Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Oxford Street? Native restaurant, set within Mayfair’s historic Brown’s Hotel, is a welcome retreat. And this summer, Native has partnered with English wine purveyors Rathfinny, to create an expertly-matched courtyard menu featuring sustainable small plates accompanied by expertly-paired Sussex sparkling wine. Native restaurant champions British produce, seasonality, sustainability, foraging, and zero- waste cooking, making their food the perfect match for Rathfinny, the UK’s first B Corp wine producer.
To kick things off, we devoured a delicious plate of fennel bread and confit garlic oil featuring one of the best bread crusts we’ve ever eaten, crisp with fennel seed and a sea salt crust. Next up, we had a smoked carrot hot dog with hay ash honey and a curry mayo – the tempura carrot was a standout both in terms of texture and flavour. These went wonderfully with a glass of Rathfinney’s 2018 Classic Cuvée which is bursting with refreshing notes of apple and has a creaminess on the nose.
Other must-tries on the menu – which changes according to produce seasonality and availability – include: Orkney Island scallops served with Rathfinny 2018 Blanc de Blancs (a personal favourite!), a sensational risotto featuring rye, barley and oats paired with Rathfinny 2018 Blanc de Noirs as well as lamb loin confit with nasturtiums, matched with Rathfinny 2018 Rosé. Each of these delicious wines is available by the glass or bottle, and there are also magnums of the Rathfinny 2017 Classic Cuvée and Rathfinny 2017 Rosé Brut if you fancy pushing the boat out.
As the adage goes, what grows together goes together. And that’s certainly the case for Rathfinny’s English sparkling and Native’s sustainability-focussed small plates: they’re undeniably a perfect pairing.
Catch the last of the Rathfinny Summer Residency at Native Tuesdays – Saturdays, 11am – 10.30pm. For bookings, head to nativerestaurant.co.uk
Blog
Blog
Blog
Blog
