Dronfield Eye Issue 213 September 2023

EYE on food & drink
Summer platter is Med for two!
The new menu at Dronfield Hall Barn
Coffee Shop is full of surprises, as
Mike Firth recently discovered
W
ARM, pleasant afternoons have been at a
premium this summer, so on one of those rare
occasions when the sun did put in an appearance,
wife Helen and I took full advantage by opting for an
al-fresco lunch in the heart of Dronfield.
The yard at The Barn, between the medieval building
and its fabulous gardens, can be a real sun trap and, with
so many coffee shop regulars also choosing to venture
outdoors, we were fortunate to find a table.
The menu here has undergone a number of changes
since Andrea Kilner took over the reins as catering
manager earlier this year.
Many of the favourite dishes and regular ‘specials’
remain, but there is now a more extensive offering of
lunchtime and afternoon treats. And something for all
appetites too.
Helen and I liked the sound of The Barn’s Sharing
Platters. Under normal circumstances we would probably
have opted for the Best of British selection (cheese,
chutney, pickled onions, cured ham, pork pie, boiled egg,
coleslaw, crusty bread and butter) but by now we were
lapping up the sunshine so simply had to have the
Mediterranean Platter.
Presented on a large board, it featured delicious olives,
feta, sundried tomato, peppery rocket, cucumber, tomato,
grilled pitta bread, peppers, salami slices and houmous. It
looked a picture and attracted admiring glances from
people at other tables.
Our lunchtime treat tasted every bit as good as it looked
and our friendly waitress was soon returning an empty
platter to the kitchen.
A long-time favourite of mine at The Barn has been
Lemon Meringue and I couldn’t resist ordering a light
and fluffy wedge of this spectacular treat to follow our
main course. Once again, it turned heads from other
tables.
Lunch is served from noon at The Barn and, in addition
to the sharing platters, stand-out items on the new menus
include home-made soups and quiches, picnic boxes (ideal
Our head-turning
Lemon Meringue
to share in the Barn’s gardens),
salad bowls, sandwiches and
paninis, sweet or savoury
afternoon teas, cream teas and
special creations cooked each
day.
Before all that, The Barn also
serves a variety of breakfasts -
again to suit all appetites. Takeaway
breakfast sandwiches,
pastries and drinks can also
now be ordered from 9am
Monday-Friday.
Recommended
Coffee Shop at The Barn, High
Street, Dronfield. Open from
10am until 4pm with occasional
weekend closures due to
wedding bookings.
Tel: 01246418122.
Web: dronfieldhallbarn.org
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