Withy Kitchen Celebrates First Birthday

Withy Kitchen had reason to celebrate recently when it was chosen to supply two vegetarian dishes for Heston Blumenthal’s revival of the food chain Little Chef as part of the Channel4 documentary Big Chef takes on Little Chef. The Hearty Beer and Vegetable Casserole and the Winter Vegetable Pie caught his eye, since they represent traditional British food made with the finest local and seasonal ingredients. The dishes are air blasted frozen immediately after cooking, so there is no need for any preservatives or additives.

"We chose Withy Kitchen for the trial menu at Little Chef, Popham for their hearty 'Beer and Vegetable Casserole' because it was packed with barley, lots of root vegetables, was healthy and, most importantly, a warming, tasty British dish for our winter menu," said Ashley Palmer-Watts, Head Chef at The Fat Duck.

Owners Keith and Helen Field only took their first online orders just before Christmas 2007, and since then, they have won Gold for their Somerset Goats Cheese and Leek Risotto, Silver for their Butternut Squash and Refried Bean Fajitas, and Bronze for their Ultimate Nutloaf with Spicy Tomato Gravy in the 2008 Taste of the West Awards.

Keith swapped the pinstripe suits of his previous job as Marketing Director for Saab Motor Cars for chefs whites when he and Helen decided to start Withy Kitchen – in the old goat shed of Helen’s parents’ farm in Somerset. He did a vegetarian cookery course sponsored by the Vegetarian Society, which also endorses the company. Her previous job in the social services has fitted her well to cope with customer queries and admin.

“We were absolutely delighted to be chosen by Heston and Ashley,” said Keith. “What a ringing endorsement of the values that we have sought to bring to the company. They’ve already ordered 240 portions of Hearty Beer and Vegetable Casserole and we are making a delivery up the A303 every ten days.”