A Tavola Gastronomia Siciliana

It may be squirrelled away in the little Derbyshire town of New Mills, surrounded by the rugged High Peaks, but Tavola’s ‘welcoming atmosphere makes you feel like you’ve walked into a Sicilian home’. Locals have certainly taken the place to their hearts and the owners have responded, drenching the interior in sunshine-yellow and filling every corner with Sicilian knick-knacks. Ring the bell for admittance and surrender to the unusual comfort of a huge regional menu full of appetising possibilities. Antipasti range from fingers of sfincione (Sicilian pizza) to mangia e bevi (another street-food classic from Palermo involving chargrilled spring onions wrapped in guanciale with salmoriglio). Pasta is homemade too – perhaps twisted casarecce with a creamy pistachio sauce. Locally reared lamb is also given a spicy Sicilian makeover, while desserts including crisp, ricotta-stuffed 'bigne' choux buns show off solid pastry skills. Drinks run from Italian ciders to soft spritzes and natural wines made in terracotta pots, but you'll always know you're in New Mills: the bill comes with a selection of sweets from the neighbouring Swizzels factory.