Culture is a restaurant in Falmouth from acclaimed chef Hylton Espey, located on Custom House Quay moments from the sea. The menu revolves around the connection between food and nature, focusing on local produce and hyper-seasonal cooking, while harnessing low-waste techniques in line with its sustainable ethos. Culture is Hylton’s first independent restaurant and sees him working with wife, Petronella Espey to realise their long-held dream.
Before Hylton made the move to Cornwall from his native South Africa, he was executive chef at the sustainability-focused Cavalli Estate in Helderberg, and previously trained under some of South Africa’s best chefs. Hylton brings his passion for sustainable cooking and sourcing to Culture, working with ethically conscious local suppliers and using regeneratively farmed vegetables and line-caught fish.
Culture offers one tasting menu - The Journey Menu – which it describes as a story told over multiple courses, driven by produce and inspired by the team’s experiences. Naturally, seasonality and availability dictate what’s on the menu each day so don’t expect dishes to stick around for long. The menu doesn’t include details about each dish, but instead describes the story or experience associated with each one. A course named ‘Story of Lamb’, for example, is inspired by a coastal walk from Porthleven to Trewithick Farm, while ‘Rob’s Harvest’ is dedicated to ‘Rob’ who ‘grows some magical vegetables for us'.
An optional wine pairing chosen by Hylton and Petronella accompanies the daily menu, while a separate wine list includes a range of new and old-world wines, including bottles from the South West of England.
The pared back restaurant interiors feature raw wood and open masonry with blackened steel countertops giving an industrial edge to the design. While an open kitchen overlooks the 30-cover dining room so that guests can watch as Hylton creates his seven-course menu.