We've created a relaxed yet special menu to treat your mum this Mother's Day
“There’s a real sense of comfort in it, but also the attention to detail and seasonality that’s important to us,” says the Michelin-starred chef at the helm of a one-off Mothering Sunday menu.
Famed Northumberland restaurant Hjem, which was the first restaurant in the county to gain a Michelin star, recently launched a six-month residency at South Causey Inn, in the Beamish Valley.
The team, led by chef Alex Nietosvuori and wife Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori, have moved into The Farmhouse while their next permanent home, Restaurant Freyja, takes shape in the grounds of Close House, in Wylam.
And it means the forthcoming Mothering Sunday menu will be a real one off.
Available on March 15 only, the £110 per person menu has been created with sharing very much in mind.
Guests will begin with a selection of dishes designed to be enjoyed together, including Parker House rolls with cultured butter, Doddington cheese gougères, chicken liver parfait with brioche, pecan and Pedro Ximenez, shellfish bisque with whipped cream, smoked halibut with grapefruit and capers, and grilled mussel skewers with tarragon and brown butter.
For the main course, the centrepiece is a classic Beef Wellington served with potato purée, Yorkshire pudding and vegetables from the Freyja garden. A seasonal white asparagus dish with poached egg and sorrel is also available.
Desserts continue the celebratory tone, with rum and raisin crème brûlée, financiers with brown butter, and farmhouse cheeses with medlar and vin jaune jelly (supplement applies).
Alex said: “Mothering Sunday is about generosity and taking time to sit down together. We’ve created a menu that feels celebratory and abundant, with dishes designed to be shared across the table. There’s a real sense of comfort in it, but also the attention to detail and seasonality that’s important to us.
Ally Thompson-Nietosvuori, restaurant manager and co-founder, added: “We know that for many families, it’s not just about mothers but grandmothers, stepmums, aunties and all the women who play such an important role in our lives.
“The South Causey setting is perfect for this kind of occasion. It’s relaxed yet special, surrounded by countryside, and it allows families to make a real day of it.
“While we continue building towards Freyja, it means a great deal to still be welcoming guests and creating memorable experiences here at South Causey. This residency is an important chapter for us, and Mothering Sunday feels like the perfect time to gather people around the table and celebrate properly.”
Restaurant Hjem at South Causey Inn is open for dinner Wednesday to Friday, lunch and dinner on Saturdays, and a long lunch on Sundays. Mothering Sunday bookings are now open via the South Causey Inn website at https://southcausey.co.uk/hjem-at-south-causey-inn/