Seven restaurants that prove Westbourne is foodie heaven

To showcase its diverse range of restaurants, bars and cafes, the village is hosting a foodie week from Monday, June 8 with special taster menus, tasting sessions, exclusive offers and cooking demonstrations.

Westbourne Business Association chairman, Steve Taylor, said: “There really is something for everyone here.”

For more information, visit discoverwestbourne/foodieheaven.co.uk

Taste feature writer Nicky Findley went on a gastronomic tour of the village and here are some of the highlights.

PLATES & CO: If you are looking for good food in a restaurant with oodles of character and ambience, then this place, situated in a renovated church, will exceed your expectations.

High arched ceilings and stained glass, exposed brickwork and dark wood floors, are the backdrop to superb food and service.

Plates & Co founder and Michelin star trained chef, Nick Atkins, opened the restaurant in July 2014. Nick, who worked at the Chewton Glen Hotel, is very approachable and you can watch him work in the open kitchen at the back.

His philosophy of “less is more” is so that quality produce can be “treated simply and allowed to shine”, which is why his menu is so refreshingly uncomplicated.

You have the choice of one item such as fish, lamb, steak or duck and then you choose two accompaniments.

We went for a family meal on mid-week evening and shared some nibbles for starters (prices start at around £3) which included homemade carrot crisps, salted almonds, fresh bread, trout and crème fraiche.

For mains I had Gressingham duck breast (£17.50) two thick succulent slices, perfectly cooked with a hint of pink at the centre, and served with a rich potato gratin made with shallots and double cream, some seasonal vegetables and a large Portobello mushroom.

Meanwhile my husband was raving about his marinated slow-cooked lamb (£18.50) which was so tender it practically melted in the mouth.

Whether you want a small bite to eat or a special occasion meal, this place will have a plate that fits.

ZOUKINIS: One of the best known vegetarian restaurants in the area, Zoukinis could convert even the most dedicated carnivore.

There is so much variety on the menu and the food is so full of flavour and texture, that you honestly don’t miss meat when you eat here.

We particularly loved the Thai Sweetcorn Cakes (£5.75) with sweet chilli sauce as a starter, and my husband enjoyed his Penang Curry with crispy fried tofu so much he almost scrapped the glaze off the plate.

For mains I had the Zoukinis Tagine (£11.50) with sweet potato, aubergine, red onion, carrots and apricots.

The ‘meatballs’ were made with Freekeh, the new supergrain made from green wheat.

It was so filling I didn’t have room for dessert, although I had a taste of my husband’s Old Fashioned Crumble with apple and rhubarb (£5.75) – which apparently is not only gluten-free but is suitable for vegans too. For drinks, we opted for the house Zoukinis Cabernet Rose from Chile (£14.95) which was vibrant pink with a fresh, floral aroma.

Restaurant owner Kelly is on a mission to prove that vegetarian food isn’t boring and judging by how busy the place was on a mid-week night she’s certainly got the veggie recipe for success.

LE PETIT PRINCE & COTEA: Traditional lunchtime staples such as sandwiches, soups, salads and quiches are taken to a whole new delectable dimension at Le Petit Prince & Cotea.

At Le Petit Prince run by chef patron Michael Russell, I had a wedge of warm homemade vegetable quiche which was light, fluffy and packed with spinach, leek and onion on a crisp pastry base served with ‘seasonal slaw’ – grated carrot and red cabbage, rocket, sunflower and pumpkin seeds in a balsamic vinegar dressing. The prices are reasonable for food of this quality starting at around £3.75.

Everything is made on the premises from organic, local producers.

The café was due to close for expansion later that week as it is set to double in size which is a real testament to its success.

At Cotea, I had one of the best paninis I’ve ever tasted with avocado, mozzarella, mushrooms, red onions and garlic served with a salad doused in an exquisite fig and date balsamic dressing. You also have a choice of more than 40 different types of tea.

This is the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by and enjoy a little taste of foodie heaven.

CAMDEN BAR: Now one of Westbourne’s social hubs and the place to be if you want a drink and/or a light bite, judging by how lively it was on a Thursday evening.

Camden Bar is a cross between a hard rock cafe and a surf shack, and hosts some popular social events throughout the week including live music and quiz nights.

The menu is sectioned into headliners such as roasted spring lamb and sea bass to salads, gourmet sandwiches and burgers as well as sharing plates such as nachos and sticky spicy ribs.

We were well looked-after by a lovely waitress, Paris, who told us that everything is made on the premises where possible – even the sauces.

For starters we had nachos with cheese, fresh tomato salsa, jalapenos and sour cream (£6.45) plus Jack Daniels marinated BBQ pulled pork on top for an extra £2 which was a nice twist and there was plenty for four people to share.

For mains I had pan fried chicken breast with purple potato gnocchi (£9.45) which seemed to have more flavour than regular gnocchi and was served with spring vegetables in a rich gravy.

Meanwhile my fellow diners were tucking into large beef burgers served in toasted brioche buns with a range of toppings including caramelised onions and local cheeses.

This place also offers vegan and gluten-free foods and uses local suppliers and businesses. A great place to eat, drink and just hang out.

FRATELLI LA BUFALA: Buffalo is now regarded as a superfood within the meat industry because of its many health benefits such as the fact that it is lower in fat, calories and cholesterol than beef, pork, turkey, skinless chicken and even some fish.

Fortunately it tastes good too as we discovered when a party of four of us ate at the restaurant in Poole Road, which was the first franchise to open its doors in the UK in 2013.

To start with we had a sharing platter Il Gran Piatto di Bufala (£15), with salami and buffalo ham and some of their famous buffalo mozzarella which is shipped in from Italy several times a week and is, without doubt, the best I’ve ever tasted

For mains I ordered Le Scaloppine di Bufala (£19.95), an escalope served in a marsala wine sauce on a bed of creamy mashed potato. The meat was full of flavour, tender and with a sweetness which was perfectly enhanced by the marsala wine sauce.

The other members of the party, all of whom are hard-core carnivores, all agreed it was better than beef.

So if you are looking for a way to lower your cholesterol and stay healthy while still enjoying red meat, bring on the buffalo.

BADGER & BUMBLE: This fine foods delicatessen is an adult’s Aladdin’s Cave of gourmet goodies. Everything is beautifully laid out and includes a range of regional delicacies.

Manager Dan reckons Westbourne has surpassed Bournemouth as the best foodie destination. I was treated to a selection of the deli’s best sellers such as the date and fig cream dressing which can transform even the most uninspiring salad into something delectable, some tender Dorset ham and a delicious light and nutty Mayfield Swiss cheese. I’ve yet to try their Scotch eggs because they keep selling out, but I’m told they are worth waiting for.

COOK: IT’S known as the cheat shop because customers often try to pass off the hand-prepared, frozen ready meals as their own culinary creations.

I tried a selection of dishes from the new summer range including Sea Bream with Mediterranean Style Vegetables (£19.95) which was a taste of Mediterranean sunshine with sweet red and yellow tomatoes, roasted peppers and black olives.

The other highlight was the pulled pork (£10.95) which served four. The pork shoulder had been marinated and slow-cooked which took all the angst about getting the timing right as all I had to do was pop it in the oven for 60 minutes.

This meal includes a portion of spiced tomato chutney which takes a few minutes to thaw in the microwave. For dessert I served a friend some Raspberry & Rosewater Pavlova (£7.95) which tasted and looked so authentic that she really did think I had made it myself which goes to show the proof is in the pudding!