Out & About Winter 2018

FOOD & DRINK

Eat & go to the show The Corn Exchange, Newbury, doesn’t just offer a great range of shows, from comedy to dance, drama and magic, it is also a great place to meet up with friends for a coffee or to have a meal before taking in a show, as MARGARET MCDONNELL discovered

D uring our recent visit to the Corn Exchange to watch the magician Jamie Raven on the sell-out leg of his Making Magic tour, we had to try the salt beef sandwich, one of a selection of dishes on offer in the venue’s cafe. Head chef Michelle Charles told us that one recent visitor had declared our New York-style salt beef sandwich to be “the best food he’d ever had in a theatre”. Quite an accolade coming from one of the UK’s most discerning palates, Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace. All ingredients are sourced locally from small suppliers and are freshly prepared. And Michelle, a chef with 25 years experience, has created a new winter menu, complete with fresh gluten-free and vegan specialities. She said: “The core value of the Corn Exchange is that the theatre and performances are accessible to everyone, so we wanted to make sure the food is too.” As a native of Upstate New York, it’s fitting that the most popular hot snack on the menu is the Gregg Wallace- approved salt beef sandwich. Michelle says: “It’s a fairly common dish, but the way I do it is different. I brine the brisket myself and then, as with all of our meats, it is sliced paper thin. You still get the same amount of meat on the sandwich, but the texture of the paper-thin meat is such a different sensation from chewing on a big bit. ” As most customers tend to be disappearing about a quarter of an hour before a performance, the catering team is more than aware

of timings and if you are not quite finished as the show is about to start, you can order your dessert and it will be waiting for you in the interval. But back to the salf beef sandwich – it was served swiftly on ciabatta bread with vegetable crisps and kale-slaw, and offered great sustenance for a show, where we used up a lot of energy perching on the edge of our seats trying to work out how the magic happened. We ordered vanilla ice-cream for dessert and a large portion appeared – as if by magic – at the interval, along with a cappuccino. No queuing and no fuss. Michelle clearly loves her role and enthused: “This job is not at all like work. You get to meet a variety of artists and celebrities and sometimes even catch the second half of the show. You get to work with people who feel like family – and we’re all working towards the same goal.” As West Berkshire Council is withdrawing funding for the Corn Exchange, it’s more important than ever to support the family arts venue, whether it’s by hiring the cinema for a private event, having a Christmas party, watching the pantomime or holding your business AGM there. Whether you’re just hungry or a theatre-goer looking for a stress-free, affordable meal before watching a show, the venue offers delicious and excellent value dining in the heart of Newbury. Food is available Tuesday to Saturday from 12pm - 2.30pm and Wednesday to Saturday, 5pm – 8.30pm.

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