Get ready for a night of explosive flavour and taste as private chef Matilda Carr makes a welcome return to Sitwell Supper Club on Friday October 3 to cook up a delectable Asian feast.
Matilda Carr is Gloucestershire’s most-sought after private chef, the founder of catering company By Matilda she was recently described by The Telegraph as ‘the real life Taggie from Rivals’ (the auburn-haired Jilly Cooper character who works as a private chef in the Cotswolds!). Matilda cooks for families as well as catering for larger events such as weddings and, as part of her business, Matilda also designs floral tablescapes for major celebrations. She is now in high demand for both the styling of her food presentation and the passion she has for what she calls, ‘a life dedicated to making sure every mouthful of my food is packed with flavour and texture! She adds: ‘I cook food that I think my friends would like to eat. It’s not smart or trendy but simply food that I want people to just love.’
Her menu for this dinner features as its centrepiece an Asian-style duck curry, inspired by Matilda’s travels in Thailand and Vietnam, as well as a delectable crab starter and a host of delicious side dishes from sticky rice to crisp leeks, slow-roasted crunchy peanuts and her famous crisp chilli oil.
Your host, as ever, is William Sitwell, one of Britain’s foremost food writers. Restaurant critic for The Telegraph, he has been a regular judge on the BBC hit show MasterChef for almost 20 years. His supper club, in his converted cow shed at Rooks Nest Farm near Wiveliscombe in West Somerset off Exmoor, is a firm favourite for lovers of great food, great wine and great times!
We are also delighted work with brilliant local floral designer Marcello Alvarenga-Block whose stunning and bespoke creations adorn Sitwell Supper Club each month.
Diners will take their seats with place cards written for each guest and, weather dependent, the dinner will take place on the long table in the outer dining room, or, within the old shed, in the cosy confines of the smartly-decorate Sitwell Supper Club dining tent.
Order of play
Drinks are from 7pm. Speeches and dinner from 7.30pm. The event ends at 10.30pm.
Courtesy Drinks
Fishers Gin and Double Dutch tonic, Fortnum’s sparkling wine.
Menu
Starter: Handpicked Newlyn crab nachos with chilli, coriander, spring onions and salsa, a lime, ginger and soy mayonnaise with crispy tortilla
Main: Slow-cooked Asian-style duck curry with coconut, lemongrass, kaffir lime, turmeric and galangal with crispy duck skin and and water spinach
For scattering: Crispy garlic oil, crispy leeks, crispy chilli oil, crispy kale, slow-roasted crushed peanuts
Rice: Herby black sticky rice with crunchy honey soy sesame cashews
Sides: Tenderstem broccoli with sizzling green oil, green bean salad with crispy fried shallots, garlic and chilli
Pudding: Clotted cream non-baked cheese cake with blackberry coulis, roasted pistachio biscuit base, sprinkled with seasonal berries
DRINKS
In addition to welcome drinks, waters are included in the ticket price; refreshing Acqua Panna and sparkling San Pellegrino.
Our champagne tonight is Fortnum’s Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne, Maison Bonnet. Produced by Maison Bonnet, it’s made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from Les Ricey in the Côte des Bar region. Golden in colour with complex notes of gooseberry, cherry, red apple and quince, this makes a delicious aperitif and pairs perfectly with foods as varied as charcuterie and mushrooms. Dense and spicy it has a long, mineral finish.
Other drinks such as local Exmoor Ale are extra and can be purchased from the bar.
After-dinner cocktails are also available, courtesy of Moth drinks, who provide a range of stunning mixes such as an Old Fashioned, Negronis and Espresso Martini.
The Sitwell Supper Club is also proud to be associated with Richard Brendon glassware. Designer Richard’s wine glasses were created with the assistance of Jancis Robinson OBE MW and his collection of cocktail glasses are beautiful mouth-blown glassware inspired by a mix of turn-of- the 20th century and modern cocktail culture.
CARS
There is car parking on site.
Any queries please email: sitwellsupperclub@hotmail.com
FAQS
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY
What time does the event begin?
Doors open at 6PM for the sale of drinks from our cash bar. You can buy wine for dinner from this time. Please note complimentary drinks are not served until 7PM.
What is the dress code?
Regular guests dress smart/casual with warmth a key factor in their style. Please note this event takes place in an old cow shed. While there are blankets, please dress for the outdoors
What are my transport/parking options for getting to and from the event?
There is parking at the venue. You are welcome to leave your car overnight and take a taxi home
How can I contact the organiser with any questions?
Email: sitwellsupperclub@hotmail.com
I’m a vegetarian, can you cater for me and show me some love?
At The Sitwell Supper Club we always welcome vegetarians. Please ensure you inform the host of any dietaries no later than seven days prior to the event. Email: sitwellsupperclub@hotmail.com
Can you cater for any dietaries, such as gluten-free?
Indeed we can, but, as above, please ensure you inform the host of any dietaries no later than seven days prior to the event. Please email: sitwellsupperclub@hotmail.com
What’s the dress code?
Smart/casual and please bear in mind the British weather
If the event is showing as sold out, is there hope for me and my pals?
You can email the host requesting seats in the event of dropouts.
What are the seating arrangements?
Seating is allocated by the host and seating will have place cards. If you have friends coming under a separate booking please email the host if you would like to sit with them. Email: sitwellsupperclub@hotmail.com
What’s the refund policy?
There are NO refunds. Please read FAQs carefully so that you are happy with everything before you book.
Where can I stay?
Accommodation may be found at the nearby Notley Arms Notley Arms in Monksilver, or The White HartThe White Hart in Wiveliscombe.
There’s also Emprean, a charming 18th century cottage in the next door village of Brompton Ralph – a five minute drive, or you could walk across the fields… This exquisite accommodation can sleep four people, it’s a very rural escape, well-appointed and children and babies are welcome too!
And close to our nearest town of Wiveliscombe you can rent a beautiful cabin for two at North Down Farm. Amid a 190-acre beef cattle farm it’s a cosy place to stay with a wood burner, an Everhot stove and wonderful views.
Supper club guests can also benefit from a 10 % discount if they book into the Yarn Market Hotel in Dunster. The hotel also offers free transport and special weekend deals for groups of seven or more.
Or make a cosy long weekend of it with utterly fabulous views and book a shepherd’s hut at nearby Higher Roddon Farm. Duncan and Alexis Thomas rent out two couple’s huts on their farm.
We also highly recommend a stay Steam and Stars, a luxury shepherd’s hut or chic vintage caravan in Sampford Brett, near Williton. Check out steamandstars.co.uk and let them know that you’re coming to the Sitwell Supper Club! Owners Trevor and Bee will also drive you to and from Rooks Nest!!
For larger groups we are fans of The Big House Co. They run several beautiful and unique locations in this part of Somerset and cater for groups from a minimum of ten people to more than 20. Check out where to stay and why not put Sitwell Supper Club at the heart of a fantastic party weekend!
