The Source
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Matt Sworder is chef owner of The Corner House restaurants in Kent and an Ambassador for Love British Food.
If ever there has been a time to reflect on what we do, how we spend our working time, social time, or disposable income, Lockdown 3.0 has provided the opportunity to do so.
Since opening my first restaurant in 2013, The Corner House in Minster in Kent, I have always focussed on seasonal, local produce. This simple philosophy determines the suppliers we work with and our menus in both Corner House Minster and Canterbury.
Back in March 2020 I had to explain to my fantastic team of staff that the restaurants were closing at the end of the week, like every other restauranteur or publican it was a horrific week. But let’s take a minute to look at what then happened, my local greengrocer had no orders, fisherman, butchers, dry stores and wine suppliers. As our dining rooms closed so did their orders. The revenue taps for all of us dried up. Restaurants are at the end of the supply chain, whilst each business has fixed costs to pay we were all in turmoil.
Now these suppliers are all small businesses like The Corner House, so we are all in trouble together. We know the families behind the businesses, we care about each other and know that by working together we can simply create a better community for all and it isn’t all about the money.
You see when you choose to spend your money in a local restaurant you are voting with your cash to promote local and this money supports the local suppliers that in turn helps the community you live in to thrive.
I believe promoting local works on every level, as a chef, taste is the holy grail! I know my asparagus from Mr Spanton in May tastes much better than the Peruvian Asparagus I can pick up at the supermarket 12 months of the year and I am happy to only have it available to me and my restaurants when the product is at its best.
Lockdown 3.0 has got us all taking the planet seriously and given us an appreciation for global warming. None of us want to mess the world up for our children and our children’s children. Let’s think about the Air miles involved in flying the Asparagus from Peru to my restaurant in Minster verses Mr Spanton dropping it off at the restaurant on his way to do the school run!
So it looks like it tastes better local, better for the local economy and better for the planet. Promoting local makes sense on every level.
Let us re-build stronger. Think Global, Eat Local.
Big Love
Matt Sworder
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