Champion for cheese
The village of Haselbury Plucknett has a population of 550 people, so it's not surprising that The Haselbury Inn attracts local custom, mainly middle-aged people and senior citizens. Although in the summer months, it has its share of tourist trade as it is on the A30, the main road to Bridport.
Food is served everyday except Mondays (when the pub is closed) from 12 noon to 2pm for lunch and 6.30pm to 9.30pm for dinner.
"Our busiest time is at the weekend," says Pat Howard, the owner. "We serve, on average, 560 meals a week."
One of the highlights of the pub is its extensive cheeseboard and cheeses are only purchased within a 20-mile radius of the pub. Suppliers include Lubborn Cheese, 780 for Somerset brie and camembert, while cheddar is from Montgomery, 781.
The cheeses are served as part of Ploughman's dishes "which we're very proud of," says Howard," as everything on the plate of our Ploughman's is made locally."
The wholemeal bread and farmhouse white is from the local baker Bryant and Sons, 782 and the pickled onions are from Three Counties Pickle Co, Drimpton, Dorset, 783. "The pickled onions aren't for the faint-hearted," says Howard. "They are in chillies and black pepper!"
A selection of cheeses is also available, called the Somerset Platter.
Howard also uses cheese in cooking dishes such as chicken breast stuffed with local brie or lamb cutlets glazed with camembert.
The pub has received British Cheese Board formal recommendation as recognition of its quality and range of British cheeses and is included in its recommended pub guide.
Fresh fish is purchased frm Larderfresh, 784, such as plaice, sole, red sea bream, trout, brill and turbot. "We get deliveries three times a week - the fish is excellent quality and well prepared," says Howard.
During the Autumn months, Larderfresh also supplies fresh game, 785, to the pub, such as pheasant, rabbit and venison.
For rice, Howard likes Uncle Ben's American long grain rice, 786 "as it cooks well, doesn't go soggy and looks good," he says.
Italian dry pasta, 787, like tagliatelle and fusilli is also from Larderfresh. "This brand holds sauces well. It's almost like fresh pasta with a nice bite to it."
Chips are home-made from Maris Piper potatoes grown in Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
The pub buys in dry goods from 3663, 788 such as McDougalls flour, 789, detergents and canned items like Italian plum tomatoes.
All desserts are home-made although Howard does buy in ice cream from Salcombe Dairy, 790 in the following flavours - maple and walnut, cherry brandy, rum and raisin, toffee, chocolate and vanilla.
Java Select coffee is served by Beuley's, 791 which Howard says "is the best coffee you can buy. Customers constantly make a point about the quality of the coffee."
