I think I used to be a bit snobby about small plates. I’m
not sure why, perhaps I’d eaten too many plates of rubbish tapas (hello La
Tasca). However, they definitely are big news these days. Certainly I couldn’t
get away from them in Vancouver, although I used to think that might just be
because everyone’s really skinny there.
There have been a couple of small plate restaurants on my
list for a while since moving to Bristol, but Poco certainly was at the
forefront. I’ve heard nothing but excellent reviews, not just about the food,
but the ethos behind Tom Hunt the founder of Poco. That ethos is local,
seasonal and ethical. So the big 3 really. Indeed, the first statement on the
website is that “90% of our ingredients are sourced from suppliers within 20
miles of Bristol” which is no mean feat.
No wonder they’re batting for Best Ethical
Restaurant in this year’s Observer Food awards. Excited by all these reviews
and research, I rambled down after a few beers in Canteen to whet the appetite,
to finally find out what all the fuss was about.
