Restaurant Biedronka, a new venture by Polish chef Marek Dziedzic, opens its doors on October 1 at South Causey Inn in County Durham, marking a first in the chef's culinary journey. The restaurant, whose name means 'ladybird' in Polish, is set in The Farmhouse, a standalone property on the site with views of the surrounding Beamish Valley.
Dziedzic, who previously served as head chef at the Michelin star restaurant Pine in Northumberland, helped Pine earn its Michelin star. Following Pine's closure, he was part of the team that ran a Pine residency at The Farmhouse at South Causey. Now that the residency has ended, he is taking over the kitchen himself to launch Biedronka.
A Chef's Journey from Poland to the North East
Born near Kościan and raised in Puszczykowo, western Poland, the 35-year-old chef has lived in the region for the past seven years. He moved to London in 2012, working at The Stafford Hotel in Mayfair, Green & Fortune, and later in Manchester at Café Football and Hotel Football. While back south as part of the opening team at Neptune in London, he met Swedish chef Alex Nietosvuori, who launched Pine and later brought him north.
Dziedzic brings almost 20 years of experience in the food industry to his new role. He expressed his vision: “I want to bring my heritage from the Polish countryside to the British countryside. When I first looked at The Farmhouse, I started thinking about contemporary farmhouse cooking and how I could bring my Polish heritage into that.”
Menu Highlights and Dining Experience
The menu will feature dishes rooted in his heritage, combining Polish traditions with seasonal British produce. Handmade Polish dumplings will be at the heart of the menu, with both savoury and sweet versions. Options include Pierogi Ruskie filled with cheese, potato, and onion; a steamed Poznańska Pyza with braised duck leg; and a plum-filled Knedle served with crème fraîche and vanilla sugar.
A dish called Rosół, a traditional chicken broth with hand-made noodles, will also be featured. Dziedzic remembers eating it back home on Sundays and family celebration days. He added: “Polish and British food have more in common than people might imagine. There’s a lot of slow-cooking, braising and deep flavours in both.”
The opening menu will include vegetarian and vegan options, with choices of snacks, starters, seafood, meat, and desserts, allowing guests to build their own four, five, or six-course meals. A seven-course chef's selection will also be available.
Opening Details and Pricing
Susan Moiser, owner at South Causey Inn, said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome Biedronka. For us, this is about much more than simply welcoming a new restaurant to the site. We’re delighted to be working alongside a team of young, exceptionally talented chefs and to give them the opportunity, space and platform to develop their own vision and create something truly special here in the North East.”
From October 1, Restaurant Biedronka will offer two dinner sittings from Wednesday to Saturday, as well as lunch at weekends. The cost is £65 for four courses, £75 for five, £85 for six, and £95 for the seven-course chef's selection. Bookings are now open and can be made online.
