CHEF SPOTLIGHT: Alex Nietosvuori at Restaurant Hejm
Swedish Chef Alex Nietosvuori and his Northumberland born partner Ally Thompson have celebrated their third year of Hjem, which received its first Michelin star in 2021 and is now a guest favourite both locally and internationally.
Hjem (pronounced “yem”) is located in the small village of Wall, close to the historic Hadrian’s Wall in the beautiful Northumberland countryside. The name is both the Northumbrian and Scandinavian word for “home”, making it apt for their first restaurant together. The small 24-seat restaurant dining room is open for dinner Wednesday to Saturday from 19:00, and lunch Friday – Saturday from 12:00. In addition, Hjem hosts 11 refurbished ensuite bedrooms, and 3 brand new ‘lodges’, where guests can enjoy a peaceful stay after dinner and take full advantage of the kitchen’s generous breakfast.
Known as much for its spectacular coastline as its dramatic landscape, Alex, Ally and team have sourced the finest quality produce from this stunning county. Tasting menus are created from ingredients sourced from the surrounding farms and gardens of Northumberland as well as the personal relationships they have built with local fishers. During the season, game comes from the nearby Kielder forest, England’s largest. Ally explains “often it is a surprise what the suppliers bring us – mallard, teal or roe deer and Alex loves integrating the ingredients and working the dishes around what we receive, rather than working the other way around”.
Menus range between 15-18 servings, some are small bites served together, other larger dishes on their own, all cooked with Scandinavian sensibility and techniques.
Signature dishes include grilled roe deer made with caramelised onion from Hexhamshire Organics, a venison reduction, baby carrots from their garden and fried kale. In addition, is a dessert made with heather honey ice cream, seabuckthorn, and bee pollen. Guests will receive a list of the key ingredients of each dish at the end of the dining experience.
It is not just their food that’s local, their beer is locally brewed, they choose local artists and the tableware is handmade by a local potter and ceramicist. They are proud to support their network, taking satisfaction from their dedication to the businesses and people who work on their doorstep.
Wines are carefully chosen by their acclaimed restaurant sommelier Anna Frost, from biodynamic winemakers who work with maximum respect for the environment and minimum intervention in the cellar.
