Osip, the restaurant in the heart of Bruton, Somerset from chef Merlin Labron-Johnson, has been awarded one star by the 2021 Michelin Guide for Great Britain and Ireland having opened in November 2019.
Merlin’s first venture outside of London and his first solo project, Osip celebrates the bounty of the countryside that surrounds the restaurant, and shines a light on the produce that Merlin grows himself at his nearby vegetable garden.
Labron-Johnson said, “I am over the moon to have been awarded a star and to be recognised by such a prestigious establishment. I’m so very proud of the work we’re doing at Osip and am really grateful to my team for their work along the way, as well as the wonderful local producers and the Bruton community for their unwavering support. It really is an honour.”
Part of the daily routine at Osip involves a gardening rota, designating the time of kitchen and front of house staff alike to cultivating the organic and biodynamic vegetables that lead the way in the kitchen each day.
Pairing these ingredients with produce farmed specifically for Osip at an aquaponic farm just outside of Bruton, Merlin allows the quality of the ingredients available to guide his cooking, welcoming guests to his restaurant for six simple and unpretentious courses.
Taking influence from his time spent living in France, the carefully considered dining experience is inspired by the French ‘tables d’hôte’, removing the traditional menu from the tables and letting guests put their faith in the kitchen.
On arrival at Osip, guests can expect snacks such as duck tea, Vulscombe goat’s cheese macarons, mushroom and hazelnut cookies and pig’s head with mustard leaf, followed by a series of savoury dishes that may include garden crudite with devilled egg cream, trout en papillote with cider and garden vegetables, and Ayelsbury duck with beetroots, orach and elderberries.
Sweet dishes may include sunflower and marigold tart and a classic cannelé de Bordeaux, a nod to Merlin’s classical French training.
The wine list at Osip is curated with a focus on organic, responsibly grown wines from small scale producers. No drinks list in Somerset would be complete without celebrating West Country cider, with local ciders from makers including Fine & Foster and Pilton taking a starring role.
