October 2008

Autumn is the very best time of year to live in the rolling countryside of the quintessentially English Cotswolds. When the sun shines on the magnificent spectrum of leaf colours at the nearby arboretum, there cannot possibly be any better place on earth. Accompanying the spectacular change in the landscape is the availability of an abundance of varieties of vegetables and fresh produce from our local farms and suppliers. The “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness” is almost breathtaking in its perfection.

And so our chefs’ enthusiasm for their trade is renewed with the new season’s opportunities. The Priory Inn menus and specials board benefit greatly: autumn lamb is delicious – much tastier than the spring offering as the animals have spent the summer grazing and fattening on lush summer pastures - their meat is richer, sweeter and darker with a more pronounced marbling of creamy-coloured fat; game and grouse (in season from ‘The Glorious Twelfth’ August until 10th December - are at their best in the first half of the season); figs, local apples and pears – are all delicious now; and, of course succulent squashes and pumpkins later in the month highlight the arrival of the ghoulies and ghosties into our living world but should also be acknowledged as a source of nutritionally delicious and hearty meals.

Next month, in line with our continued commitment towards buying locally, we are launching The Priory Inn’s “30 Mile Food Zone”. With the recent trend towards many restaurants claiming “local food” on their menus, it is often hard for consumers to know what that really means. We have established such a strong network of farmers and suppliers over the last 4 and a half years that we have decided to put some substance behind the “local” statement and let you know that we buy every possible product from within a 30 mile radius of Tetbury. This will present greater challenges to our chefs to come up with creative ideas based on what is available at various times of the year and our menus will be changing more regularly as a result. Of course, there will be foods that cannot be sourced locally – olives, fish, coffee etc and where we have to buy those from further afield, we will ensure that we buy from ethical, sustainable sources.

Why support the concept of becoming a “locavore”? (“Those who prefer to eat locally grown/produced food” Wikipedia). There are many reasons – enhanced flavour and nutritional value; environmental benefits from eating fresh food which has barely travelled between field and plate; community spirit and insight learned from the relationships established; and for us, an opportunity to convey the stories behind the food to the people who are eating.

Unique to England is “real ale” or “cask conditioned ale”. It is a living, breathing beer that continues to mature in the barrel from which it is served. Independent breweries dedicated to their craft are the best source and like winemakers, the brewers are true artisans. An outstanding example of the pinnacle of success in beer production is The Uley Brewery just 8 miles from Tetbury. Chas, Jody, Ken, and Stuart are the genuine Cotswold Brewers who work in much the same way as when their brewery was built in 1833. Running past the listed Victorian tower on its way to the Severn Estuary is the brewery’s highly prized natural ingredient – pure Cotswold spring water. They use malted barley from Devon, Hereford hops and yeast. There are no added sugars, conditioners, preservatives or stabilisers - it is clean, pure and simple.

The quality of care must continue beyond the brewery and Chas only selects “real pubs with real publicans” to serve his beer. Ale which remains in the cask for too long or is treated badly will rapidly “lose condition” - the taste deteriorating. Reflecting our care for real ales, “The Good Beer Guide” (Campaign for Real Ale) has granted The Priory Inn a unique listing in Tetbury for 2009 and CAMRA has nominated us as a finalist in the Pub of The Year for Gloucestershire. We proudly serve Uley Bitter and Barbary Castle from Three Castles Brewery alongside other guest ales such as Goffs - Winchcombe, Cotswold Spring Brewery - Dodington Ash, the Wye Valley brewery and many others.

Our coffee bar has received its autumnal refresh recently and we know that you’ll enjoy the look given by the creative team at Flowercube in Stroud. Always inspiring, certainly never “normal”, we are constantly wowed by France Fenwick’s arrangements both in the coffee bar and reception. www.flowercube.co.uk

Come and enjoy a pint of ale or glass of wine over some Sunday evening music. This month we are welcoming: Benita Johnson (5th), split sets from Sam Holmes and Phil King (12th), Russ Poole (19th) and King Rich (26th).

TL Kelly 1/10/2008