We’re venturing a little further afield for this review but please bear with us. We all know that there’s no shortage of excellent breakfast spots in Wolverton (looking at you, Ole Tapas Bar!), but the Larder Café at Manor Farm, on the outskirts of Buckingham, is well worth the drive (or, if you’re that way inclined, the 10-mile cycle). For the warmest welcome when you arrive - even if the place is already heaving (you can’t begrudge a short wait when the service is this genuinely lovely). For the most incredible hash browns, indecently buttery potato just about contained within a delicate golden crust until they collapse at the slightest nudge of your fork. For the well-judged pick 'n' mix breakfast menu, featuring all the classics, including veggie options, and a selection of homemade bakes, all served with the generosity of someone who really wants to look after you. The café also serves hearty lunches and seasonal supper clubs showcasing the farm's produce.
But let’s take a closer look at the breakfast (vegetarian and vegan readers might want to skip the next bit). The eggs, bacon and sausages on the menu all come from the farm’s own herd of Oxford Sandy and Black pigs, with the sausages produced onsite and all three items available from the Butchery next door. Talk about farm to fork! The Butchery also offers freezable variety packs of the farm’s beef, pork and lamb, which you can order in advance to pick up when they’re open.
And this is why the Larder Café is featured in a guide for a town 10 miles away. Manor Farm is working hard to build a more sustainable model of farming, with a focus on the environment and education around its produce, and offers a worthy alternative to the supermarket meat counter for anyone wishing to spend more consciously on quality, high-welfare produce. I urge you to give it a visit, have a chat with Tim the butcher, and treat yourself to breakfast while you’re at it. And don’t forget those hash browns!
Must-try: Make sure you add sausages and/or bacon to your plate to try the best of the farm's produce (look out for the signature 'winter warmer' sausages), and the cheese and leek patty is too good to leave to the vegetarians. Everything is also available as a big floury bap so experiment to find your perfect combination of fillings!
