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| Photo by Scott Choucino |
Technically, seasonal food reflects what’s available in each
of the four seasons. But one Nottingham bar has gone a step further and is
introducing an ultra seasonal menu by opting to alter its dishes every month on
a rolling menu.
At the same time, the Orange tree in Shakespeare Street is
bringing back traditional British pub food - cooked and served in an elegant
manner.
Head chef Chris Slocombe and his team are also focusing on
locally produced food and ingredients, with bread from Basford bakery Bake Off
and Pie, mixed leaf salads from farmer John McDonald based just outside
Nottingham at Woodborough, and meat from Leicestershire-based family butchers
Mark Patrick, which was founded in 1981 and produces sausages which are
renowned locally for their quality and range.
“The trend in recent years has been to offer street food,
but the Orange tree wanted to buck the trend and instead turn the focus back on
to great-tasting British pub food,” explained Chris, who is supported by second
chef Nathan Taylor and Max Chadwick and Billy Craighan on his team.
“However, we’re putting an Orange tree twist on it by adding
a touch of elegance and finesse to our dishes, so for example our pan fried
chicken breast is served with saffron potatoes, wilted gem lettuce, and pea and
bacon broth.
“The new monthly rolling menu is much smaller and much more
seasonal than it’s ever been previously, which means we can use really seasonal
ingredients to create the freshest, tastiest of dishes. It’s an unusual move
for a venue like ours to change its menu so regularly, but it’s a great way to
offer a variety of different dishes to customers.”
The Orange tree is continuing its commitment to those with
specific dietary requirements and the current menu, launched on April 1st,
features three gluten free main course dishes and two vegetarian offerings. Further
choices are also available from a daily specials menu.
Among the main course dishes are OT pie of the week with buttered
mash, spring cabbage and stout gravy, sausage and mash with sticky onion
marmalade, stout gravy and crispy leeks plus slow roast lamb shoulder with warm
broad bean pea and mint salad and crumbled feta.
Other items include mushroom and asparagus risotto,
deep-fried crispy (but still runny) egg, mushroom ketchup and garlic crisps,
plus baked salmon with pesto crust, roast tomato coulis and lemon and dill
potatoes.
Current dessert dishes include homemade Bakewell tart, warm
custard, and strawberry jam, and warm homemade chocolate brownie, vanilla ice
cream and white chocolate sauce.
The Orange tree is part of the independent, East
Midlands-based, Orange tree Group, which has bars and venues in Nottingham,
Leicester and Loughborough. It opened the Orange tree in Shakespeare Street in
October 2003.
It is popular for business and shoppers’ lunches, as well as
pre-theatre meals, early evening dining, and also attracts lecturers, staff and
students from nearby Nottingham Trent University.
For more information about The Orange Tree visit http://www.orangetree.co.uk/nottingham/
Press release issued by Nottingham PR agency Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk
