Celebrating the pleasures of the home-grown this summer

Sur la Terrasse - The Inspiration

The concept of ‘grow your own’ is getting an elegant twist here at Bellanger. Inspired by the idea of city-grown herbs our terrace is dedicated to nature’s bounty and the joy of locally sourced ingredients this summer. With a little help from our friends at Seed Folk, our terrace highlights the joys of growing your own, with a cocktail menu reflecting refreshing floral and herbaceous combinations. Guests joining for a cocktail will receive a packet of seeds from Seed Folk, each relating to the ingredients of their chosen cocktail, perfect for going green-fingered at home.

We sat down with CE ‘GROW’ Gemma to find out more about the spark of inspiration for the project.

Tell us a bit about Seed Folk, where did your inspiration spark from?

Seed Folk grew from a personal journey. I got my first allotment just before the COVID lockdowns and completely fell in love with growing. It gave my family so much, physical activity, mental calm, and a deeper connection with nature. I wanted to share that joy and help others take the first step in growing their own food, no matter how much space or experience they had.

What inspires you to grow your own?

It still blows my mind that something as tiny as a seed can turn into a plant that feeds my family for months. It’s magical. Growing has completely changed the way I see the natural world. Once you’ve felt the magic and satisfaction of picking food fresh from your garden to eat, you’ll never look back. It’s a feeling that sticks with you. It’s better for your health, the planet, and your soul.

What are your favourite things to grow! Tell us about your favourite recipes at home.

Tomatoes, hands down. They’re such generous plants and so easy to care for. And honestly, once you’ve tasted one straight from the vine, still warm from the sun, you’ll never go back. We love using them to make the most delicious bruschetta or roasting them with garlic for a pasta sauce that my kids just can’t get enough of. Whether it’s fresh salads or a quick lunch on toast, tomatoes are the gift that keeps on giving.

Tell us a bit about the collaboration, what is the synergy between Bellanger and Seed Folk?

This partnership felt like the perfect fit. Bellanger’s ethos of tradition with a twist aligns beautifully with what Seed Folk is all about, reconnecting people with a time when gardens doubled as pantries and we were more in tune with the natural world.

So, when the opportunity came up to inspire guests to grow their own cocktail ingredients, and to run a hands-on grow-along workshop for their younger guests, we jumped at it.  We’ve seen time and time again that once someone starts growing, they never look back. Collaborating with a like-minded brand like Bellanger felt like the ideal way to spark that journey for even more people.

How did you select the seeds for the collaborative menu?

We worked closely with Bellanger’s mixologists to select seeds that would both elevate the cocktail menu and spark interest in home growing. Basil and tomato are easy wins for beginners, flavour-packed, fast-growing, and hugely popular. We also included thyme and lavender, two timeless, aromatic herbs that support native biodiversity and bring a touch of elegance to any drink or garden.

Any other top tips for growing your own!

My biggest tip, is to just get started. You don’t need a garden, fancy tools or heaps of experience, just a sunny windowsill and a few seeds. Once you’ve felt the joy of growing and eating something you’ve nurtured yourself, you’ll never look back. It’s a simple but powerful life skill, and one we should all be passing down to help build a more resilient, sustainable food future.

Visit our terrace and explore our cocktail menu this summer!