Delicious recipe from Hospitalfield Head Chef

Debbie Butler

A recent visitor to Hospitalfield House in Arbroath was over the moon with the food served in their beautiful glass walled café. Seasonal and making use of local produce and innovative recipes, she sampled Pickled Radicchio salad and a wonderful – not too sweet - apple cake. All enjoyed whilst looking out on the stunning walled garden, redesigned and replanted by famed garden designer Nigel Dunnett in 2021.

These culinary delights were created by Elaine Chalmers, Head Chef at the house, pictured here with the café in the background. In post for just over two months, Elaine is originally from Dundee, but has spent years working in hospitality in the East End of London, including in some of East London’s most cutting-edge restaurants, the chef cooked for the stars of the Britpop and Young British Artist movements – everyone from the Pet Shop Boys and Bjork to Janet Street Porter, she also had her own restaurant in London’s Dalston for seven years.

©Alix McIntosh

Hospitalfield is a community arts hub and this fits well with Elaine’s sense of community spirit. She won an award for running soup kitchens in some of London’s most deprived estates, in Hackney. She also supports the next door Hope Garden, a charity which helps people with learning disabilities by making use of their organic produce. 

The walled garden at Hospitalfield is open on a regular basis and will be opening with Scotland’s Garden Scheme – Angus and Dundee branch on Saturday 8^th July 2023.

Pickled radicchio, feta, toasted walnuts serves 8

• 400g prepped radicchio, cored and cut into 8 pieces

• 1 tbsp salt

• 1 bay leaf

• 2 star anise

• 2 whole black peppercorns

• 250 ml cider vinegar

• 2 tbsp sugar

• Pinch mustard seeds