Daniel Perjesi, head chef of modern inn and restaurant The Crown at Woodbridge, talks to us about the importance of Suffolk food – local ingredients, foraging and visual inspirations – and answers our quick-fire kitchen appliance questions.

Suffolk food at The Crown

“I’m Daniel, originally from Budapest and the new head chef at The Crown at Woodbridge. We really are blessed to be in such a beautiful county packed full of fantastic produce. Our restaurant celebrates the area’s natural larder, using ingredients from nearby waters and farmer’s fields. We pride ourselves in working closely with our local suppliers to ensure that only the freshest, in-season, ethically-sourced food makes it onto our menus. Whether it’s seafood from Pinney’s of Orford or meats from Blythburgh Farm, simple ingredients that are cooked to perfection and with our own unique twist is what we are all about.
So often the best ingredients are right on our doorstep. I would recommend to anyone to buy local – it’s great for supporting your local community but also means you are using ingredients of high-quality, packed with freshness and flavour. It often means that you are buying produce at the peak of their seasonality, too. As we head deeper into February and as spring arrives late March, we will start to see the emergence of many great and vibrant ingredients reflecting the freshness both in colour and taste that spring brings.
As a chef, I love colourful, vibrant dishes and appreciate the impact good looking plates of food can have on our diners. The same applies to interior design or anything creatively visual. I’m a very visual person – if I see something, I want to try it. When I visit my butchers and see them
smoking something, or hanging a particular cut of meat it inspires me in the kitchen. Likewise, foraging the banks of the River Deben and other top spots around Woodbridge is perfect for thinking up new ideas and flavours for our dishes here at The Crown.
I hope you can join us, I’d love to cook for you.”

Daniel Perjesi – quick fire questions

What’s the most essential item for any kitchen?
A cast iron pan, for sure.
Which kitchen item is top of your wishlist?  
A Rational oven – This is only a dream but might come true in the future!
Something you can’t live without?
My Thermomix – a unique food processer that blends, cooks, weighs, steams and so much more.