Oh, this is going so well.... I'm so enjoying going out to dinner with different groups of my friends. This time my builder friend and used-to-be neighbour who has converted my loft bedroom, beautifully extended the studio, made a roof space into the spare bedroom, choreographed the next door refurbishment and many many more little helpful things over the fifteen years that I have lived in my house. I remember one day shortly after I moved in, I was nailing down loose floorboards and punctured a water pipe and he came down and rescued me from fountains of water when I didn't even know where the stopcock was! His partner came too, and our next door neighbour carpenter/builder who has also done loads of work on my house.
After an exciting rally drive down little country lanes much too fast, we arrived at the highly acclaimed, recent Michelin star winner country pub with a great view. It was informal and relaxing and there was no amuse bouche, just a menu. The portions were generous but with a good impression of fine dining. Scott had mussels (he always does) which were tasty and had the finger bowl and bowl for the shells, the rare beef carpaccio was good and my rather gory-sounding duck's liver and heart on toast was actually incredibly delicious.
The main courses were also admirable - pork belly with crackling and lumps of loin with black pudding and smears of this and that, lamb tagine with chops and deep fried sweetbreads, whilst Scott and I had the rabbit. Picturesque galantine with a stuffing and asparagus in the middle, roasted leg and some tasty puree with a great gravy. The roasted new potatoes (waste of time roasting new pots!) and fresh green vegetables were abundant and we were not sure we could manage a dessert. We did though, and the trio of lemon was divine.
Yup.... the conversation was excellent, the red wine flowed for two people and the other three of us sipped a cold rose, and a very good evening was had by all. I drove sedately home and enjoyed the country roads and the sparkling lights of Bristol as we came over the heights of Dundry.
I fear that this was not "petit plats" and taking my 81-year old aunt for a cream tea at Tart yesterday, followed by a party and a Gaswork Singer's singing and feasting day today is not going to help my slimming this week! We'll see on Wednesday!
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
The Primrose Cafe
The Primrose Cafe tucked away in the cud-de-sac Boyces Avenue in Clifton turns up the jazz and puts on the pearls to elevate itself for evening dining. A very special mid-week evening with very special women.... who each brought an aromatic rose from their gardens which tumbled into a central jug. The atmosphere really takes me back to my student days... dark wood, reclaimed tables and chairs, homely with friendly helpful motherly waitresses.
The food was fresh and good value. We had a delightful fruity rose wine and with after work hunger, were raring to go. We were brough a surprising amuse bouche of leek and potato soup in expresso cups which I followed with deep fried cod cheeks with tartare sauce. My friends starters were beautiful deep red beetroot-cured salmon with horseradish cream (reported as being not hot enough) and a veggie filled puff pastry.
Three of us had mains of succulent slices of venison in a mushroom sauce with creamy mash and fresh, well cooked mixed vegetables. The other visually appealing main was a the vegetarian omelette pancake with halloumi and deserts were orange pancakes, walnut cake, brulee, chocolate parfait and I had an affogato which is italian for "drowned" and is simply delicious expresso coffee poured over ice cream.... and yes, Ilse, it did keep me awake!
We talked of childhood, loss, motherhood and music. I felt so close and warm with my liberated, intuitive, fun-loving, singing, dancing and swimming women friends. Thank you all for joining me in my slimming and dining year! Another half a pound down!
The food was fresh and good value. We had a delightful fruity rose wine and with after work hunger, were raring to go. We were brough a surprising amuse bouche of leek and potato soup in expresso cups which I followed with deep fried cod cheeks with tartare sauce. My friends starters were beautiful deep red beetroot-cured salmon with horseradish cream (reported as being not hot enough) and a veggie filled puff pastry.
Three of us had mains of succulent slices of venison in a mushroom sauce with creamy mash and fresh, well cooked mixed vegetables. The other visually appealing main was a the vegetarian omelette pancake with halloumi and deserts were orange pancakes, walnut cake, brulee, chocolate parfait and I had an affogato which is italian for "drowned" and is simply delicious expresso coffee poured over ice cream.... and yes, Ilse, it did keep me awake!
We talked of childhood, loss, motherhood and music. I felt so close and warm with my liberated, intuitive, fun-loving, singing, dancing and swimming women friends. Thank you all for joining me in my slimming and dining year! Another half a pound down!
Sunday, 8 May 2011
At last! Up There with The Crown... Restaurant Patrick Jeffroy, Carantec, Brittany!
An unexpected weekend away with 7 other women from the Gasworks Choir to Brittany... near Morlais. A lovely old house in the countryside with log burning stove, well equipped kitchen, garden, sauna, owl box, barns and attics. We talked... ah how we talked... laughed....shopped... and ATE! We went to escape the Royal Wedding, but the sitting room was arrayed with bunting, we toasted the happy couple with champagne to strains of the Wedding March and we translated from French newspapers to see what Posh was wearing. We shared stories funny and sad, life experiences, worries and heartaches. We cooked mussels, artichokes and ate salads, fruits and cheeses.
The market at Morlais offered the finest of French produce! Chestnut honey, fish, vegetables, cheeses, street food, baskets, plants, clothes. As we were so squashed into the car that we had to have our bags on our laps and our hats on our heads, we were not able to bring loads of stuff back to England.
The highlight of the weekend was dinner at the 2 Michelin Starred, 3 Bottin Gourmand Patrick Jeffroy's L'Hotel de Carantec. Our 8-seater round table looked out onto the sea dotted with islands, and it was friendly and not too formal. The amuse bouche was a little preserving jar of rhubarb puree with turnip and a ceramic spoon with octapus. My starter was a little hill of delicious langoustine, asparagus, morelles, foam and parmesan crisps. The main course that most of us had, was local duck sliced with tiny potatoes on an asparagus puree, with buttered vegetables, a separate salad and chicken jus in a tiny shiny copper saucepan. One person had fillets of John Dory with white asparagus and a tiny quails egg in a nest of fried bread that looked gorgeous too. The cheese plate was tiny pieces of tasty local cheeses with a fantastic sliver of sweet and savoury toffee brittle! The other cheese dish was fresh new white cottage cheese mousse served with sugar, salt or herbs! My desert was a strip of chocolate ganache on sponge, with myrtle, black and raspberries, a brittle and a surprisingly good strawberry and basil sorbet. I wish I'd chosen the other dessert which was the local Kouign Amann - sort of butter yeast-risen lardy cake, with strawberries, lemon ice cream and rhubarb puree. The chef sent out champagne for us all as he heard we were English, to celebrate the Wedding!
We sang Peace in the Valley as we paid the bill, and then Heh Me Lo, and Ide Were whilst the guests who were going to leave, came back to listen and Patrick himself came out of the kitchen and shook hands with us. On the way home, the most intense thunder and lightening storm raged around us, providing us God's Fireworks to finish the day off with a bit of terror and excitement. An evening I will never forget as long as I live! And.... I lost half a pound!!!
The market at Morlais offered the finest of French produce! Chestnut honey, fish, vegetables, cheeses, street food, baskets, plants, clothes. As we were so squashed into the car that we had to have our bags on our laps and our hats on our heads, we were not able to bring loads of stuff back to England.
The highlight of the weekend was dinner at the 2 Michelin Starred, 3 Bottin Gourmand Patrick Jeffroy's L'Hotel de Carantec. Our 8-seater round table looked out onto the sea dotted with islands, and it was friendly and not too formal. The amuse bouche was a little preserving jar of rhubarb puree with turnip and a ceramic spoon with octapus. My starter was a little hill of delicious langoustine, asparagus, morelles, foam and parmesan crisps. The main course that most of us had, was local duck sliced with tiny potatoes on an asparagus puree, with buttered vegetables, a separate salad and chicken jus in a tiny shiny copper saucepan. One person had fillets of John Dory with white asparagus and a tiny quails egg in a nest of fried bread that looked gorgeous too. The cheese plate was tiny pieces of tasty local cheeses with a fantastic sliver of sweet and savoury toffee brittle! The other cheese dish was fresh new white cottage cheese mousse served with sugar, salt or herbs! My desert was a strip of chocolate ganache on sponge, with myrtle, black and raspberries, a brittle and a surprisingly good strawberry and basil sorbet. I wish I'd chosen the other dessert which was the local Kouign Amann - sort of butter yeast-risen lardy cake, with strawberries, lemon ice cream and rhubarb puree. The chef sent out champagne for us all as he heard we were English, to celebrate the Wedding!
We sang Peace in the Valley as we paid the bill, and then Heh Me Lo, and Ide Were whilst the guests who were going to leave, came back to listen and Patrick himself came out of the kitchen and shook hands with us. On the way home, the most intense thunder and lightening storm raged around us, providing us God's Fireworks to finish the day off with a bit of terror and excitement. An evening I will never forget as long as I live! And.... I lost half a pound!!!
Easter at The Falcondale
Another Groupon bargain, but this time a very pleasant one. The hotel was a lovely old white house set in a beautiful green Welsh valley. It used to be owned by the man who owned most of Lampeter and there were stone fireplaces, warm wood panelling, stone verandahs with beautiful views. Our room was welcoming and homely with a four poster bed and big bow french doors with the same wonderful view of trees, meadows and sheep.
We were welcomed with a full afternoon tea and champagne on the verandah which was a little chilly by then, but very peaceful. The trouble was I could not resist the little sandwiches, cakes and cream scones and then couldn't imagine eating a meal later! However, later, after a glass of prosecco and some little appetiser olives, tiny biscuits on the verandah, we moved into the dining room where the laughing friendly waitress brought us the first course of a piece of melon cut into a rose shape with a quarter of a strawberry. I was slightly relieved that this taster menu was not going to be too large!
I'm writing this rather a long time after we stayed on Good Friday, and that has made me realise that this meal was rather unmemorable. I remember the portions were tiny, tasty but rather unimaginative and contained tiny slices of home smoked chicken, asparagus, chocolate... but can't actually remember it much. I remember the breakfast better the next morning! The creamiest porridge I'd ever tasted and a full English that was comparable with my favourite Bristol cafe "Tart".
A lovely break though, and we spent the next night in a humble campsite at Llandovery, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons with dinner in the local Indian, which wasn't at all bad!
We were welcomed with a full afternoon tea and champagne on the verandah which was a little chilly by then, but very peaceful. The trouble was I could not resist the little sandwiches, cakes and cream scones and then couldn't imagine eating a meal later! However, later, after a glass of prosecco and some little appetiser olives, tiny biscuits on the verandah, we moved into the dining room where the laughing friendly waitress brought us the first course of a piece of melon cut into a rose shape with a quarter of a strawberry. I was slightly relieved that this taster menu was not going to be too large!
I'm writing this rather a long time after we stayed on Good Friday, and that has made me realise that this meal was rather unmemorable. I remember the portions were tiny, tasty but rather unimaginative and contained tiny slices of home smoked chicken, asparagus, chocolate... but can't actually remember it much. I remember the breakfast better the next morning! The creamiest porridge I'd ever tasted and a full English that was comparable with my favourite Bristol cafe "Tart".
A lovely break though, and we spent the next night in a humble campsite at Llandovery, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons with dinner in the local Indian, which wasn't at all bad!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)