The Zebra Riding Supper Club at Birch Community
The Zebra Riding Supper Club at Birch Community
Hosted by renowned chef and Zebra Riding Club Culinary Director, Robin Gill
Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the first event in The Zebra Riding Supper Club series at the flagship restaurant at Hertfordshire’s beautiful Birch Community. We are already great fans of Birch (see our previous review here) so this was really something to look forward to. The experience surpassed all our expectations.
The ZRC is the brainchild of renowned chefs and great friends Robin Gill and Ben Rand. Last night saw them launch their first exclusive supper club evening, hosted by Robin himself.
Robin Gill’s produce-led restaurant concept was first brought to London via his restaurant The Dairy. It has now evolved and expanded dramatically in the form of the Zebra Riding Club - his first farm-to-kitchen project. In this venture, Gill has created a seamless and physically immediate connection between farm and kitchen. The produce is harvested on the estate and livestock have been introduced so that the dishes served revolve solely around what is best from and for the land.
The carefully curated four-course meal, each dish paired with an exquisite wine, highlighted the abundance of fresh produce grown at the Birch Community Farm and surrounding woodlands - using only what is at its best that week.
The menu (see below) was cooked over an open fire and was mouth-wateringly good. It would have been very easy to make the schoolboy error of overindulging on sourdough and wild garlic butter right at the start, especially when the latter tastes good enough to eat a whole bowl of with a spoon. But we held back to leave room to try all the starters and were delighted we did; they were all super fresh and tasty.
When it comes to lamb cooked three different ways (roasted, BBQ and in the form of a pie) we’re in. We questioned Gill about why he chose to serve lamb three ways for the main dish, in which he replied that this was a conscious decision to not waste any produce. This is Birch’s ethos and is deeply engrained in their philosophy, and one we’re grateful for, because every mouthful earned its place on the plate.
When you think of peas and beans you don’t necessarily jump for joy, however, we can promise that the side of broad beans, grilled peas and radishes cooked in lardo makes a perfect match, and was absolutely scrumptious.
Next up was the Ticklemore cheese with Birch honey and rye cracker. Ticklemore is a young goats milk cheese with a fresh lemony taste. This paired deliciously with the organic wine Valdibella Memorii NV – a Sicilian multi-vintage organic wine made by the team at Valdibella, who have a huge focus on biodiverse farmlands, an active social impact, and are part of the Addiopizzo anti-mafia movement.
To finish the Supper Club, we were spoilt with chocolate, yoghurt sorbet and hazelnut, ending the evening on a perfectly sweet note.
We could not recommend this Supper Club Series enough. Set in a beautiful location, using the finest home grown produce and generous top ups of distinctive independent wines to pair, you are guaranteed a wonderful evening and is a must for any foodie.
Gill absolutely nailed it. His professionalism and down-to-earth persona is a lovely recipe in itself, and we look forward to our next visit.
Selection of Snacks
Gilchester porridge sourdough, wild garlic butter
House brawn, summer onion escabeche
Kentish asparagus, seaweed gribiche, Birch hen eggs
Tema artichokes, romesco sauce, toasted almond
Paired with – Entire Vinyes – Pet Nat 2020
The Feast
Roast swaledale lamb, BBQ lamb rib, broad beans, peas & radishes and spring lamb pie
Paired with – La Niverdiere 2019
Or
Stuffed round courgette, sunflower seed praline, wild garlic pesto
Paired with – Pomagrana Blanco
Cheese
Ticklemore cheese, Birch honey, rye cracker
Paired with – Valdibella Memorii NV
Something Sweet
Chocolate, yoghurt sorbet, hazelnut, olive oil
Paired with – L’Archetipo Moscatello Selvatico 2021
The Zebra Riding Supper Clubs will continue to take place on several Thursday evenings during the spring and summer months, including the 27th of April, 25th of May plus the 29th of June, on which Robin and Ben will welcome a special winemaker to celebrate midsummer.
birchcommunity.com | @the.zebra.riding.club
The Zebra Riding Club, Lieutenant Ellis Way, Cheshunt EN7 5HW