Take great company, an idyllic setting in an English country garden and some inspired cooking and you have a recipe for a perfect summer evening. What could go wrong? Well, we’ll come to that…

I was lucky enough to accompany Nick and Caroline Benson, two amazing food experts (and Whitco customers too) to an evening with Nest Food at the Old Rectory Gardens in Sudborough. Nick and Caroline specialise in creating food for special occasions, in and out of the home. However, on this evening they were, like me, taking their seats as happy diners.

Nest is a London-based food and restaurant business that is breaking new ground with its refreshing approach to British food and drink by using the best of simple and seasonal food. The restaurant is produce-driven. Founders Johnnie and Luke try to keep things as simple and sustainable as possible. They focus on only one meat in the kitchen at a time. This allows them to work with some beautiful rare breeds and the best small-scale producers in the country. The drinks list has a strong focus on low-intervention production methods and showcases British suppliers where possible. 

And what food we enjoyed. Their Garden Menu is a multiple course tasting experience that explored the flavours, colours and aromas of a garden in full bloom. In almost 30 years of living in the area and enjoying the fruits of our industry, never have I experienced such an incredible gastronomic evening. We enjoyed an incredible gastronomic evening, innovative talent, amazing food and great service. All this came together in an English country garden. 

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So, what could go wrong? Well, a pop-up restaurant is nothing without a working oven. And when Nest’s oven stopped working on the day of the event, they were looking at a real problem. A visit from one of our Whitco engineers got the oven working again and got the show back on the road in quick time. I felt fortunate to have enjoyed such a fabulous evening – and proud that our reputation for outstanding customer service was vindicated by our ability to resolve the crisis. 

FIND OUT MORE

NEST

World-class British produce and cooking from a young and talented team. (https://www.nestfood.co.uk)

SUDBOROUGH RECTORY GARDENS

This private garden is a tranquil, private and unique destination that is open to the public on selected days. Well worth a visit. https://www.theoldrectorygardens.co.uk

NICK AND CAROLINE BENSON

Nick and Caroline have a wealth of experience. He as a chef, and she in front of house management. They specialise in food for special occasions. (http://nickandcarolinecatering.com)

WHITCO

Catering and bakery equipment specialists. Our reputation for outstanding customer service was recognised this year by CEDA, the catering trade body. (https://www.whitcoltd.com/whitco-best-for-customer-service-official/)