Last month we wrote that Casa do Frango was expanding into Native’s Borough market site, with no news on the future of wild food pioneers Native. Now, Ivan Tisdall-Downes and Imogen Davis have revealed their next move: this October, Native will relocate from London to Osea island on the Essex coast, marking its first restaurant outside the capital.
The move helps the pair to pursue their journey towards creating a closed-loop restaurant system in a bio-diverse corner of England, showcasing the wealth of local produce from the surrounding shores and fields.
Guests will be welcomed with snacks and drinks around a campfire on the beach before sitting down to enjoy a seasonal tasting menu which tells the story of the Island and its ecosystem. Diners can expect Blackwater oysters smoked over fire, wild line-caught bass and foraged sea buckthorn.
A selection of organic, biodynamic and low-intervention wines will be on offer, alongside a range cocktails, – we like the sound of the Negroni made with Osea Island vermouth – kombucha and foraged teas.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to escape the city and look for a restaurant near the sea where we can further expand our closed-loop and regenerative agriculture practices” says Davis. Head chef Tisdall-Downes adds “we’re looking forward to developing our menu to reflect the wealth of produce that Osea island and the surrounding area has to offer.”
The new location won’t be without its challenges, as dining times will be dictated by the tide, with guests travelling to the island via boat or an ancient Roman causeway. That alone makes us intrigued to visit…
The 30-cover restaurant will initially open Thursday – Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoon. To find out more or to book a table, visit the website here
To read about when we went foraging with Imogen and Ivan, click here
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