A MONMOUTHSHIRE restaurant is celebrating a decade in business.

Simon and Kate King, who run acclaimed restaurant, 1861, in the pretty hamlet of Cross Ash, near Abergavenny, are celebrating ten years in business this July.

Simon has been a chef for 28 years, and has worked in some of the best kitchens in the UK, including the famous three Michelin star Waterside Inn owned by the Roux brothers, and at Martin Blunos’ two Michelin star restaurants in Bath and Bristol.

At 1861 he has garnered an inclusion in the Michelin Guide, and two AA Rosettes. There are also plans afoot to add six bedrooms in the restaurant grounds, and to expand the team. Simon and Kate are looking for a talented, enthusiastic apprentice chef to help in their busy kitchen.

Simon and Kate met while working at luxury country house hotel, Llansantffraed Court, where Simon was head chef and Kate the wedding co-ordinator.

“1861 is born of our combined experiences at these wonderful establishments.” explains Simon.

“It hardly seems possible that we have been here ten years, as the time has flown. However, I’m just as passionate about food as ever, and am still foraging for seasonal produce to put on our menu, as well as sourcing lots of local meat, vegetables and herbs. I grow what I can too, and my father-in-law in Nantyderry still delivers from his market garden on a daily basis.”

“We have also planted a small orchard of apple, pear, cherry, medlar and quince here, as well as an area of soft fruit."

“At the moment we are celebrating the arrival of delicious new potatoes, and I’m collecting elderflower from the hedgerow to put in puddings. Elderflower fritters have proved to be very popular over the years, and I have used the tiny, delicate flowers in strawberry jam. We also have a lovely souffle with rhubarb sorbet. Our first courgettes have appeared, and we are stuffing the flowers with goat cheese, coating them in a light, tempura batter and deep frying them and serving them with a beetroot coulis.”