FOOD : Hospitalfield, the best place for lunch in Arbroath
Arbroath, Dundee and this region of Angus in Scotland is a natural foodie haven, but let me tell you about one of the best places to eat breakfast or lunch in Arbroath.
The place is Hospitalfield Cafe located in the walled garden of Hospitalfield, the 19th Century Arts & Crafts House and former art school in Arbroath.
The cafe has a new head chef, Elaine Chalmers, who has returned to her homeland following a 30 year spell in London where her cooking was a cornerstone of the burgeoning art scene in East London in the late 1990s. As co founder and Head Chef of Shoreditch Electric Showrooms and latterly her own restaurant A Little of What You Fancy, Elaine attracted rave reviews in the press and was visited by Yoko Ono, Bjork, Pet Shop Boys, Pam Hogg, Louise Gray, Janet Street-Porter and many other creatives.
HOSPITALFIELD CAFE, ARBROATH - BEST PLACE FOR LUNCH
Inside the walls is a large garden that during the Spring and Summer will provide not only abundant ingredients for Elaine to use in the kitchen but also to create a wonderful carpet of colours for all diners to enjoy. The cafe will also use fruit and vegetables grown in the Hospitalfield allotments situated at the entrance to the grounds. With access to a vast array of local produce, Elaine’s menu reflects fresh, seasonal dishes that change weekly.
There’s lush dishes like French toast, apple compote, Greek yogurt and maple (£7.00) for brunch or Coconut pancakes, banana and cinnamon (£7.00). For lunch you might want to try the Beef and ale puff pie, celeriac mash and buttered kale (£12.50) or the Red lentil, roast pumpkin, spinach, coconut curry, braised rice, beetroot, yogurt and chill relish (GF) (Vg Avail.) £12.00.
There’s a cake counter loaded with gluten free and vegan options, as well as all the tea and coffee combinations one might require. The coffee is superb, coming from Sacred Grounds whom I visited last year on my visit to Dundee.
The cafe itself is a small glass conservatory with full access to every inch of sunlight Scotland is willing to part with. There are also plenty of tables and chairs outside too, some under large awning umbrellas just incase it rains. On my visit the large green lawn was a child and dogs playground, with a maze of apples bobbing on the end of string, I presume for some Halloween activity.
I popped in to meet the very lovely Elaine and enjoy lunch. The Borlotti bean, tomato, pasta soup, with parmesan (£5.50) and the Wild hearth sourdough with butter caught my eye and I couldn’t see past it.
This massive bowl of good ol delicious wholesome thick soup arrived. The aroma was intense and I couldn’t wait for it to cool to take my first spoonful. The bread, chunky and fresh, was the perfect vehicle in which to scoop up all that yummy goodness - I mean who needs a spoon!!!
I was super tempted to have a slice of cake but I had just eaten a cupcake with my coffee at Airbikie Distillery, my stop prior to visiting here.
I so wish I lived closer to Hospitalfield. I would be visiting here every weekend. Elaine really has brought the menu smack bang up to date, creating fresh local menus, which diners can relate to and actually care about. The food is flavourful and cooked with love, a cliche I know, but it makes a massive difference when a chef cooks with love. The staff here are great too, very friendly and helpful.
The cafe and grounds are dog friendly and I urge you, go for a wee drive up to or along to Arbroath and pop in here for a cuppa or brunch/lunch. You wont regret it.
Do check out my 24 hours in Dundee HERE and The Arbroath Smokie Trail - HERE to give you some inspiration for a visit to Hospitalfield Cafe.
THINGS TO NOTE : HOSPITALFIELD CAFE, ARBROATH
Plenty of free parking
They cater for vegans, vegetarians and gluten freebies but you need to let them know and ask
It is dog friendly, but the must be kept on a leash
Disabled access friendly. There is a good level gravel pathway that should be ok to navigate. Toilets are all on ground level
Hospitalfield Cafe, Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, DD11 2NH www.hospitalfield.org.uk
My Spoon Award : Gold Spoon 9/10
I was invited by Hospitalfield Cafe to review their menu. Food and drink were complimentary but the views are very much my own.