Food Glorious Food! ............................................. Meat platter £15.99 and veggie platter £15.99 Delicious, homemade, freerange and locally sourced food is very much the emphasis at The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Pantry. From humble beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>gs operat<strong>in</strong>g from a small cab<strong>in</strong> as a zero waste supplier of dried food and groceries <strong>in</strong> April 2019, The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Pantry, based at the plant plot garden centre, has gone from strength to strength. Start<strong>in</strong>g out with a few staple dried food items, owner Sam later <strong>in</strong>corporated frozen foods, fresh fruit and vegetables and liquid refills. But the story of success does not end there… The opportunity arose to take over the café/bistro on site at the garden centre. Sam saw the potential to realise her dream and create a café and deli alongside her zero waste shop. Now, housed with<strong>in</strong> a large open plan space, The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Pantry consists of a café serv<strong>in</strong>g breakfasts, lunches, light bits plus tea, coffee and homemade cakes and scones. The breakfasts <strong>in</strong> particular are prov<strong>in</strong>g very popular with visitors and all of the <strong>in</strong>gredients are sourced locally and of the highest quality. Breakfast is served from 9am until 11.30am daily. There are multiple choices such as the classic Full English, cont<strong>in</strong>ental breakfast, vegetarian breakfast and Eggs Benedict. Priced at just £8.25 the Full English consist of Poxton Pork free-range sausages made at Smith & Ellis butchers <strong>in</strong> Fradley, Pack<strong>in</strong>gton Pork bacon, free-range eggs, beans, hash brown, tomato, mushrooms, toast, black pudd<strong>in</strong>g and a cup of tea or freshly ground coffee. Another of the popular items on the menu are the sumptuous shar<strong>in</strong>g platters, designed to feed two people (or one very hungry one!) The deli board offers a selection of breads, cold meats and cheeses, accompanied by olives, houmous, m<strong>in</strong>i quiche, pork pie and a sausage roll for good measure! The meat platter is a carnivorous delight, laden with crispy chicken strips, barbeque chicken w<strong>in</strong>gs, salt and v<strong>in</strong>egar <strong>in</strong>fused pollock goujons, lamb shish kebab, onion r<strong>in</strong>gs and a selection of dips. F<strong>in</strong>ally, the vegetarian platter comb<strong>in</strong>es the same delicious breads, olives, houmous and quiches, but mixed with a tempt<strong>in</strong>g array of halloumi fries and crispy onion r<strong>in</strong>gs. The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Pantry boasts a large outdoor terrace with lots of sheltered tables plus extra benches <strong>in</strong> the garden area. It also serves a range of freshly ground coffee and loose-leaf teas, perfect to enjoy <strong>in</strong> the sunsh<strong>in</strong>e with a homemade scone or cake. So why not pop by and sample the f<strong>in</strong>e quality of locally sourced, free-range food. Book<strong>in</strong>g is not essential, although is recommended to avoid disappo<strong>in</strong>tment. After your visit to the café, why not pop <strong>in</strong> and see the zero waste farm shop. Here you can fill your own conta<strong>in</strong>ers with products such as rice, pasta, pulses and nuts and seeds. There is also a liquid refill station where you can f<strong>in</strong>d items such as laundry liquid, wash<strong>in</strong>g up liquid, shampoos and conditioners. You can also f<strong>in</strong>d fresh fruit and vegetables, along side locally made jams, chutneys, crisps and dr<strong>in</strong>ks. The <strong>Lichfield</strong> Pantry Zero Waste Farm Shop, Café & Deli is open daily from 9am- 5pm and can be found at The Plant Plot Garden Centre, Stafford Road, <strong>Lichfield</strong>, WS13 8JA. Alternatively visit www.thelichfield pantry.co.uk D<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Out
The BitterSuite .................. The BitterSuite pub, located on Upper St John Street, has always prided itself on its constantly chang<strong>in</strong>g selection of real ale, cider and g<strong>in</strong>, as well as its friendly and welcom<strong>in</strong>g table service. April saw the pub reopen with its extended and improved outside beer garden. Adorned with ambient festoon light<strong>in</strong>g, a marquee to protect customers from the elements, plus new wooden dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g booths - it is now somewhere to visit whatever the weather! Open<strong>in</strong>g hours have been extended from 12pm- 10pm daily, except Sunday which is 2pm-9pm. D<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Out