Yurt Cafe. North Aston, UK

February 2020


The name of this place caught my eye when I was reading the village newsletter. A yurt? At a garden centre? In Oxfordshire?! Would it turn out to be just a small wigwam serving typical garden centre fare? I had to find out! I walked through the garden centre to the outdoor area, preparing to have to hunt for it, when there, before my eyes, was a bonafide yurt!  Inside, it is beautifully decorated, a wonderful blend between warm and cosy, with a log fire and soft furnishings, to bright and airy, with a jungle of plants and a skylight.  I was in awe - this was a seriously cool find, and if the array of exciting cakes using local fruits and herbs was anything to go by, this was going to be a tasty lunch.  
The menu was a complete mix, from homemade soup, to homemade beetroot gnocchi.  I went for the Mushroom Arancini Spring Salad.  I always love the thought of arancini but often find them a little bland.  These were a little disappointing for that very reason, however the salad was bursting with flavours which made up for it.  Tangy, rich feta was complemented by the buttery, toasted flavours of pine nuts, and lemony sumac cut through nicely. Hard boiled egg gave the dish some substance, and the fresh, tasty baby spinach balanced the dish.  It was served with tangy homemade sourdough bread - I could have happily eaten a basket of that on its own.




Time for dessert.  I'm a big fan of really good cheesecake, as well as desserts which use herbs.  The cheesecake of the month, lemon, thyme and almond, seemed like a good contender.  It was.  The lemon cut through the rich, smooth cheesecake, and the earthy thyme flavours came through well.  A few sliced almonds scattered on top gave a pleasing crunch.  The base was a little dense and thick for my liking, but that was it's only downfall.
All in all, a wonderful find that I keep going back to again and again.  Can't wait to try out their breakfast menu next!
Head to The Yurt Cafe at Nicholsons, North Aston, UK.







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