The Pig is set in the heart of the New Forest in Brockenhurst. A restaurant based on food either sourced locally, within 25 miles, or produced in their spectacular kitchen garden, not forgetting wild ingredients foraged by Garry Everleigh who has been gathering wild food from the area since he was a boy. The Head Chef is James Golding. The unpretentious style makes diners feel at home with bare wood tables and mismatched cutlery and the most alluring tiled floor.
A press party was invited for lunch, a couple of weeks back. Despite being mid-week the bright and airy dining room was full, buzzing and relaxed, I know it's a contradiction in terms but that's the way it was. If Andrew Barrow left with a copy of the wine-menu which he turned into an enjoyable read on Spittoon. I spirited away the A5 recycled-paper menu. Though changes are made every day, depending upon the forager and the kitchen garden's team provisions, there are a few constants.
The cocktails, mixed by The Pig’s bar manager, Duncan Gordon, are served in Kilner jars, goblets or various props, a food-blogger's dream. Literally Picked This Morning provided my main: Hand-Dived Lyme Bay Scallops and streaky Bacon. Pleasing to see Faggot, offal and pig-cheek sharing the page with other more common dishes such as risotto and chops.
With its eclectic furnishings, top-notch food, unpretentious atmosphere and attention to details, it was home from home, only better, bring us sunshine and I'll be back.
The Pig
Beaulieu Road,
Brockenhurst,
Hampshire, SO42
01590 622354
Price: Three courses: £31.27
For the London crowd: train-ride from Waterloo to Brockenhurst rail station, about an hour and a half then a 2 miles jouney by taxi.
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