Living in Newton Abbot, we only occasionally visit the south Devon town of Totnes, which is about a 15 minute drive away. However, having had a piece of luck in winning a local competition, where the prize was a meal at the Curator Kitchen, my wife and I were more than happy to make the trip.
And what a pleasant surprise awaited us! We had no idea what to expect, except that it would be Italian cuisine, but Sarah and her Italian husband (the chef!) gave us a real treat! We were firstly served with a glass of sparkling rose wine from eastern Italy, Ancestrale, where the fermentation takes place in the bottle. It was unusual, and very interesting, as was to be the two course meal we experienced. We both chose a starter of a traditional Italian sausage dish, served on a bed of lentils. This was very tasty, but those who dislike garlic – be aware! As a main course my wife chose a vegetarian dish of aubergines, cooked with parmesan and tomatoes, which she really enjoyed. I went for the ragu made with minced wild boar, which was also delicious. Being an ice cream lover, who always has trouble finding my favourite flavour, the hazelnut gelato was the perfect end to our lunch.
The Curator Kitchen, situated above the Curator Cafe in the centre of Totnes, is a quite small restaurant which has a good atmosphere with the cooking area visible at one side. There are stairs, however… It’s not a typical Italian restaurant, not like you’d expect in one of the big chains, but the food was different, freshly cooked, and very tasty. We’ll certainly be returning, even without the benefit of a prize!
“Restaurant website”:http://thecurator.co.uk/
