Northamptonshire is where the outer reaches of the Home Counties rub shoulders with the Shires of Middle England.

Big tourist attractions are a feature of the county, and restaurants rely on them: Silverstone, the Grand Union Canal and notable country seats like Althorp all bring in the punters.

Genuine local specialities may be thin on the ground, but this is the edge of the Midlands' 'pork pie belt' and there are also many small producers supplying restaurants with everything from goats' cheese to soft fruit.