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The Pompey Foodie by James Donougher
Spring has arrived in Southsea, making it the perfect time to introduce myself and write my first article for Southsea Lifestyle. For me, spring is one of the most exciting seasons to be a foodie on the south coast, surrounded by farms that produce some of the country’s finest ingredients. It’s the time when early asparagus appears, the Isle of Wight tomato farm comes back to life; suddenly, the salads from our local eateries taste better than ever.
One place you’ll often find me is sitting outside The Canteen on a crisp spring morning, looking out across the calm waters of The Solent. On a sunny morning, you can enjoy your coffee as the light creeps past the old stone walls and floods the decking with sunshine. Ships drift past so closely, you feel you could almost touch them, and when a large ship passes at high tide, it’s not just sunlight that floods the decking; the wake can send waves crashing, adding a little drama to your morning coffee.
Another venue close to the water’s edge is the Southsea Beach Cafe, soon to be relocating along the waterfront to the former site of The Beach Club, a place many will remember as Mozzarella Joe’s. The owners have invested heavily in redesigning the venue, capitalising on the new promenade. Co-owner Toby Woodfine says the inspiration for the new design comes from “Dutch beach bars”, giving the venue a fresh look that many locals will look forward to experiencing.
I would also like to highlight that the restaurant at the Royal Maritime Hotel is, in fact, open to the general public, where new management has recognised the quality coming from the kitchen and started to host regular events in addition to their normal opening hours. Turn to page 37 to get tickets to the Rock ‘ N‘ Roll ball at the Royal Maritime in May. The restaurant’s location shouldn’t be ignored, with the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard just across the road. Many people aren’t aware that it costs nothing to walk inside the dockyard to visit the shops, enjoy a meal at the Boathouse Kitchen, or have a coffee at the Mary Rose Museum on the outside terrace.
Across the city, restaurants are beginning to build a fantastic partnership with Wicor Primary School in Portchester, where pupils grow produce in a small allotment and sell their freshly-grown crops to restaurants. Portsmouth residents are fortunate to have eight allotments with more than 1,700 plots in the area; however, waiting lists remain long, meaning many people have decided to start cultivating a small vegetable patch in their own backyard while they wait.
As Portsmouth moves through its centenary year, there is a renewed sense of enthusiasm across the city. Our history will always define us, but we should also celebrate what’s happening on our plates. Let’s focus on our city as the epicentre for showcasing great food from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. A city where our restaurants champion local produce, and let’s celebrate this privilege.
So l close my first ‘foodies’ page by inviting readers to email: info@southsealifestyle.com, sharing their favourite places to eat and what you’d like The Pompey Foodie to focus on in the next edition.
Posted in: Articles, Food & Drink
