Supplier spotlight - River Cottage
Time for our monthly visit to the location of one of our listed suppliers. After a busy Saturday morning we decided we would need to pick somewhere that would provide lunch, so we headed to River cottage store and canteen.
We had mixed feelings about the place, mostly positive. It has a very humble Eco feel to the front of the store, something we were not prepared for but adored. They open up the whole front windows and it feels almost like a french bistro. As you enter, to your left you can immediately see the butchery & deli area with tables for those wishing to stop in for a warm drink. Then to your right is the general dry food store with many other trademark items bearing the recognisable river cottage logo. We were surprised to see they sell a lot of other brands of food stuffs, we had thought it would all be river cottage items. We don't recall seeing fridges full of their delightful River cottage yogurts, maybe it was overshadowed by all of the lovely merchandise, understandable really as those items have a higher sale price.
It is a very deceptive building, you walk through the butchery area, past the open hatch kitchen where the chefs are busily preparing for service (there is something comforting about a kitchen area that allows you to see everything, no need to hide from customers), then you arrive at the delightful canteen with large tables and displays of home baked goods. Plenty of Hugh Fearnley's books are spread around the tables throughout the front and back section but all very tastefully done. There are no large shrine areas to him, just simple prints of animals and natural food growing in the wild.
If we are completely honest the lunch menu was not what we were expecting, we'd geared ourselves up for a hearty soup or stew or even an all day breakfast. The menu offered light summer options, the food quality was still high, but the selection and variety were very different to what our palates are used to. The food is unlikely to suit what most kids these days are familiar with, including those raised without junk food, so you might be better off going early and enjoying the breakfast menu. Adults who like to try new and exciting tastes will certainly enjoy the experience. The staff are very friendly and couldn't help enough and the freshly prepared in season food came out fairly quickly. The main dishes were much smaller than we had expected for the price, but we always value good quality. This is more about the experience and enjoyment on the taste buds. One main dish was a single piece of sourdough bread, with crab and diced egg salad displayed on top. Presentation was lovely and the the flavours different yet subtle. I could have eaten more as it didn't particularly satisfy because of the modest portion size. The desert however met all expectations, presentation, taste and portion size was spot on, our only request would be a savoury option. They served luscombe organic beverages which was very pleasing to us as we have them listed as a supplier. They really do use all local produce in the canteen and for you to purchase in the shop.
Ben pictured with manager Pippa & Chef Brendan
After our meals we decided it would be nice to reveal ourselves as the natural food finder team. We were given a warm welcome by the manager, and she was excited to hear of our efforts and was keen to offer support in any way she could. There is a really friendly atmosphere amongst the staff, they all seem to be great colleagues and friends whilst still working hard and maintaining a high standard throughout. The town of Axminster is really lovely, you could easily make a trip down and grab a tasty desert in the canteen or something lighter from the coffee shop area and then enjoy shopping in the little shops nearby. Parking is past the church in the opposite direction to River Cottage but it's only a really short walk away.
