When chef Joe Buckley took on the challenge of hosting the biggest Elsie’s Cafe binnertime event so far he thought it would be a good way to keep his staff on their toes.
Joe’s Perfect Country Pubs group runs The Tollemache Arms at Harrington, The Red Lion at Yardley Hastings and the White Horse at Tilbrook.
They took ‘rescued’ produce provided by Elsie’s Cafe – perfectly good food that would otherwise have been dumped, typically close to or just past its best before date – and turned it into a tasty three course feast featuring unwanted pheasants recovered after a Christmas shoot and a vegan pavlova conjured up from chick pea juice.
He said: “We had an idea of the menus we wanted to do but we had to wait and see what produce arrived. I’ve used it as a kind of inspiration for my chefs and they’ve been buzzing.”
Diners paid £15 a head for the event which supports the work of Elsie’s Cafe.
Tattva Galgali, from Pitsford School, received a special presentation in recognition of the innovative Elsie’s Cafe tuckshop he set up, raising over £1500.
