I have a serious passion for sourcing the very best, local produce ­ which is bordering on an obsession according to some - which is why I was so excited to discover an absolute gem right on my doorstep here in Sherborne. Mike Appleby and his partner at Honeycombe Shoot, less than a mile away from The Eastbury, offer some spectacular produce and I’ve only just found them!

Only this morning Mike dropped off fresh quails’ eggs and quail leg and breast which I have put straight onto our menu at The Eastbury. We will make a boudin, served with the quail egg, and roast the breast and serve it with a truffle sauce.

Mike also dropped off pheasant eggs which I tried for the first time this morning and loved.  They are incredibly creamy and are perfectly in season right now. For an incredibly local and seasonal dish we will serve them with poached asparagus from Barrington, just a few miles away, and garlic butter, using wild garlic that I foraged myself. We are also sourcing rabbit and fellow deer from Mike and Antonia ­ as you can probably tell I am delighted with my little find!

Mike and Antonia will be guest speakers on Friday 21st May at our Seasonal Supper Club.  To learn more about the fine work they do on their 4000 acre estate (and sample my beautiful menu of course!) call 01935 813131 to book a table.

Brett.

It has been a really busy time at the Hotel over the past week or two and we are well on the way to creating our brand new alfresco dining area. It will offer a really unique experience and bring something very special to The Eastbury. It is almost as if it was meant to be there all along- it’s the perfect space to provide the link between our kitchens and our walled garden. It will be completely open on the two sides that lead into the garden and it will not be uncommon during the day to see Brett walking through clutching a handful of freshly cut herbs from our garden, which will then feature in that night’s menu.

We aim to open in early May so at the moment it’s all go! I have been to hotel auctions to hand pick different pieces of furniture and the flooring will be completed this week, as long as it stops raining for long enough to finish it!

Amongst all of this we have welcomed a new receptionist to the team, so a new face will greet you on your next arrival. Marisa who was previously working at The White Star in Southampton, has been a pleasure to work with and is a great addition to our close knit team here at The Eastbury.

Nicky.

 

Every toss and flip caught on the clip!

As Brett our Head Chef mentioned in our previous blog, ITV Westcountry came to film our third ever Three Wishes Pancake Race and we now have the news clip up online ­ click here to see all the action!

Last week we held our Spring Supper Club at The Eastbury which was a really lovely evening. We enjoyed a fabulous seven course menu including George and Nick’s Portabello Mushroom, with Poached Summerleaze Duck Egg and Westcombe Rarebit. I would like to thank George and Nick Pointing of Dorset Down Mushrooms (who supply our mushrooms of course!) for providing some fascinating insight into the world of mushroom growing. Button mushrooms grow into large, flat mushrooms within a 24 hour period so they have to be cut twice a day ­ every day!

George and Nick even had to be home before midnight to cut their latest crop ­ they didn’t leave in a pumpkin though unfortunately!

Nicky.

 ITV join in our Pancake Race!

For three years now on Shrove Tuesday we have organised a Pancake Race down Cheap Street from our bistro, The Three Wishes. We donate all the money raised to the fund to build Sherborne Rugby Club a new clubhouse, and each year we have had a fantastic turnout.

This year we mentioned to ITV Westcountry that our race was gaining not only momentum but something of a reputation, and they decided to come and see for themselves! The six o’clock news presenter, Vanessa Cuddeford filmed in our kitchen, where I taught her how to make the perfect pancake (well I tried to teach her!). Then she used her pancake to join in one of the races.

We had to have four heats as there were so many entrants and we almost ran out of pans! Vanessa ran in one of the children’s’ heats and she even showed the race from the pancake’s perspective with her pan-cam! To see some more pictures of the race click here.

Brett Sutton­ - Head Chef

 Like easing into a warm bath

With new recipes for our seasonal menus; our Pancake Race through Sherborne on Shrove Tuesday; meeting new producers from our local patch or choosing the designs for our newly refurbished bathrooms ­there’s always so much going on at The Eastbury we thought we would start our very own blog!

So, along with my husband Paul, and our Head Chef Brett, I will be finding a spare half hour to blog and keep you updated with all the comings and goings ­ and as this is the first blog I thought I’d start with one of the things I like doing most ­ choosing new things for the Hotel!  

Bathrooms ­ where to start? Tiles, towels, blinds, taps, baths and shower heads ­ I could write a dissertation. Now they are finished and look so beautiful and all the pondering and choosing was worth every minute - striking ceramics, shiny chrome heated towel rails, fluffy towels of course and lots of gorgeous scented potions. Paul and I are really happy with the results. Even if deciding on which new suites to choose from did create some interesting family debates.......just waiting to hear feedback from the guests!

Be back blogging soon ­ just off for a long soak.

Nicky.