On Thursday 30 July, the UK's youngest Michelin-starred chef, Merlin Labron-Johnson will reopen his Somerset restaurant, Osip, which is adjoined to boutique hotel, Number One Bruton.
Following the success of his work at 1-star Portland Restaurant and Clipstone Restaurant, Osip is Labron-Johnson’s first solo venture and first restaurant outside of London.
Embodying his farm-to-table philosophy of cooking, and with a newly acquired walled vegetable garden nearby, opening Osip second time round has only enhanced Labron-Johnson’s focus on sustainable, locally sourced produce.
Part of the daily routine at Osip will now involve a gardening rota, designating the time of both kitchen and front of house staff alike to cultivating the organic and biodynamic vegetables that will then be served in the restaurant.
Pairing these ingredients with produce farmed specifically for Osip at an aquaponic farm just outside of Bruton, Labron-Johnson will allow the quality of the ingredients available guide his cooking, welcoming guests to his restaurant for six simple and unpretentious courses.
Taking influence from his time spent living in France, the carefully considered dining experience is inspired by the French ‘tables d’hôte’, removing the traditional menu from the tables and letting guests put their faith in the kitchen, knowing that Merlin will cook with whichever ingredients arrive on the doorstep that morning.
On arrival at Osip, guests can expect snacks such as duck tea, Vulscombe goat’s cheese macarons, mushroom and hazelnut cookies and pig’s head with mustard leaf, followed by a series of savoury dishes that may include garden crudite with devilled egg cream, trout en papillote with cider and garden vegetables, and Ayelsbury duck with beetroots, orach and elderberries.
Sweet dishes may include sunflower and marigold tart and a classic cannele de Bordeaux, a nod to Labron-Johnson’s classical French training.
The wine list at Osip is curated with a focus on organic, responsibly grown wines from small scale producers. No drinks list in Somerset would be complete without celebrating Westcountry cider, with local ciders from makers including Fine & Foster and Pilton taking a starring role.