When we called in at Askham Hall, near Penrith, at the beginning of July 2012 the new Kitchen Garden Cafe was well underway, the outdoor wood-fired oven had arrived and the new chef, Simone Corrias, was due any day.
Simone is now installed at the café and is creating exciting pizzas with toppings ranging from the traditional Margherita to seasonal vegetables from the Hall’s garden, BBQ pork from the rare-breed pigs to Simone’s special which changes every day. Pizzas come in two sizes 10″ starting at £6.95 or 12″ starting at £8.25.
Ciabbatas are also on the menu with fillings of home-reared sweet cured bacon, sausage, duck egg, oaked smoked salmon and Hoi sin wild rabbit on offer.
The wood fired oven is also used to make a number of other dishes as well as reheating dishes brought up from the celebrated George and Dragon Inn at Clifton under the same ownership. The Kitchen Garden Café’s wonderful fruit ice creams and sorbets are made at the George and Dragon as well. You’ll also find on the menu cakes, coffees, teas, homemade cordials and juices, wine and beer. Click here for the George and Dragon’s delicious Plum Sorbet recipe.
Askham Hall, Askham near Penrith. Tel: 01931 712348. www.askhamhall.co.uk
F.T.