Cocktail hour on a Sunday is a fun time not to be missed-just make sure you don't have to drive anywhere afterwards!
The main restaurant at The Horse & Panniers provides an intimate atmosphere, seating just 20 diners at one sitting. The menu changes with the seasons, with the new spring menu just launched and offering an array of enticing new dishes, but as always utilising as much local produce as possible.
Chris likes to offer original ideas throughout the year-
Before coming to The Horse & Panniers, Chris worked all over the world and this is reflected in many of the dishes on his menus. For example, he will be offering Spanish wines and tapas throughout the summer, and the wonderful Italian salad which you will find on the new spring menu hints at his time working abroad ... as do the cocktails he loves making in his bar. Cocktail hour on a Sunday is a fun time not to be missed-
None of the delicious wines on Chris's list can be found in retail outlets - again he actively searches for anything a little out of the ordinary, while managing always to keep his prices reasonable and affordable. Chris also prides himself on the quality and popularity of his real ales, which include Timothy Taylor's Landlord and local brew Grainstore Triple B. Another source of pride is his coffee machine - espresso, macchiato, long black, short black, latte, you name it, you can enjoy them all made here with a flourish!
"We strive to do everything to exceptional standards while also providing some flexibility in what we offer," says Chris. "Every dish is prepared to order and people come back time and time again asking for something they particularly enjoyed on a previous visit. If I have the ingredients in store then I will always try to come up with what they ask for."
Filled with ancient charm, the pub also offers some accommodation with three en-suite double bedrooms and a bunk room which sleeps six and has it's own bathroom - ideal for group fishing or walking expeditions.
All in all, the Horse & Panniers at North Luffenham is a gem of a place to know any day of the week any time of the year. And knowing that the food is so carefully sourced and expertly prepared by Chris leaves you free to savour the experience of eating without worrying about any aspect of what's on your plate.
In and Around Uppingham April 2007