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Bella Vedere

Views of the Badger’s Brook vineyard, polished wood and lashings of country hospitality are backdrops to the creative talent of Gary Cooper. The menu, changed daily, sings a local organic melody with food that’s honest, stylish and unpretentious. Polenta-crumbed calamari is served over a rough-hewn green curry paste, the grainy yellow crust protecting tender white rounds desperate for a shot of citrus. A duo of ox, a little “tongue in cheek”, brings red wine and vegetables to their gelatinous knees. And braised rabbit combines the sweet smoky embrace of cider and pancetta, delicate and clean, a winning dish, if not for the lacklustre sides. Country clichés aside, Bella Vedere’s charm is undeniable, and if the generous portions and sympathetically priced local wines aren’t enough to tip the scales, head to the cake and tarts display. Pure, simple comfort never tasted so good.