A Lady in London

It’s winter in England. Time to curl up by the fire, take country walks in tweeds and wellies, and enjoy comfort food in cozy dining rooms. While these things can (sort of) be done in London, it is much easier to do them in the countryside. When I got invited to have lunch at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest this week, it seemed like the perfect place for winter pursuits.

I met several other bloggers, journalists, and PRs at Waterloo station yesterday morning and boarded a train to travel to the New Forest. The hour-and-a-half journey was filled with picturesque scenery as low fog painted the landscape with a touch of mystery.

When we arrived at Brockenhurst station in southeast England, we hopped in a taxi to travel the rest of the way to our destination. Five minutes later, we alighted in front of The Pig restaurant in the New Forest.

The restaurant was set in a 17th century building with white columns in front and ivy growing up the facade. It was situated on a large estate that made it feel like it was a million miles away from the urbanity of London.

Walking through the door, we found ourselves in an inviting bar and lounge area. The decor was contemporary and comfortable without trying too hard to be trendy. I later found out that the owners had done all of the interior decor themselves, which was impressive given the tasteful result.

After being welcomed by David, one of the owners, we enjoyed a glass of local English sparkling wine from Ridgeview, a winery near Brockenhurst. Each of us was given a different glass, from funky flutes to etched coupes. It was something that could have been tacky had it been done wrong, but The Pig pulled it off.

The sparkling wine was surprisingly good, and it was nice to drink something produced locally. It wasn’t the only thing on the menu that was produced in the New Forest, either. When we sat down for lunch in the dining room, we were told that all of the menu items had been sourced from within 25 miles of The Pig, and that in the summer the distance is reduced to a mere 15 miles.

The “25 Mile” menu was replete with everything from shellfish to pork, sea bass to steak. Much of the produce was grown right outside in the garden, and the restaurant had an in-house forager that was tasked with finding wild food from the forest. The back of the menu featured descriptions of each of the restaurant’s outside suppliers, letting guests know a bit about where their food came from.

Excited to eat local produce, I was happy when a number of “Piggy Bits” arrived at the table. I sampled everything from ‘Karma’ ham to delicious grilled and smoked sausages and The Pig’s own version of Scotch Eggs. The last of these were made with quail eggs from the restaurant’s own birds.

For my starter I opted for the Dressed Portland Crab with celeriac, caper mayonnaise, and granary toast. Served in its shell, the presentation was so pretty that it was almost sad to touch it. But as soon as I tasted the fresh, light meat I was glad I did. The sommelier paired the dish with a Chateau des Eyssards Sauvignon Semillon 2011. The wine was dry, but I would have preferred something a bit more crisp to accompany the crab.

My main course was deep fried baby squid and The Pig’s chorizo with herb butter, foraged wild garlic sprouts, and sea beet. The calamari was fresh and not overly fried, which was great. The chorizo was excellent, and the thin slices added a great complimentary flavor to the squid. It was served in a large bowl, which made it a bit difficult to cut, and I could have done without so much oil in the bottom of the dish, but overall it was a winner. It was paired with a Chilean Oveja Negra Winemakers Selection Cabernet Franc – Carmenere 2010, which went well with all of the elements in the dish.

For dessert I couldn’t resist trying the fresh mint mousse with chocolate ice cream. The mousse was delicate and refreshing, and the richness of the ice cream rounded out the dish nicely. It was paired with an excellent Hungarian Patricius Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2002. The dessert was a great way to finish off the meal.

As I ate, I looked around the dining room to admire the rustic wooden tables and light, airy greenhouse ceiling. I had never been to Petersham Nurseries Cafe in London before, but for some reason The Pig’s dining room reminded me of it. When David told me that they had been inspired by that restaurant, I couldn’t help but agree.

After lunch we were taken for a quick tour of the rest of The Pig. The owners call the place a “restaurant with rooms” due to the 26 guest rooms on the property. 16 of of them were located in the same building as the restaurant, while 10 others were a short walk away in the stable yard.

We took a quick peek at a couple of rooms, both of which had large four-poster beds with deliciously white linens and great views of the New Forest. Outside were vegetable gardens and greenhouses, a smoke house, and three resident pigs. A small pond was spanned by a bridge, at the end of which was a great little hut where guests could get massages and other beauty treatments.

Back at the main building, we passed by a welcoming outdoor fireplace before moving into the library to have coffee and tea in advance of traveling back to London. The space was as cozy as the rest of The Pig, and I couldn’t help but wish I could stay the night. The comfy sofas looked like the prefect place to curl up for an afternoon, and the long line of wellies by the door begged my feet to hop in for a long walk in the forest.

But alas, my time at The Pig restaurant in the New Forest had come to an end. For now. I’m already looking forward to going back again soon, and to visiting its sister property, the nearby Lime Wood Hotel & Spa. If it is anywhere near as good as its sibling, I might just have to stay indefinitely.