The Tickled Pig

26 West Borough, Wimborne

Maybe it’s all in the imagination, but knowing the snails that grace a garlicky potato and blue cheesetopped pizza were once crawling happily nearby on Dorset’s finest leaves somehow makes them taste all the better. As hackneyed as it is to claim to really care about produce being ‘locally sourced’ and ‘seasonal’ (who doesn’t?), The Tickled Pig is committed above and beyond. Jez Barfoot (who you may recognise from MasterChef) and his wife Niki have converted a Grade II-listed building that dates to 1603 into what is the cosiest restaurant in town, and a showcase of the best of Dorset produce. The restaurant grows as much of its own fruit and vegetables as possible in its kitchen garden and it has even decided to raise its own rare breed pigs, which will be used for bacon and charcuterie. Trout is smoked around the corner, and customers down beers from the family-run Corfe Castle Brewery or sip coffee from a Poolebased micro-roastery. Cookery is solid, and presentation unfussy – go for a lemon sole with buttery samphire and cockles that is flavourful yet delicate, or belly pork topped with a sauce sweetened with apple and fennel. A creamy panna cotta makes for a satisfying meal’s end. AEM. 01202 886 778, thetickledpig.co.uk