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Restaurant Review of the Ox Barn

Several weeks ago I booked the only available table at the Ox Barn, the latest restaurant to open at the privately owned Thyme, Southrop.   Ox Barn was launched about two years ago with Charlie Hibbert as Head Chef.   It is very much a family business with his mother, Caryn, as founder and Creative Director on the entire estate and her daughter, Millie, who also works for the business co-coordinating various projects. Left to Right- Mike Little, Charlie Hibbert & Emma Shwarz I visited Thyme for an early dinner reservation at 6pm on the same night as the re-launch of the hotel since Covid-19.   As you can imagine everyone was busy, however, on request we were able to have a tour by Steve, their Head Gardener, who toured us around the estate’s market garden which helps supplement the ingredients for Ox Barn and the estate’s other venues.   The restaurant is, as the name suggests- in a converted barn.   The ceiling reveals the  exposed wooden rafters with an opposing modern
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Welcome back

Hi, I am pleased to let you know that my blog is back. I am currently a food anthropologist writing about COVID-19 and its relationship to food and eating. I am also writing a book to be released later this year- 2020. Much more coming soon about all of this. Thanks for visiting! Michael E Little BA (Hons) MA FRAI
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Is it all in the mind?

Last week BBC Radio 5 Live said that "a diet that's good for your physical health is also good for your mental health". This begins to explain the relationship between a good diet and improved mental health.  We all know that what we eat fuels the physical body but we may not always consider that what we eat affects how we think and feel. Research of young children at school in the UK has suggested that improved diets leads to improved academic achievement.  CASA in the USA also has published evidence that children who eat regular family meals are less likely to commit crime and have better school results. In a recent supplement in the Saturday Times, a UK newspaper- carried a front page asking- what if depression isn't all in the mind?  The article goes on to present research by the British psychiatrist Edward Bullmore.  Edward was a trainee physician in 1989 when he first looked at the immune system and depression.  Bullmore states that "depression can be
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Welcome

Welcome to my new blog. Here I will be posting my thoughts about food... I have been cooking professionally for over 20 years since I was 16 years old.  I love good food. I began my career working at a number of pubs and hotels in East Sussex, UK. Following this I carried out a short internship with Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant in 2005, at the time voted the best restaurant in the world with the coveted 3 Michelin stars. After this I moved to Birmingham to study a culinary arts degree and worked for Simpsons restaurant with Luke Tipping and Adam Bennett.  Simpsons restaurant has 1 Michelin star and serves brilliant food using fresh ingredients. 12,000 acres of beautiful land serving great food I currently work as Senior Chef de Partie for Goodwood House, near Chichester, UK.  We serve great food using fresh produce from our own organic farm.  Here, within 12,000 acres of beautiful land- we produce our own lamb, pork, milk, cheese and even ale.  All of
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