The Barn Café

Photography by Amy Joyce

The Barn Café is part of the Butley Pottery group of barns and Jacki Smith has been cooking there for the past 12 years, creating an atmosphere of comfortable culinary bliss.

The barn has been gently converted, retaining its exposed beams and stable door, furnished with a charmingly mix and match approach to chairs and crockery with a daily changing menu. Jacki excels at creating food with fresh, natural ingredients, her genius being in the balance of tastes that allows each flavour to complement and enhance the others.  

Her eclectic menu reflects years spent cooking on charter boats in the Mediterranean. A career which came about by accident. Having been employed temporarily to cook for the crew of a sailing boat, there was a strict food budget imposed. She made her purchases but had to subsidise the delicious but costly ingredients from the fine food shops of Cannes by personal travellers cheques - only to be caught red-handed, arms full of delights - by the Captain who marched her up to the market. There she entered a world of such colour, texture and variety of produce that coupled with a vivid imagination - a life long passion for cooking was born.

The Barn Café is a great destination for vegetarians, with many unusual vegetarian dishes such as Iman Bayildi, a Turkish dish of baked aubergine filled with tomato, cinnamon, raisins, mint and pinenuts; Roast Vegetable Tatin - celeriac, sweet potato, apricots, fennel seeds, under crumbly topping or Vegetable Tagine.

For carnivores try Bobofie, a South African dish of minced beef, balsamic, dark sugar, apples or Argentinean Pork with raisins and cumin; Lamb Bredy - tomato, chilli, cinnamon is excellent.

Jacki’s homemade breads are offered while your meal is prepared and her rich, dark Marrakesh loaf (made with coffee and molasses) is sublime. We followed with the Beef Bourgignon which was tender and full of delicate flavours, from the rosemary to the sweet spring onions and the sharp orange zest, each flavour distinct. The bacon and cheese tart, with local bacon, had a crumbly wholemeal pastry crust which perfectly balanced the rich cheese and full-flavoured smoked bacon. All the main dishes are served with a dish of seasonal and home-grown vegetables or a fresh salad, often with a scattering of pretty flowers. Tasty additions to our baked celery and fennel included sunflower seeds.
 
The puddings at the Barn Café are a real treat and worth saving (or is that making?) room for! We had the Gateaux Diane; a revival of an old English pudding with soft chocolate cream and chestnuts sandwiched between meringue and finished with toasted almonds and orange zest, and the sweet and tart Gooseberry Crumble. The presentation was delightful, with fresh leaves and flowers laying on pools of cream. Puddings are often original such as apple, quince and caramelized walnut crumble, Tunisian Citrus pudding, Whisky Bread & Butter Pudding or Raspberry & Cointreau ice-cream to name a few.

If you’re in this part of the county, we’d recommend making the Barn Café part of your trip. A perfect spot to aim for if you’re walking in the local countryside or worth the drive if you simply want to share great food with family and friends. The Barn Cafe has a relaxed, informal atmosphere - dogs and children are most welcome.

The Barn Café is open from 11am - 5pm every day in July and August (April-June & September: Wednesday - Sunday, October-December & Mid February-March: Thursday - Sunday). Private lunch and dinner parties can be arranged. Booking for lunch is advised as the meals are freshly made and not subject to the freezer/microwave treatment. With advance notice Jacki is happy to cater for special dietary requirements.

The Barn Café
Butley Barns, Mill Lane, Butley, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3PA
Daytime T: 01394 450800   Evening T: 01394 382332