Hello Everyone,
It’s 2 months since the last instalment and the seasons have changed.
I’ve just started the process of putting the heaters back up in the marquee – currently when the sun shines, the tent is beautiful and warm, however we know how chilly it can get when the sun isn’t out.
I continue to encourage everyone to book in for lunch – a couple of days we are completely full – we will always find a table though (even if it’s sharing) but booking makes it less stressful and you are guaranteed a table.
Compton McRae News
Compton McRae turned 5 in June – seems a very long time ago that we opened our doors. I still have people popping in after 3 or 4 years who can remember the time without the marquee, and having 2 or 3 tiny coffee tables in the shop.
This summer has been our busiest ever with a combination of our catering, functions in the marquee, lunches and ready made meals. All things that we have added since opening.
We have new plans for early 2025 – details should be in the next newsletter…
I won’t mention the big celebration day (C word) in late December, it’s too early, but we will have our order sheets out earlier – from the Angel Cottage Organic birds to Tom’s gravy – it will all be available again this year. So if you are thinking of ways to make your celebrations easier please think of Compton McRae.
We are already booked to cater for a few parties – large and small, leading up to the end of the year – let us know if we can help in any way with your events.
What’s a Compton McRae Newsletter without mentioning Coronation Chicken. We have decided as the days become cooler, that from now we won’t be making it for the fridge – however if you would still like to order – we will take orders up until the Sunday evening for collection the following Friday. Email, phone or pop in.
As everyone knows Coronation Chicken is our most popular meal – I couldn’t have imagined when I started Compton McRae 5 years ago (a Tasmanian in Wiltshire), that Coronation Chicken would out sell an Australian BBQ – from the 1st of May until today we have sold over 400 kgs. (in second place is our Butter Chicken with 110 kgs) The late Queen Elizabeth certainly picked a winner!
Her son, King Charles chose the Coronation Quiche – Broad bean, spinach and cheddar (our chef Tom added a twist of English pecorino instead of cheddar). Apart from our wonderful chefs and kitchen staff (where they have to peel each broad bean) it has also been a hit and in 5 months we have sold nearly 900 of them. Only the Compton McRae Quiche Lorraine tops that with 1750. Sadly with the broad bean season over Tom has rung the changes and replaced it with a Beetroot, goats curd, tenderstem & dill quiche – definitely worth a try!
Julia’s House Fundraising evenings
As you may recall we held a fundraising dinner in mid September. It was a huge success from the fun atmosphere on the night (there were 2 tables celebrating birthdays), the delicious food and drink through to the generous donations via the Just Giving Page.
Our kitchen and front of house staff were amazing – offering their time for free and we were also supported by many of our suppliers:
We would like to make another special thanks to:
Hugo & Tor Hardman from ChalkStream Trout – trout for the beetroot gravadlax
Cooper Foods
Longmans
Paddy MacGill from Vine Wines, for wine and glasses
Tim and Nick from Gardner & Beeble – for the glasses
Selina Elwell for the flowers from her garden
Thank you to everyone who organised tables and made the evening such a great success. To the wider Compton McRae community we are still hoping for as many donations as possible – the link is below or you can send directly to Julia’s House bank:
Account Name: Julia’s House
Sort Code: 20-12-04
Account #: 93640124
Ref: Bill/Caroline Petra
Compton McRae New Products
Cheese – You may not know but I spent 12 months in Norway in 1984 on my gap year and I was introduced to many Norwegian things for the first time.
One thing was their traditional Brunost translates as Brown cheese) – a caramelised sweet cheese – delicious with a sweet jam, in a sandwich or even mixing into a gravy for game meat. So it is fantastic we are now stocking Heidal Brunost (goat and cows milk) – ( see photo above!) – hand pressed into a wooden mould made by the local woodcarver. Come in and taste. Great for a gift for a dinner party.
Upcoming Events
Brooke Bowater’s Ukraine Fundraising Event @ Compton McRae
Thursday 14th November 2024
Please contact Brooke for details – bbowater@qchm.co.uk – it’s a 3 course supper – limited seats – so you will need to book early.
Chaldicott Barns Advent Fair
Saturday 30th November 2024 (details to follow)
Joanna Johnston
Friday 6th and Saturday 7th December 2024
Vintage clothing, beautiful bespoke cushions, hand made bags, other exciting bits and bobs – 2 Days only (always a highlight of the Compton McRae pop ups)
Look forward to seeing you all soon.
Many thanks
Bill and the Compton McRae Team
The Shop 01747 448750
info@comptonmcrae.com