The Gladwin Family Journal
Snapshots, Reels and Observations from January, by Peter Gladwin
Guilty pleasures: Why are all the things I most enjoy considered to be bad?
I really enjoyed the early January cold snap. In fresh, chill air the drab winter landscape was transformed into a totally beautiful scene by frost and snow. Sparkling blue skies or moon and stars as bright as day, and then tea and crumpets by the fire after getting home from a long winter dog walk.
The guilty part comes because I love it so and yet many people suffer either from the cold itself or the fear of the energy bills that inevitable soar. In many community-based societies the old and weak are looked after by the strong but we are often too insular and it is all too easy for someone vulnerable to slip through the net.
Then there is chocolate! I don’t believe you can have too much of it. Why do doctors, dieticians and worst of all, wives make you feel so guilty about indulging in chocolate?
And finally wine. All sorts of campaigns tell us it should be “Dry January”, or at least have consecutive nights of abstinence each week; or even worse, we must give up altogether! If we have to have a resolution I prefer “drink less but drink better” - appreciation of fine wine is one of life’s great pleasures!
From Earth To Table
Our friends at LC Creatives have made a beautiful video as part of their Earth to Table series. It features Oliver and Richard explaining the concept and values of their restaurant business, with seasonality and sustainability at scale. If you have got 5 minutes, it is well worth a watch.
Vineyard Tours & Tastings
Splashing through the puddles and squelching through the mud, it is difficult to imagine picnicking in the vines, sipping chilled rosé or feasting in the early evening on Gregory’s vine-wood grilled beef, drinking Nutbourne sparkling with music wafting from the windmill balcony.However, it is never too early to plan ahead, so our vineyard & winery tours with tastings, picnics and Burger & Bubbly evenings are now available to book online.
Plan your visit to the vineyard this Summer →
Saturday Tours from 10:30am, Burgers & Bubbly on regular Fridays and Bank Holiday Mondays, picnics available every day the cellar is open.
Flow & Sip in Chichester
Friday 13th February, 6:30-9pm, £30
Yoga followed by wine tasting is a perfect way to wind down on a Friday. Olivia will be there to guide you through our range of still and sparkling at Robin’s Nest in Chichester after you've stretched your limbs - it happens to be Galentine’s Day too! Only a few places left.
Cosy Corners
Valentines Day (or is it Valentine’s week these days) is coming up and this is a gentle reminder that our Local & Wild London restaurants offer an abundance of stylish, thoughtful dishes, seductive cocktails and cozy romantic corners.
This Month's Food Champion: Forced Rhubarb
Forced is not an attractive title and you might well think it is unnatural, out of season and to be avoided. In fact, Rhubarb grown under a cloche cover or in a shed has been around since the 19th century and produces wonderful tender, sweet and colourful stems suitable for all sorts of savoury and sweet dishes. Oliver has prepared a Rhubarb & Orange Compote. See the seasonal recipe here →
He has also been out and about gathering young nettles. See the video here →
What's in Season?
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FROM THE LAND
Red & Green Kale · Pink Fir Potatoes · Leeks · Baby Turnips · Russet, Bramley & Braeburn Apples · Hispi Cabbage · Beetroot · Hogget Lamb
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FROM THE COAST
Mackerel, Haddock, Hake & Pollock · Wild Bass · Oysters
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IN THE WILD
Early Nettles · First Wild Garlic · Last of the Game Birds · Winter Chanterelles · Alexanders · Chickweed
Seasonal Recipes
Pinot Gris
Bridget and I found ourselves near Sussex restaurant in Soho on a circuitous route to the Royal Academy. Horror of horrors, Nutbourne Sussex Reserve was not available, they had run out! Thinking fast, the apologetic maitre’d suggested opening a bottle of Nutbourne Pinot Gris instad. Aromatic with subtle pear, citrus and almond flavours, alongside Antonio’s English Truffle Pasta, Beef Tartare and Chargrilled Bosham Leeks it was exceptional!
This is a limited edition wine, currently available in our online shop.
A New Animal in the Farmyard
With the exception of The Shed in Notting Hill, each of our restaurants has an animal as its logo. Not to give the game away, but you can now spot the new addition in the line up. So what happened at The Shed, which has a knife and fork logo? I can only assume that whatever was stabled there got eaten!
Photography by: LC Creatives, Ed Dallimore, Catherine Frawley, Holly Farrier, and Olivia Thomas.
Illustrations and copy by Peter Gladwin.