FOOD + DRINK
BIRCHWOOD, GOUDHURST birchwoodrestaurant. com
Headed up by the esteemed Matt and Will Devlin, and as positively rooted in a farm-to-table ethos as can be, Birchwood is a rightfully raved-about restaurant guided by the landscape and selfsufficiency, offering a deliciously Kentish menu of breakfast, lunch and monthly supper clubs.
Utilising their own excellent regeneratively and organically grown vegetables, foraged ingredients such as mushrooms, brambles and elderberries, and their impressive collection of preserved, cured and bottled ferments alongside local cheeses, dairy, wines, spirits and beer, Birchwood’ s monthly supper club presents a masterful three-course menu, plus snacks, bread and a sweet treat, curated by chefs Will Devlin and James Fisk.
A wonderful opportunity to gather with friends and family around a one-off menu, February’ s installment features irresistible bites such as a beef skewer with miso and wild mushroom with truffle followed by lamb belly fritters and anchovy mayonnaise to start. The main event sees a roasted hake topped with a smoked fishbone sauce and caviar served with crushed seaweed potatoes, before finishing with a Kentish honey cake with burnt honey ice cream and an almond financier.
THE BAR- AT THE PLOUGH thebar-attheplough. com
Forming part of acclaimed sister restaurant Bowleys’ regularly praised dining experience, which is known and loved for a fierce commitment to provenance, exquisite tasting menus and instinctive cookery by head chef Alex Yates, The Bar- at The Plough offers a more relaxed, yet equally considered spot to dine.
Boasting a menu of small, large and sharing plates that echo the seasons alongside local draft beers and an expertly curated wine list, the kitchen and bar strive to work in perfect harmony- from ingredients picked from the establishment’ s own garden nursery taking centre stage in refined dishes to leftovers inspiring unique house cocktails.
Anchored in the same strong loyalty to seasonality and sustainability, on the last Wednesday of every month, The Bar hosts an excellent themed supper club. Featuring a specially designed set menu and served at large communal tables for a sociable dining experience, the supper club journeys across the globe with its transporting flavour pairings. This February’ s edition will raise a toast to the Chinese New Year with its inspired courses, followed by French Riviera flavours in March, traditional Tuscan cooking in April and fresh Greek influences in May. Supper club tickets are priced at £ 40 per person and availability is very limited so guests are encouraged to book in advance.
WYE SUPPERCLUB, WYE wyesupperclub. com
With a profound passion to simply cook great food that people love, Wye Supperclub was first founded 20 years ago in London by Lee Behan and Alexa Clark, swiftly gaining itself a glowing reputation, with the likes of actor Stanley Tucci and musician Boy George among those nabbing a coveted seat at the table.
Later moving back to Kent to be closer to family, Lee and Alexa purchased a stunning 16th-century farmhouse in the heart of Wye and from there began to welcome more expectant supper guests into their home. Hosting popular bi-monthly Friday and Saturday evening get-togethers seating up to 18 guests per night alongside the occasional Sunday Jazz Lunch where a live jazz band provides
THE BAR WYE SUPPERCLUB
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