by Cedric | Nov 25, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
I’ve become a big fan of the Walking Englishman blog. The way that Mike writes is both entertaining and informative as well as providing some really stellar walks. It is after one of these walks that Phil and I discovered the Old Spot Inn. For this post, I shall focus on the restaurant, but details of the walk we undertook can be found here:
https://www.walkingenglishman.com/cotswolds12.html
The first striking thing about the Old Spot is the free carpark next to it. When we undertook our last walk in Kendal last month, the carpark cost almost ten whole pounds. You can imagine our relief. Dursley council, falling under Stroud district council, is visibly wealthy so I was not entirely surprised at our parking savings.
Having just walked upwards of 12 km, we were rather ravenous. Our first course was the mediterranean sharing board which comprised of halloumi, mozzarella, salami, prosciutto, sun dried tomatoes in olive oil and roasted peppers. Of course some of these products are doubtless store bought but this did not detract from their flavour. The halloumi in particular was unlike any I had tasted before. Any combination of these lent itself to a cornucopia of deliciousness.
This cheesy bacon feast was a simple fare but undeniably delicious. The meat was high quality and not too oily which is a relief. The wedges were exemplary and perfectly cooked. I don’t care for coleslaw, being a person of sensibility, so I cannot provide advices on that sort of thing.
Phil (M’colleague) chose the Steak and Ale pie, made with Old Ric ale. Again, not wanting to develop an impressive gut before the age of 76, I have decided to avoid beer as a concept. The fact that it tastes almost universally ghastly to me is very helpful in my dietary ambitions. But observe the pastry on this pie. It was home made and a real knockout. Notice how it is hand crimped, this was most surprising to me as such attention to detail is rare. The mash and onion gravy were also breathtaking.
My own meal was the trio of Old Spot sausages with mashed potato and rich caramelised onion gravy. My only complaint was that the gravy was not plentiful enough! One would think this were not filling but they would be quite wrong. Combining the home made sausages with the beautiful mash and peas made for an enormously rewarding trio. I was so very pleased with my meal choice.
Overall, this 1776 pub is one of the gems of England and I recommend it to anyone in the area. This is the sort of place that leaves you feeling warm and satisfied, and in this current climate we need all the comfort we can get.
by Cedric | Nov 21, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
This week I had the opportunity to go to Bolton for reasons I am not at liberty to discuss unless you ask me nicely. I was advised to visit a very special sandwich place a few miles from my destination. You’ll be aware that I am not one to settle for a sub-standard value ready meal. Lunch is a sacred time in my home. Lunch is equally revered when I am not at home. Consequently, the discovery of the Sandwich Specialist came as quite a shock.
The following photographs will not evoke awe and passion in the viewer, they are merely two slices of bread with a filling, after all. However, the experience is a great part of Sandwich Specialist’s wonder.
The first thing which threw me about this place was the price of food. I was able to get a giant bap, known as a ‘bin lid’ – you read me correctly – for fewer than £5 English pounds. Now, to a Northerner, this is actually expensive. I was told by one person that a full English with two cups of tea cost just as much. Shocking, I know.
My colleague went for a Spicy Meatball Baguette. As I said, it is difficult to make a sandwich look appetising. However, making something so easy to fashion taste delicious is difficult and Sandwich Specialists knocked it out of the park. My colleague was particularly impressed by the layered texture of the meatballs and the delicacy of the spices therein.
But, my friends, this was the show stopper of the day. The bin lid bap was the size of my head. And if you have spent any amount of time reading this blog, you will know that my head is rather enormous. I ordered a sausage, bacon and cheddar bin lid. This is my usual fare from Phillpotts in Birmingham but this time was different. Personally, I have never eaten such a monstrously sized concoction but was most impressed. The way everything meshed so beautifully, the spices within the sausages, the thick cut bacon and the local cheddar. It was heaven in a bin lid.
Honestly I did not think a local sandwich bar would bowl me over thus but this place really was outstanding. I recommend it to those of you in the area for whatever amount of time. This is true to form local excellence and we need more of it in this world.
by Cedric | Nov 13, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
After being inspired by the Pieter de Hooch exhibition at the Prisenhof museum, the gang and I took lunch at Stads Koffyhuis (which is as fun to pronounce as it is to write). This place is situated on one of Delft’s more picturesque canals. We were granted the finest table with a view of the canal. Koffyhuis is renown for its award winning sandwiches, having won best sandwich in Holland for several non-consecutive years.
Firstly let me tell you about this cup of coffee. The Delft Leut, containing hot milk, strong espresso and milk foam, served in a tall glass. We had caramel on the top of ours. I cannot really describe the wonderful mesh of flavour which hit us. The smoothness of the coffee blended beautifully (in terms of flavour and visually) which pleased us so much we had to have another one each!
I ordered the Flipse, which won best sandwich in the Netherlands for 2017. It was made of a gilded corn roll, covered with a spread of pickle and Amsterdam onions and mustard mayonnaise. These were topped by a warm beef pastrami with melted cheddar cheese, white cabbage and dried tomatoes. This was just a joy. A truly exceptional sandwich bursting with flavour from each element. A truly symphonic blend.
Louise in her ancient wisdom opted for the Farmer’s Salad which contained pickle, cucumber, red onion, dried tomatoes and pecans as well as something called “Aunt Door” chicken. I had a mouthful of Louise’s fried chicken and was impressed. As the Grand Dame herself would say, this meal was most satisfactory.
So impressed were we three travellers that we ordered a fourth meal for the table which we shared. This was the winner of 2nd best vegetarian sandwich in the Netherlands. The Take Time consisted of a dark brown Gildekorn bulb richly topped with Boeren Gouda cheese. This cheese in combination with apple syrup, spicy mustard, arugula, fresh figs and walnuts makes this sandwich a real treat. Personally, I did not care for the apple but overall I was impressed by Koffeehuis’ ingenuity.
Overall, This restaurant did blow us away. The attentiveness of the staff paired with the quality of the ingredients and inventive chefs made for a winning combination. I recommend this place to anyone in the general area, or those in the country as a whole.
by Cedric | Nov 9, 2019 | Food and Drink, Goods and Services
Not being on social media has its advantages. For one thing, your parents have no idea where you are at any time. This means you can go abroad at a moment’s notice and eat nice things. One such thing I consumed was a great big burger.
Burger Bar was a pseudo saving grace for us. We had arrived from England and were quite hungry. But the trap once often falls into abroad is to go to the first place they find, often McDonald’s. I did some research and found this place.
Starting with the freshest natural ingredients – your Burgerbar experience begins. Locally baked burger buns, crisp iceberg lettuce, rucola, tomato and pickle on your burger of choice. Fresh herbs in our home-made sauces.
All our beef is minced in-house daily. The burgers are prepared individually to order and cooked whilst you wait. With only ground sea salt and black pepper added to your burger, whilst it’s sizzling upon the griddle plate. Burger Bar
I opted for the luxurious Wagyu Burger. This consisted of a gorgeous Wagyu beef patty, rucola, old Amsterdam cheese and onion jam. Old Amsterdam has an ivory coloured pate with rich, nutty, robust flavour with hints of caramel and butterscotch and firm texture. Let me speak briefly on the wonder of Wagyu. This is widely considered the finest beef in the world. It is a Japanese breed of cattle. Wa’ means Japanese and ‘gyu’ means cow.
The unique taste and tenderness of highly marbled Wagyu beef makes for an unrivalled eating experience. Wagyu
I must say there are fewer times in my life where I have been more satisfied by a burger. The beef just melted away. The meshing of the savoury Dutch cheese with the sweet onion jam made a gorgeous swelling ball of flavour which I am at a loss to describe.
Pictured is the Bordeaux burger. This consisted of Angus beef on a deluxe brioche bun with rucola, camembert and the holy onion jam. Angus beef develops with better marbling (the amount of intramuscular fat) than most cattle.
Louise had the Cheesy Burger which had Angus beef, cheddar and old Amsterdam cheese topped off with onion jam. I am starting to think we have something in common… I must say the smokey flavour of the cheddar went very well with the Old Amsterdam.
Overall I was impressed by the quality of the burgers but also the service. The owners steered me away from the tourist traps and to some more genuine and decidedly seedier parts of Amsterdam where I could experience the ‘real city’, for which I am deeply appreciative. Please do go to Burger Bar, it contains sheer burger luxury.
by Cedric | Nov 5, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
One doesn’t go to Coventry as often as they should. This exceptional city is close to my heart and home to many hidden wonderful. One such gem is Fargo Village. Tucked away in a dangerous part of town, this creative hub hosts some of the most exceptional drinkeries in town.
Twisted Barrel Ale exists to create great tasting beer for great people. Our working brewery at FarGo Village opens it’s doors to the public each week to bring you the freshest, most local beer in Coventry. Fargo Village
Stepping in, one can see to their left a set of large fermentors where the beer is left. One sits so far away from them is that these often explode. He went on to say at this distance the shrapnel loses sufficient velocity so as to not be penetrative. Heaven help(ed) the brewer who stood too close to it once in what I can only presume was America.
We offer quiz nights, a home brew club, brewery tours and the odd theme day where games are played and costumes are encouraged! Event day or not, the Tap House is a fun place to be, with friendly staff, excellent choice of drink and great music! Fargo Village
I prefer to remain slim and hairy so try to avoid beer. The Hogan’s Elderflower cider there is excellent. So sweet one does not realise how drunk they are until they wake up in Sweden wondering what their mother will think. St Nick enjoyed his fifteen pints so much he even threw up at home rather than in his shoes, as is customary.
Truly, Fargo is exceptional and I expect you all to go there forthwith!
by Nicholas Jenkins | Oct 24, 2019 | Food and Drink, General
And now, a piece from the Saint Mother, Mrs St Nick
We arrived at the Aiolos restaurant after dark on a balmy evening during our stay in Nafplio, on the East coast of the Peloponnese. It‘s one of the most popular restaurants on the Odos Vasilissis Olga, a lovely marble paved street typical of the old town, with bright blossoms climbing up the sides of the houses.
We ordered a local red wine, from nearby Nemea, dry but very smooth. Our starter, following an amuse bouche of home made hummus, was called Bougiourdi, a piquant combination of baked feta cheese with sliced tomatoes, onions and peppers.
We had Beef Stifado to follow and one of the specials, Chicken Mavrodafni (featured image). Both were served with fried potatoes.
Stifado is a favourite of the Greek menu – a casserole of slow cooked beef in a tomato based sauce with whole small onions. The onions created a sweet taste complementing the tender meat.
The Mavrodafni consisted of chicken breast cooked in the eponymous red wine with cream, perhaps more inspired by french cuisine but equally delicious and tender.
We ordered two Greek coffees, medium sweet which were the best we had on our trip – strong but not too sludgy at the bottom! The restaurant gave us a small complementary bottle of grappa and desert – ravani, which is a sponge made with semolina soaked in an orange flavoured syrup. To make it well you need to let it soak up all the syrup slowly until it is completely and evenly absorbed. I wonder if they guessed we were doing a review! The desert was delicious and just the right side of something sweet to end the meal.
All in all a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere- including traditional musicians to entertain. The price was very reasonable. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are passing through Nafplio.
