Orchid Group’s Modern British pubs are revelling in the glow of pride and nostalgia from the Queen’s Jubilee, Olympic and Paralympic achievements, which saw sales of traditional dishes soaring and has provoked a new autumn menu that is set to continue the theme of patriotism and pride well into the winter months.
Sarah Thomas, Head of Food at Orchid Group explains:
“This has been the most patriotic year we’ve ever had, so it is no surprise that we’ve seen sales of British classics soar. To recognise the current feeling, we’ve gone one step further than a traditional British menu by digging up some forgotten classics that will please the palate.
“Our Chefs have been trawling through old recipe books for a bit of food archaeology, bringing back the favourites we had forgotten we loved and putting them at the top of the order once again.”
From frugal wartime recipes to platefuls of the best meat
The new additions cover everything from wartime recipes that allowed people to be healthy and full on limited supplies, to platefuls of the best meat reared right here in our green and pleasant land and the seafood that as an island nation we should be immensely proud of.
The result is not only a great British menu, but one with a unique quality and plenty of pleasant surprises.
Highlights of the new menu: old favourites back in the spotlight
– Homity Pie – Traditional open vegetable pie with potatoes, onion and leek, covered with cheese. A Land Girl recipe dating back to the Second World War that was developed to make the most of the limited produce available during rationing.
– Mini Suet Pudding Starter – Wiltshire cured ham and grain mustard suet pudding, served on a black pudding and pea puree.
– Butcher’s Board – Homemade Scotch egg, complete with runny yolk, pork pie, crispy pork belly pieces, honey and mustard mini sausages, black pudding fritters, homemade Stilton sausage roll, served with piccalilli, brown sauce and homemade apple sauce.
– The Fisherman’s Platter – Hand battered fish goujons, peppered mackerel, West Country crab cakes, mini prawn cocktail, chilli tempura squid, served with tartare sauce and malted bread and butter.
– A range of homemade dishes – Beef, Mushroom and Ale Cobbler, Welsh Lamb Shepherd’s Pie.
– British Rabbit Suet Pudding – Complete with buckshot warning!
– Spotted Dick – The classic pudding returns for a warming end to a winter meal.