Restaurant's menu goes the extra mile

Owners of a Suffolk restaurant claim to be the first in the country to publish food miles on their menu.

Peter and Anna Banks from Sutherland House in Southwold, Suffolk, only use seasonal, local ingredients and specify the exact amount of food miles the ingredients have travelled, from where it was grown or bred, for each dish.

Peter said: "It's ridiculous that we're carting produce around the world. Why should we be able to get things all year round? It takes the surprise element away and stops us from looking forward to British produce when it is in season."

Some of the food miles for dishes on the menu are 0 miles, as they use produce including rhubard, raspberries, french beans, courgettes and rocket grown at the Banks' allotment. Food miles appear on the menu next to the price.

Best-selling dishes include local tapas dish homemade black pudding fritters with russet apple sauce (£2/4 miles) and belly of Blythburgh pork, fondant potato, roast parsnip, pork broth (£10.50/4 miles). Peter said the average covers a week range from 250-350 and the average spend per head, including drink, is around £26. Dishes that have travelled the furthest include fried Brancaster mussels and home cured bacon (74 miles). If a dish includes more than one ingredient, the miles are listed for the main ingredient.

Peter added: "Customers love it, though a few need educating. They are impressed that we support the local economy and the fish comes straight from the local harbour. Why people are proud to have Icelandic cod on their menu, I can't understand."

Head chef Alan Paton enjoys the challenge of only cooking what's seasonally available.

Peter said: "Many chefs have become lazy and rely on staple menu items all year round. We are trying to get back to doing things properly.

"I am still working on sourcing local wine producers, but we hope to do a similar thing with our drinks menu."

Peter and Anna took over the freehold last September. Before moving to Suffolk, Peter was manager at the four red star hotel Rudding Park in Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

For more information visit www.sutherlandhouse.co.uk​