Licensees set to commemorate D-Day anniversary
Many events are being hosted tomorrow (Friday, 6 June), which is officially 70 years since the Normandy landings, or this weekend.
Wallman Pubs’ the Crown in Henlow, Bedfordshire, will be serving a special three-course menu (£27.95) on Friday and Saturday, with £5 going to charity Help for Heroes.
The menu will feature a ‘give up your lawn’ starter of confit rabbit terrine with black pudding, a ‘ration pack’ themed main course of braised blade of beef with oxtail tea and candied vegetables and an ‘eggs & soldiers dessert’ of vanilla set cream with mango puree, toasted brioche and tempered chocolate.
Head chef Karl Jaques said: “I've got a lot of military in my family so the idea behind the menu is very close to home plus we wanted to be able to donate to Help for Heroes. The dish names are quite quirky and delve into the propaganda behind the war. The 'ration pack' is served in a mess tin and features all the elements of a traditional ration pack but with a modern twist.”
The Knatchbull Arms in Stoke St. Michael, Somerset, is hosting a D-Day +1 Festival on 7 June. The pub is steeped in war history and was often used as a meeting place for senior ranking military officials including Field Marshal Montgomery who planned the D-Day invasion of Normandy and General Eisenhower, who later became the 34th President of America.
The outdoor festival will feature a programme of events including military bands, re-enactments, live music and parades.
At Fullers’ pub the Wykeham Arms in Winchester, Hampshire, a D-Day themed tasting menu will be available on 6 June, with both the pub and staff dressed in war time costumes.
The seven-course menu (£54) will feature pork crackling canapés; a poached egg and bacon crumb toast pre-starter; smoked haddock, chips and peas and pork belly, faggots and cabbage.
Head chef Gavin Sinden said: “D-Day is often something that is unsung but it’s definitely something we should remember. We have faggots on the menu, something you don't see very often but have modernised the dish. We also looked at ingredients that were rationed such as eggs and condensed milk, which I used to create a Kentish tart for dessert.”
Emily Watkins, chef/owner of the Kingham Plough, Kingham, Oxfordshire, who is appearing in this week's national final of BBC Two's Great British Menu 2014, is hosting a private dinner for 70 soldiers featuring her war time inspired dishes featured in the show.
At freehouse the Ferry House Inn, Burton-upon-Stather, North Lincolnshire, traditional 1940’s war-time food will be served to customers on Friday, such as the Woolton Pie.
Licensee Steve Smith said: “It's absolutely fantastic to be remembering this event, it means a lot to us and the whole village. We have a great connection with the Canadians who were here during the war and there are a number of veterans living in the village. We are expecting hordes of people over the weekend.”
The Fighting Cocks in Horton Kirby, Kent, is serving a senior citizen’s commemorative D-Day lunch menu which is available up until Friday.
The menu features bacon and cabbage soup; herrings cooked in oatmeal, boiled bacon with Woolton Pie and gooseberry trifle. £1 from every meal will go to Help for Heroes.
