CHEF SERVES UP AN ‘OATCAKE BURGER’
Dish was created at customer’s request
A NORTH Staffordshire restaurant found a new way to serve up the oatcake – as a burger.
A chef at The Three Horseshoes Country Hotel, at Blackshaw Moor near Leek, created the dish as a one-off following a request from a customer.
The guest – who originates from ‘down south’ – tried oatcakes for the first time with his breakfast, and liked them so much he asked for them to be used instead of the bread around his burger that evening.
The chef’s kind gesture gathered attention when Alex Povey, who supplies Povey’s Oatcakes to the venue, posted about it on social media.
But oatcake fans should not get too excited, as The Three Horseshoes has no plans to put the dish on the menu permanently.
Joint head chef Gary Woolliscroft said: “We had a customer in from down south who had never had oatcakes before. He had them with his breakfast and absolutely loved them. “Later on, he was in the spa and he asked for a burger made with oatcakes instead of the brioche bap.
“The chef who was working, Gareth Burnett, said he would do it as a one-off for the customer.
“We always try to go the extra mile to make the guests happy.”
The ‘Oatcake Burger’ consisted of a marrowfat beef chuck burger from local supplier Dunwood Farm, sandwiched between oatcakes filled with smoked applewood cheese and crispy streaky bacon, garnished with lettuce, sliced tomato, gherkins and tomato relish.
Gary said: “The customer absolutely loved it. He came up to the pass afterwards to thank the chef.
“We sent a photo to Alex who supplies our oatcakes and he posted it on Facebook and now everyone is talking about it. That’s the power of social media.
“It was a one-off though – it’s not something we are putting on the menu.”
Alex Povey, left, owner of Povey’s Oatcakes in Knypersley and Biddulph, said: “The oatcake burger is a great idea.
“I’m always up for trying something new.
“There you have it – the oatcake is the world’s most versatile food. I need to get up to The Three Horseshoes and try one myself.”