Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s acclaimed River Cottage has arrived at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. The new River Cottage Kitchen and Deli brings a taste of River Cottage’s hands-on ethical food ethos to the Zoo’s visitors.
Levy UK, the Zoo’s official catering partner, has worked in partnership with River Cottage to create the new restaurant.
Visitors to ZSL (Zoological Society of London) Whipsnade Zoo can enjoy a fantastic feeding time, with a special menu featuring the finest seasonal ingredients, nurtured and respected from carefully chosen farms and producers all the way to the plate.
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with ZSL Whipsnade Zoo and it’s been a real pleasure to develop our River Cottage menu for the Zoo’s visitors. Among other delights, we are serving up venison ragu with Quicke’s Mature Cheddar macaroni.
'We’re also going big on seasonal veg, with side-dishes like beetroot caponata, roast carrot, orange and dill salad and wood-fired roast potato chips with rosemary salt. Please join us and feast well in good conscience.”
Kathryn England, ZSL Head of Commercial, said, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with River Cottage. The new River Cottage Kitchen and Deli brings delicious award-winning dining options to our visitors, who can enjoy a remarkable view of the Chiltern Hills on one side while overlooking our incredible herd of white rhinos on the other.
'Underpinned by our shared ethos and commitment to ethically-produced food, it is a truly unique dining experience and the perfect addition to a day exploring the UK’s largest Zoo.”
Guests can expect a delicious and varied menu including, grilled flat-bread, organic hummus and hemp seed dukka for starters. Other dishes include roast spiced cauliflower, split peas and crisp onions; baked lamb meatballs with pickled lemon and yoghurt. Desserts include hazelnut pavlova with roasted apples and custard.
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo joins a portfolio of River Cottage restaurants and delis, a cookery school, chef school, unique dining experiences and private events. All share the acclaimed River Cottage ethos and commitment to ethically produced food.
Run by international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London), ZSL Whipsnade Zoo is located in Dunstable Bedfordshire and welcomes more than half a million visitors each year. Home to more than 3,000 animals, 187 species and spread across 600 acres, and supports ZSL’s valuable conservation work in over 50 countries around the world.
