I visited Rosie Leas Kitchen for the first time a couple of months ago when I met Jane from New Forest Marque for a cup of tea and chat. The weather was warmer then and we were able to comfortably sit outside in the last days of the late summer sun.
Since then I have been grape picking in the vineyard, brought plants from the garden centre and eaten some of the locally produce, stocked in the beautifully laid out shop. Incidentally, orders are now being taken for turkeys, festive meats, and handmade Christmas cakes, puddings and mince pies. or perhaps consider a bespoke hamper as a Christmas gift for a loved one.
Today however, I went to Rosie Lea’s kitchen for lunch. The staff attend to you as soon as you walk in, we had booked a table indoors but if you are just in for a snack or hot drink I noticed that blankets and hot water bottles are available if you prefer fresh air and autumn/winter sun.
The chef at Rosie Leas is quite experimental and Rachel the owner is happy for him to have a free reign.
When I eat somewhere new I like to order something a little different so the kolrabi rosti with avocado, poached egg and maple smoked bacon, leapt of the menu at me. It was absolutely delicious the waitress told us kohlrabi translates to turnip cabbage. It has what I can only describe as a mild sweet, slightly peppery flavour and is definitely something I’m going to try and find to cook at home. Stacked on top of the rosti was a layer of avocado a perfectly poached egg and maple smoked bacon smoked.
My friend had the crispy chicken in a waffle sandwich with homemade coleslaw and rustic fries, it was a really tasty dish but required someone with a larger appetite to complete it.
As I said previously Phil the chef likes to experiment and managed to persuade Rachel to invest in a smoker and a Indian fire bowl. A number of dishes are now cooked using this method and whilst I was in the restaurant I overheard another diner say her salmon cooked by this method was “the best salmon she had ever had” praise indeed!
Sunday lunches are now taking on a new twist, you can watch your roast cook outside and then enjoy a serving platter with all the accompanying vegetables ready to share on tables of two or four. Larger tables are available for booking.
Festive lunches can also be booked from 4th December, 2017.
www.rosieleakitchen.co.uk
Lymington Road
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7UF
Telephone 01590 623000
