The Old Passage is a fish resaurant perfectly located on the banks of the River Severn
Name: The Old Passage
Restaurant: The old Passage
Address: Passage road, Arlingham, Glos, GL2 7JR
Tel: 01452 740547
Web: www.theoldpassage.com
Email: oldpassage@ukonline.co.uk
What is your earliest memory of food?
Sitting around the table on a Sunday, enjoying the home comforts and the roast cooked by Mum
Tell us about your menu.
Great seafood cooked to perfection kept simple
What plans do you have for the New Year?
Not an extravagant one but just what the Old Passage is known for good seafood cooked well
What initiated your interest in cooking?
Not being particularly interested in school but pleasing people with food they truly enjoy
How would you describe your approach to food?
Fish is the mainstream at the Old Passage so using the freshest and best available and enhancing with a modern simple approach
What advice would you give to a novice?
Don't do it unless you really want to - have a passion, the hours are long in the kitchen.
Have you ever had any cooking disasters?
Roast loin of pork for 50 and I forget to turn the oven on
What has been your most memorable (or unusual) meal?
I was lucky enough to go to the fat Duck at Bray- wonderful but un fortunately I had a bit too much to drink and being shown around the Kitchen is now a bit of a blur
Which chef has been your greatest inspiration?
Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White
What is your favourite local ingredient?
The very much underestimated fresh water crayfish which are caught locally and are called "The Menace" to the local fishermen. It is not so much the eating of them but the flavour they give to the dishes.
Local cheeses and we have plentiful local game in season which we use in the winter although we are predominantly a fish restaurant
What's in your fridge at home?
Good Cheeses and meats
Why should people visit you?
Great Seafood, lobsters fresh from our own seawater tanks, oysters and the freshest fish available. The wonderful views across the river Severn to the Forest of Dean
What would you recommend about the local area?
Great walks around Arlingham that are not to challenging, followed by lunch at the Old Passage or vice versa lunch followed by a gentle walk
What would you choose for your last meal on earth?
Pembrokeshire lobster with new potatoes straight from the garden, hollandaise sauce
What are you hoping 2009 will bring you and The Old Passage Inn?
At present we are very much a restaurant. In the summer we hope to extend into the garden-what better with a bowl of mussels, homemade bread and a glass of local cider?
