Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden is a new community cafe-restaurant serving sustainably sourced and homegrown produce
When school friends Toby Baggott and Sam Lawson-King set up their socially distanced venture The Scenic Supper during the pandemic they realised the power of immersing diners within the local environment.
The concept, which seated customers within their own private greenhouses overlooking rolling Cotswold hills at Todenham Manor Farm, centred on sustainable ingredients sourced within a 25-mile radius of the farm. Following its success, the duo have transferred this ethos (minus the greenhouses) to their latest venture in The Old Kennels in Cirencester Park, which will serve farm-to-fork menus made from uber-fresh locally sourced produce.
Head chef Sam Idione will be rustling up breakfast, lunch and dinner at the 54-cover venue. While the menus are yet to be finalised, diners can expect to find the likes of traditional breakfasts, seasonal salads, filled flatbreads and gourmet burgers served during the day. Evenings will see a more sophisticated line-up featuring the likes of honey-glazed steak onglet with potato and buttermilk waffle, crème fraiche and chive butter, and fish du jour cooked in langoustine oil, artichoke, citrus puree and shellfish bisk. Daily vegetarian and vegan options will be available too.
Much of the fruit and vegetables will be grown in the on-site kitchen garden and there will be a well-stocked bar serving seasonally changing gin cocktails, as well as a range of wines. Beer and cider will be sourced from neighbouring breweries, Corinium Ales and Hook Norton Brewery.
Roots + Seeds has been designed as a community space for all generations to enjoy. As well as alfresco courtyard dining in the summer months, there’ll be an interactive learning space next door for families with younger children. The Kitchen Garden will be open on Saturdays for talks with Toby about how to grow your own and open to local schoolchildren, volunteers and charities during the week.
Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden opens on April 7.
