The Swan Inn

This definitive village inn snuggles near to the church and green in one of Suffolk's lovely little thatched villages. Wealth came from the wool trade and the original inn may have been the manorial court before affluent wool merchants first dined out here. Vestiges of the original building remain, including the old smoke hole and some fine beams supporting the thatched roof. Woodcock, teal and courgette flowers are amongst the more unusual delicacies that may feature on the menu here; a season for everything, and everything in its season is a guiding principal followed by chef/proprietor Nigel Ramsbottom, who honed his considerable skills at The Walnut Tree, Abergavenny, explaining the Italian influence to some dishes. Settle in with mussels steamed in coconut milk with green chilli, lemon grass, coriander and spring onions before taking time over a monumental choice of mains; perhaps pan-fried guinea fowl breast with wild mushrooms, grapes and tarragon sauce, or Vincigrassi - a lasagne of Parma ham, porcini mushrooms and Parmesan. Pannacotta with red fruits and grappa is a fitting final flourish.