Chef Josh Eggleton launches Yurt Bistro to champion lesser-used produce
Eggleton, who also runs the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna along with his family, and founded Yurt Lush alongside head chef Oscar Davis, has created the Yurt Bistro menu to focus on simple food that will reduce waste, and champion lesser-used ingredients and cuts of meat.
Beginning 8 February, it will run from Wednesday to Saturday. There will be three starters, three mains, and three desserts, changing week by week according to availability and seasonality, at a cost of £15 for two courses and £18 for three.
Typical options will include house-cured salmon with pickled veg; a selection of house breads with whipped Homewood goat’s cheese; fried hake and gruyere fishcake, with parsley and caper sauce, charred kale, and sprout tops; and apple crumble with brown butter and pecan ice-cream.
Yurt Bistro and Yurt Lush sit within a collection of Mongolian yurts at the Eat Drink Bristol Fashion concept, next to Bristol Temple Meads train station.
With Eggleton as a co-founder, the venue was created to offer a “calming food hub”, and is aiming to serve brunch and lunch using locally-sourced, “ethically-minded food”. It has also received the Sustainable Restaurant Association’s highest three-star sustainability rating.
Eggleton said: “The whole idea of the Yurt Bistro is to create a really simple menu that relies on locality and seasonality but with a big emphasis on tackling food waste in the restaurant industry.
“Great food is all about great ingredients, but that doesn’t mean you have to be using prime cuts and very rare and expensive ingredients. It’s incredibly wasteful to slaughter an animal just for a few prize cuts…With the proper care and attention you can cheap cuts taste just as great.”
Amelia Twine, director at Eat Drink Bristol Fashion, said: “We created Eat Drink Bristol Fashion as a means to champion the South West food scene and that driving force is built into everything we do at Yurt Lush. There’s always scope to do more and that’s where this new concept comes in.”
Chef and entrepreneur Josh Eggleton is best known for the Pony & Trap, which he runs with his sister Holly; but the family has also founded the nearby Salt & Malt cafe and tearoom, alongside Yurt Lush and Eat Drink Bristol Fashion.
