The Pig brand has long been adored by visitors far and wide, and with the New Forest venue being the original, it’s no wonder that it holds such a special place in people's hearts. The country house with 32 rooms is considered more of ‘a restaurant with rooms’, as there is such a strong focus on creating a special dining experience. The menu has all been sourced locally, including from the walled kitchen garden, where the team grow almost all of the fruit and vegetables included in the dishes. Then whatever can’t be grown there, is sourced from within a 25 mile radius, as the team look to celebrate the seasons and use only the best, freshest and authentic foods available.
The menu is evidence of the commitment to eating local ingredients, as locations have been noted on the page, as well as a separate section to show a 25 mile radius map of the suppliers. Expect to see cheese from Laverstock Farm, vinegars from the Isle of Wight, and wine from Hambledon, all used to create an uber local dining experience. On the menu, you’ll find a selection of small bites such as smoked cod's roe with fish fingers, plant based dishes from the garden like The Pig’s Gazpacho, and starters including ham hock terrine with piccalilli.
Then to confirm the low food miles of the food produced here, there’s also a section called ‘Forest & Solent’. Making the most of the land and sea, guests can tuck into anything from buttermilk marinated lamb belly with garden nettle pesto to south coast cuttlefish with asparagus & Dorset nduja dressing. The desserts offer a combination of hearty British classics and lighter options, to create something for everyone, no matter how much they’ve eaten before. Think The Pig’s arctic roll with New Forest strawberries, or Beaulieu Gorse & white rum jelly with kefir sorbet.