Pro vs punter

Does an average diner reach the same conclusions about restaurants as a food pro, who may get special treatment if recognised?* Rebecca Seal and O reader Caro McAdam compare notes on the Newman Arms

Rebecca Seal and Caro McAdam compare notes on the Newman Arms

The pro

Rebecca Seal is a food and drink journalist and presenter on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch. Her latest book, The Islands of Greece, is out now. (£25, Hardie Grant)

The punter

Caro McAdam lives in Walthamstow and practices as a criminal lawyer. Her best eating experience came when she had white truffle risotto at the Neal Street Restaurant. Her guilty pleasure is peanut butter Oreos.

Newman Arms

Set up five years ago by Matt Chatfield, The Cornwall Project was originally designed to supply Cornish produce to top London chefs (The Ledbury and The Clove Club are buyers) and invigorate the local economy. The Newman Arms is the latest of four Cornwall Project residencies in London.The pub counts an eclectic mix of ad execs, choir singers and publishers among its locals but brings to Fitzrovia the charm and welcoming warmth of a traditional alehouse. Newmanarmspub.com

FOOD MADE GOOD RATING 6/10 thesra.org

The Cornwall Project currently works closely with about 100 farmers: the beef short-rib is free range, while the lamb is most likely hogget; Chatfield says he prefers not to use spring lamb. All its fish is caught by day boats operating off the Cornish coast. Despite best intentions, the Newman Arms has no real community engagement yet. Key is the support provided to farmers and the ingenious plan to deliver food waste back to Cornwall for pig feed; there are, though, few measures to reduce the restaurant’s impact on the environment.