This week's round-up: From Somerset farms to seaside slices

This week’s round-up features a new countryside café and a pizza chain expanding to the South-west, bringing fresh ideas and big flavours to the UK’s food scene.

Farm Caff

Tucked away in the rolling hills of Castle Cary, Somerset, Higher Farm is Farm Caff, a bold new project aiming to reshape how we think about farming, food, and connection to the land.

Founded by brothers Giacomo and Matteo Grasso, Higher Farm is built on a mission to replace industrial agriculture with regenerative practices that support the environment, local economy, and human health. Since acquiring the former dairy farm in 2023, the duo has transformed it into a 50-acre hub of biodiversity, where nature and farming work in harmony.

At the heart of the project is the newly opened Farm Caff—a 35-seat dining space set in a restored barn with sweeping views across the farm and surrounding countryside. Guests are invited to enjoy hyper-seasonal, produce-led menus created by chef director George Barson, who used to work at River Cottage and Dinner by Heston. 

Visitors also receive a map of the farm alongside their menu and are encouraged to walk the land after their meal. It’s part of the brothers’ “table-to-farm” philosophy—a reversal of the traditional farm-to-table model—designed to foster a deeper connection between people and the origins of their food.

In the kitchen and across the farm, the team harvest, grow, and forage as much as possible, with a wide range of vegetables and herbs already thriving. Under Farm Manager Bex Ashton, the fields and polytunnels are producing everything from spinach, broad beans, and beetroot to tomatoes, herbs, and sweet peas. 

Marvee's Food Shop

Chef Dom Taylor is set to open his second restaurant, Marvee’s Food Shop, on May 9 in Ladbroke Grove. A fun and heartfelt tribute to the classic Caribbean takeaway, the new spot draws inspiration from Dom’s childhood, his family heritage, and the vibrant food shops he grew up visiting across London.

The name itself is a nod to his mother, Marveline—affectionately known as Marvee.

Following the success of his first solo venture, The Good Front Room, a 10-month elevated Caribbean residency at The Langham, Marvee’s Food Shop takes things in a more relaxed, playful direction.

Set within a music and events space just off Portobello Road, the restaurant will seat 60 guests between its cosy dining room and sun-soaked terrace. The food celebrates bold, familiar flavours rooted in Caribbean culture, but reimagined through Dom’s creative chef lens.

Guests can expect twists on traditional dishes, like Bammy and Jamaican Festival bread—reworked into waffles and served with toppings like jerk chicken, crispy spiced banana blossom, or boneless curry goat. 

For dessert, expect nostalgic favourites with a twist, like old skool cake & custard and roasted plantain and molasses soft serve. Drinks include Caribbean staples like pineapple punch, peanut punch, and carrot juice, alongside a curated selection of cocktails, wines, and beers from UNDR’s bar.

He said: “Marvee’s Food Shop is something I’ve been dreaming about for years. It’s the kind of place I’ve always wanted to create — one that brings together the food memories that shaped me. From childhood days in Jamaica to watching the women in my family work their magic in the kitchen, and of course, everything I’ve learned from my mum, Marvee.

“She’s the heart of this project, and she’ll always have a seat in the restaurant. Every project I’ve done has been rooted in love for Caribbean heritage and flavour — and this is no different. But I want to be clear: this