Small plates and big ambitions as award-winning chef takes over kitchen at popular village pub
An award-winning chef is taking inspiration from family holidays to Spain and introducing a new ‘small plates’ concept at a village pub near the Warwickshire border.
Danny Tompkins, a former winner of the coveted Chef of the Year category at the Northamptonshire Food & Drink Awards, has launched ‘Rico Tapas’ and taken up a permanent residency at The White Horse in Welton, near Daventry.
His mouth-watering menu of tapas-style dishes featuring flavours from the Mediterranean and around the world is proving popular with discerning diners.
Danny, who has previously cooked for celebrities such as Jay Z and has worked as a private chef for the likes of Claudia Schiffer, said: “I love the idea of family and friends getting together around the table and enjoying sharing lots of small plates of delicious food.
“It’s something I always really liked doing on family holidays to Spain and this menu celebrates that taste of the Med while widening it out to include flavours from both the UK and around the world.
“I’m really happy with what we’ve achieved. The restaurant looks awesome and the dishes are going down a storm. I wanted to make it affordable and accessible – that’s crucial in the current climate – you have to be realistic with pricing and encourage people to come out. I think we’ve nailed it.”
Danny, who is renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, has also introduced a Sunday lunch menu.
Rico Tapas is open for dinner on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Lunch and dinner is available on Saturday while lunch is served on Sunday.
A special Christmas-themed menu will also be available from mid-November while midweek corporate lunch bookings are welcome.