Mr Pook's Kitchen
Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway
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Mr Ed Pook started rattling the pans in his eponymous kitchen back in 2018. Since then, he has brought urban flair, a passion for produce and some well-judged culinary swagger to the sometimes sedate country environs of southern Scotland’s self-styled ‘food town’. Prominently situated on the main street of Castle Douglas in the converted grandeur of a red sandstone bank, Mr Pook's Kitchen provides all-day hospitality – from daytime snacks and an excellent-value two-course lunch to an imaginative evening menu. It can be hard to convert institutional buildings. Some might find the lighting a little bright and the music slightly misaligned, but homely touches of fresh hedgerow flowers and original art, matched with a lively buzz ensure plenty of atmosphere and energy. Add in the foodie drama of an open grill kitchen with its pass in the heart of the room and it’s clear where the focus lies. This is cooking that lets local ingredients tell their own stories. A crispy panko duck egg served with a bacon and white bean stew, artichoke crisps and a criminally good truffled 'soldier' for dipping is a cheeky take on more traditional breakfast ingredients. Lamb loin from the family farm at Potterland is tender, perfectly rendered and served with a moreish little fritter of slow-cooked ‘lesser cuts’ and delicate baby vegetables. Blackboard specials might include hand-cut well-aged steaks from nearby farms or a soul-caressing venison pappardelle pairing local game with the silky pasta-making skills of the Italian sous-chef. Desserts thoughtfully accommodate different palates – perhaps banana baked Alaska with pecan butterscotch for the sweet-toothed, a creative vegan-friendly confection of rum-poached pineapple, coconut panna cotta and aquafaba meringue or simply a a local whisky affogato with honeyed oats. An accessible wine list (starting at a budget-friendly £22) reflects a long-standing relationship with a local wine merchant. Beers come from Sulwarth Brewers just a few doors down and an extensive range of Scottish spirits completes this homage to eating and drinking locally.
