Feasts from the Fire

Food plays a very important part in my life, not to put too finer point on it I love it

I plan holidays around which countries serve up delicious food; and once I have chosen where I’m going I can spend hours looking at restaurants and their menus to decide where to eat once there.

So it’s great that living where I do there are some fabulous restaurants almost on my doorstep.  Granted you have to drive to get to most of them but that doesn’t put me off one bit.

One of my favourites is just over the border in Somerset in the oh so fashionable  town of Bruton. Once named as one of the best places in the country to live, Bruton may be small but it is perfectly formed and attracts countless fashionistas every weekend who soak up its many delights. Attractions include Caro, a delightful shop full of beautifully designed homewares and lifestyle lovelinesses that you’ll just want to take home and another extremely popular eatery At the Chapel.

Both establishments can be found on Bruton’s High Street but it’s the restaurant on the edge of Bruton as you approach from Wincanton that has won my heart – Roth Bar & Grill.

Attached to the contemporary art gallery Hauser & Wirth, which is home to ever changing exhibitions by artists from across the world, Roth Bar & Grill serves up locally sourced and seasonal produce from its open kitchen complete with wood fired grill and spit. The main restaurant is filled with food themed art and the main bar is an art installation in its own right.

For much of the year the restaurant is open Tuesday to Sunday for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea and serves dinner on Friday and Saturday.

But now the summer is here there’s a chance to soak up the laid back atmosphere and amazing friendly service on Thursday evenings too thanks to its From the Fire Feasts.

Each week has a different theme and the food is cooked on the vast fire pits that can be found outside the main entrance. Menus coming up include goat curry with all the fixings, grilled whole mackerel and the ultimate surf and turf consisting of Dorset Blue lobster and Durslade Farm beef – the restaurant and gallery are housed in some of the farm’s disused and now stunningly converted farm buildings.

We popped down for the Chilli Beef and Tacos night. The slow cooked Durslade Farm beef just oozed Mexican flavours, without being too hot and thanks to a day of slow cooking over one of the said fire pits.

The Chilli was accompanied by a large flat bread/taco, creamy guacamole, cous cous and slow roasted tomato salsa – Yummy.

I’m not usually one for puds, but the two on offer were both tempting – chocolate mousse, with salted caramel and peanut butter or pan cotta – guess which one won? the mousse of course and it was heavenly.

Needless to say I am already planning my next Thursday night Feast the only problem is which one to go for…

• Melissa Hemsley, one half of the Hemsley Sisters whose food business Hemsley + Hemsley pioneers modern and healthy home cooking will be special guest at the July 19 feast. More details, including the menu are available here.