Enfield first council to achieve top sustainable restaurant rating

Gourmet Goat has helped Enfield Council become the first council in the country to achieve the Sustainable Restaurant Association's top rating.

Thanks to the Borough Market street food business, the council's Civic Centre restaurant, which caters for more than 600 council workers plus NHS Royal Free Foundation trust staff, has been awarded a three-star rating by the SRA.

Enfield is the first council in the country to become a member of the SRA and go through the rating process which considers everything from ingredient sourcing to community support. Gourmet Goat's consultancy brought more than 20 new suppliers on board, almost all of whom are based in Enfield or within 30 miles of the restaurant.

Founded by Enfield residents Nick and Nadia Stokes in 2014, the couple launched Gourmet Goat Sustainable Solutions consultancy last year. Since October they have worked with Enfield Council's head of culture Paul Everitt to revamp the Civic Centre's food and drinks offering. They have introduced healthier meals and snacks showcasing the produce available in the borough, such as bread from Holtwhites Bakery and vegetables from nearby Forty Hall Farm.

The council also recruited development chef Ben Murphy, formerly of Brother Hubbard restaurant in Dublin, and new manager Stephen Brown, who will soon introduce more sustainable and healthier options for residents and visitors at two other council operated venues: the Dugdale theatre café in Enfield and the Millfield theatre bar in Edmonton.

Everitt said: "We are currently facing many issues around public health, food waste, decline in local business and our environmental impact. The best way to tackle these issues is from within the council itself. To get my fellow co-workers eating healthier options, reducing food waste, using local suppliers and reducing one-use packaging. I am grateful to Nick and Nadia for all their advice and support to get this project off the ground."

Nick Stokes said: "It has been a fantastic opportunity to help rebuild a restaurant based on sustainable principles, and showcase Enfield's amazing producers."

Nadia Stokes added: "It has been an honour working with the superb ingredients farmed and produced locally, to create a host of new dishes for the council that are very different to our signature street-food specialities."

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