Seasonal produce Sabzi-style
Sabzi Padstow offers visitors something unexpected from this coastal destination, long associated with its unrivalled seafood. Ahead of her appearance at this year’s Padstow Christmas Fayre, owner Kate Attlee told us more about her approach to Cornish produce.
The sky is a bright blue and the autumn sun is out when we meet Kate Attlee at Sabzi Padstow. Inside, one of Kate’s team is putting the finishing touches to the dishes stacked on the counter: vibrant bowls of vegetables, grains and herbs.
Outside, Kate tells us more about the Sabzi approach. “So, Sabzi means green herbs in Farsi,” she explains. “I’m half Iranian and we specialise in Middle Eastern cuisine: beautiful, seasonal, local veg cooked creatively as Middle Eastern style salads.”
The menu is dynamic, changing seven days a week so the team can “show off the best of local vegetables cooked in a really interesting way.”
(Image Credit: James Ram)
Kate says her aim is to make food that makes people feel good when they eat it, that’s good for the environment, in a setting that is “full of welcome and warmth.”
In December, Kate will join a host of leading chefs cooking live in the Chef’s Theatre at Padstow Christmas Fayre.
“Whenever I do demos, my big focus is always on creating dishes that hopefully feel inspiring to go home and cook,” explains Kate. “So, I really focus on using accessible ingredients, stuff that is seasonal right now in Cornwall. But hopefully putting a bit of a twist on it, giving you multiple ways to use different dressings and dishes at home.”
Culinary discoveries
The service style and atmosphere at Sabzi reflects Kate’s journey into the industry. “Initially I was trained in London and Cornwall in the service side of things. And I really hope that when you visit Sabzi a really big part of your experience here will be the warmth and the welcome you’ll receive from our amazing team.”
After discovering traditional Iranian cuisine cooking at supper clubs, the Persian cookery her dad grew up eating and cooking, Kate entered the TV competition MasterChef and Sabzi followed, with restaurants now in Truro, Falmouth, Nansledan and Padstow.
“Sabzi Padstow is wonderful,” says Kate. “It’s in a beautiful building, very close to the harbour. We have the most wonderful team who work here and it’s an opportunity for you to come and try some quite different food to maybe what Padstow has offered previously – in a beautiful setting.”
A recipe for #SecretSeason
For Kate, this is a great time of year for long walks – with a Sabzi picnic, of course.
“When you get a crisp, clear day. The beaches are nearly empty. It’s so beautiful. I think it’s pretty hard to beat,” she says.
“On one of those crisp, clear days, I would head to the beach with a picnic, a nice cup of coffee, for a long walk, and, you know, taking a picnic blanket, like we all have in Cornwall, with a waterproof bottom!”
Kate’s favourite spot around Padstow is Daymer Bay, while her favourite south coast beach, closer to home, is Loe Beach – “great for swimming when the tide is right”.
During the Padstow Christmas Fayre, Kate will be sharing her tips for bringing some of those Sabzi flavours to your kitchen and maybe even a #SecretSeason picnic basket. Catch Kate showing how a Sabzi dish comes together at the Fayre on Friday 5th December at 2pm.
Sabzi fans can stay also in touch with the kitchen’s creations via a regular newsletter sharing deli news (the granola has a waiting list) and recipes. Head to the Sabzi website to find out more. Make new culinary discoveries your secret reason to be by the sea during #SecretSeason
