tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24112794110846486392024-03-13T14:57:23.597+00:00The Old Horses' Nosebag ClubSeveral old horses who have known each other for longer than they care to remember record their thoughts on their adventures in Oat Cuisine.Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-90092928170665983382013-11-20T00:07:00.001+00:002013-11-20T00:07:26.432+00:0019 November - Las Iguanas, The Malthouse, High Street, Kingston<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had decided to try Las Iguanas on the strength of it being near the Rose Theatre, where later we were going to see Fascinating A<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ï</span>da - and one of us had been to a sister restaurant in Birmingham, while another had liked the sound of the menu.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.iguanas.co.uk/locations/kingston" target="_blank">http://www.iguanas.co.uk/locations/kingston</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There was a friendly welcome and a pleasant atmosphere that set us at ease at once. (Some of us have had less than good experiences at chain restaurants.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Drinks: </b>We were happy to order caipirinhas for all four of us and - as we were in time for Happy Hour - we got two for the price of one! They were the best </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">caipirinhas we've had - and we've had a few by now in the line of duty. <i>[In case you are unfamiliar with this drink, it is considered </i><span class="st"><i>Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor), sugar and lime - very refreshing and moreish.]</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We went for starters and main courses to begin with - but were not excluding the possibility of desserts. We had a lot of time to spare before it was theatre time, after all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Starters: </b>1x Pato Taquito (duck and caramelised onion in a tortilla, with a delicious cranberry salsa), 1x Prawns in a garlic, lemon and chilli sauce, 1x Chicken wings with the new sweet & spicy guava sauce, 1x Albondigas (lamb meatballs in a spicy tomato & chilli sauce). We enjoyed all the dishes. The cranberry salsa and the guava sauce were particularly delicious. Each dish had a delightful bite of spice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Main courses:</b> 2x Xinxim (Lime chicken with a crayfish & peanut sauce), 1x Chicken fajitas, 1x Pollo Caruru (chicken and butternut squash in a seafood and coconut milk sauce). The Xinxim was excellent, a mild creamy sauce with plenty of chicken. The fajitas were also good, while the Pollo Caruru, a dish new to us all, was a welcome discovery.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We weakened and had 'just a quick look' at the dessert menu.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Desserts:</b> 2x Creamy caramel cake, 1x Ice cream (vanilla and dulce de leche), 1x Sorbet (lemon, raspberry and mango). All the desserts were finished with relish - by us, not by the chef. The cake was light and sweet, the ice cream was very good and the sorbet refreshing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We rounded off the meal with more of those excellent caipirinhas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the food was delicious and well presented, and every dish (well, not the desserts) was piping hot when it arrived at the table. The service was informal, friendly and excellent. The restaurant itself was pleasant and welcoming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cost for all that was a few pence over £34 per head, including 12.5% service.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><b style="color: purple;">Rating: FIVE STARS</b></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-92112445440190795902013-08-16T19:50:00.001+01:002013-08-16T19:50:34.166+01:0012 August - The Grumpy Mole at the Inn on the Green, Dorking Road, Tadworth<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After an unanticipated and ridiculously long hiatus of more than 2 years (gasp!), the Old Horses' Nose Bag Club reconvened for a trip to the Grumpy Mole in Tadworth.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.thegrumpymole.plus.com/tadworth/</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we arrived, the restaurant immediately felt cosy and welcoming, the staff were friendly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pretending that we are concerned about our waist lines, all four of us decided to avoid the starters. Besides, the desserts looked interesting...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Main courses:</b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1 x Beef Stroganof, 1 x Venison Wellington, 2 x Rib-Eye Steak. Each of these was perfectly cooked and well presented, as well as delicious. The beef in the Stroganoff was tender and tasty, the venison was properly pink in the centre and melted in the mouth. The steaks, cooked by the chef (rather than on a stone at the table, which was the other choice), were exactly as they were ordered, medium rare, and of excellent quality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Desserts:</b> 1 x Bread & Butter Pudding, 1 x Squidgy Meringue with red berries, 1 x Key Lime Sundae, 1 x Apple Strudel. Again well presented and each dish was delicious in its own way. Paul was very impressed by the deconstructed Key Lime Pie/Sundae, and enjoyed the light texture very much. I could taste every ingredient of the strudel, it was a treat to eat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Drinks:</b> 1 x Pinotage, 1 x Merlot, 1 x Gin & tonic....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All told a very enjoyable meal in pleasant surroundings. The staff were attentive and helpful without being pushy or hovering. The cost was just over £30 per head, with a tip.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span><span><b style="color: purple;">Rating: FOUR STARS</b></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-3258232066019833512011-04-21T22:48:00.000+01:002011-04-21T22:48:14.980+01:0021 April - Field To Fork, South Street, Epsom<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">6 South Street, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7PF<br />
01372 744130; <a href="http://www.fieldtoforkrestaurant.com/">www.fieldtoforkrestaurant.com</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I visited Field to Fork with Barbara last month: <a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2011/03/18-march-field-to-fork-south-street.html">http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2011/03/18-march-field-to-fork-south-street.html</a>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paul, Lyn and I had looked forward to trying out Field to Fork since we first discovered that it had opened, especially as it looked so promising from the outside.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The decor is very tasteful and modern. The service is excellent and the staff are very friendly and welcoming.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Starters:</b> 2 x Oven baked scallops, leeks, champagne cream & puff pastry; 1 x Ham hock & parsley terrine, mustard apple chutney & toast.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While the ham terrine was very tasty, with a delicious chutney and crunchy toast, the scallop dish was disappointing. The champagne was thin and not very tasty, and frankly this with a few slices of scallop seemed over priced at £7.95 (the most expensive starter on the menu).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mains:</b> 2 x Bridge Farm sharing plate of pork: slow cooked belly, roast rack, black pudding, dauphinoise potato, roasted chantenay carrots & apple sauce; Slow cooked duck leg, hispi cabbage, sautéed potato,<br />
caramelised red onion & shallot puree.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The pork sharing plate was very good - in particular the belly was tender and declicious. The duck leg had plenty of meat and had been butterflied(?) so the skin was wonderfully crisp and the meat was succulent and scrumptious.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drinks:</b> 2 x caipirinhas, 1 x Pepsi</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cairpirinhas were good, but not good enough for the £7 price tag. Little Dudley House, a restaurant I would say was a notch or more better than Field to Fork, charges £5.50 for a (slightly) better version.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, for the most part, the food was very good (with the caveat about the scallop starter), the atmosphere was pleasant with a lively buzz and the service and staff friendly and excellent. What stops this restaurant from getting a four star rating, on this outing, is its pricing. We feel that, while the food is generally of a good standard, it is rather over priced.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b style="color: purple;">Rating: THREE STARS</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-33899444947067745292011-03-21T10:41:00.001+00:002011-03-21T10:41:56.804+00:0018 March - Field To Fork, South Street, Epsom<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chris and Barbara visited Field to Fork for lunch. It was by way of a recce for a possible future evening visit. Various club members had seperately noticed this new restaurant in the centre of town and wondered... Lyn and Hazel had even been there for coffee and noted the pleasant atmosphere.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We started with the freshly baked bread and green olives - both very good. Barbara followed that with the Beetroot carpaccio with walnut & Golden Cross goats cheese dressing, whil Chris chose the Bridge Farm pork & spiced apple sandwich with fries.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We drank a bottle of sparkling water and finished our lunch with an espresso for Barbara and a latte for Chris.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The atmosphere was, as the other Old Horses had previously noted, very comfortable and welcoming.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The food was excellent. Barbara thoroughly enjoyed her carpaccio. Chris thought the pork was delicious. His only complaint was that the amount of bread in the sandwich was too much (but then he had already eaten a decent amount to start). Barbara was very impressed by the espresso, which she takes as a sign of a very good establishment.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The service was very good - prompt and helpful.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Cost:</b> less than £30, including service.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Our rating: <span style="color: purple;">FOUR STARS</span></b></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-15808703526993511862011-02-10T18:08:00.000+00:002011-02-10T18:08:47.001+00:0028 January 2011 - Little Dudley House, Dorking RH4 2JU<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>(01306 885550 - <a href="http://www.littledudleyhouse.co.uk/">www.littledudleyhouse.co.uk</a>)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>A repeat visit to a venue that we really enjoyed on our previous visit (18th June 2010; <a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2010/06/18th-june-2010-little-dudley-house.html">http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2010/06/18th-june-2010-little-dudley-house.html</a>). It did not disappoint happily, as we had bigged it up to the 4th Old Horse, Hazel, and brought her with us.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Starters:</b> Smoked salmon (x 3) and guinea fowl terrine.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Mains:</b> A Chateaubriand for two, Slow Cooked Duck Leg and Duo of Pork (Braised Cheeks and Roast Loin), plus an extra portion of 'Hand Cut Thrice Cooked Chips'.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span><br />
</span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Desserts:</b> A bit of a gap in the memory here, but I do remember several of us having the Chocolate and Chestnut Torte.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><b>Drinks:</b> Caipirinhas x 2, Mojito and Long Island Iced Tea; water.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span><br />
</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span>As before, we were unable to find anything to criticise. Excellent food, delicious drinks and wonderful service.</span></span></div><div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;">Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">FIVE STARS</b></span><br />
</div></div></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-75541728679885450112011-02-10T17:32:00.000+00:002011-02-10T17:32:53.081+00:0012 November 2010 - Y Polyn, Capel Dewi, Carmarthen SA32 7LH<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(01267 290000 - <a href="http://www.ypolynrestaurant.co.uk/">www.ypolynrestaurant.co.uk</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've managed to delay this posting so very long, that I can no longer remember everything we had. I know I had a lamb stew which was utterly delicious, but that's it. And the menu has changed, so I can't use that to jog my poor memory.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What I can tell you is that I can heartily recommend this restaurant. The atmosphere is welcoming and warm, the staff are efficient and friendly, and the food is well presented and delicious.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">FIVE STARS</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span> </div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-72016769610652543972010-08-24T23:57:00.003+01:002010-08-25T22:46:33.107+01:0024 August 2010 - The Peking, High Street, Dorking<div style="color: #351c75; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">An unintentional comedy nosebag</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where to start? We had planned a pleasant evening at the William IV pub in Albury (<a href="http://www.williamivalbury.com/">www.williamivalbury.com</a>). Their website encouraged us to expect something out of the ordinary with its talk of using 'local produce whenever possible' and 'including sometimes the free-range pork that Giles [Giles Madge - 'your host'] raises himself'. The menu at the pub refers to various breeds of pig, for added interest. Well, the beer was good but the menu was, to say the least, uninspiring - as far as we are concerned. No effort is made to incorporate the rare breeds into the menu - the only pork dishes we could see, both on the list of specials, were 'pork chops' and 'cumberland ring'. Shame. We didn't stay after we'd finished our beer.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we headed off to Dorking, already later than we wanted, where we knew there would be a few places to choose from.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We walked past the Bali (we've been before - <a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/08/january-2009-bali-5-6-new-parade-london.html">http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/08/january-2009-bali-5-6-new-parade-london.html</a>) and the Gurkha Kitchen (almost empty). We passed an empty Thai restaurant and came to the Sang Thai and the Peking, which are next to each other. We chose the Peking, as Paul and I had had a Thai meal last weekend. A pity, that.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">First impressions were good. Nice tables, a friendly greeting, a moderately priced buffet. The prawn crackers brought to us while we looked over the menu were tasty enough. We happily chose 6 starters (salt & pepper ribs, barbecue ribs, smoked shredded chicken, chicken wings, Mongolian lamb and sesame prawn toast) and three main courses (crispy shredded beef, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">sea spicy shredded pork and chicken with satay</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">) plus e</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">gg fried </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">rice and Singapore noodles. We were ready for it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK, maybe we're spoiled. You can tell from some of my previous posts that we have been to some very nice restaurants, but...</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">smoked shredded chicken was almost cold</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">chicken wings were overly greasy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">we had to ask for the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">barbecue ribs twice</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mongolian lamb, when it eventually arrived, was very fatty with some tough pieces - and had clearly been hanging around as the sauce was cool and thickened</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be fair, the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">salt & pepper ribs and the prawn toast were fine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for the main courses:</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the crispy shredded beef would have been good had it been </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">warm - or, better, hot - and if </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the batter had still been crisp </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">chicken with satay was OK but we were not convinced it had ever seen a peanut</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">the rice was bland at best</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the plus side:</span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><li>the sea spicy shredded pork was very tasty and</li>
<li>the Singapore noodles were among the best we've ever had</li>
<li>Paul and Lyn's jasmine tea was very good and did not grow bitter. and it was refilled part way through the meal</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also noticed that some of the serving staff were a little on the brusque side.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Still, the comedy service lightened matters. The waitress who almost threw our dishes at us with a mumbled 'Your lamb'. The finger bowl that was taken in passing - and before we had even been served with the missing barbecue ribs! The disintegrating heated towels.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Overall, a patchy performance on all fronts.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">TWO STARS</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>PS: The comedy continued on the way home. One of us, who shall remain nameless (Lyn), managed to fiddle with a knob on Paul's seat by the head rest. That would have been OK, except that (i) he was driving and (ii) it made his seat shoot back till his feet struggled to reach the pedals! (Visions of clown cars, doors dropping off etc.)</b></i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/52/1484973/restaurant/London/East-Surrey/Peking-Dorking"><img alt="Peking on Urbanspoon" src="http://www.urbanspoon.com/b/link/1484973/biglink.gif" style="border: medium none; height: 146px; width: 200px;" /></a> <i><b><br />
</b></i></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-75773999391823013932010-08-08T20:35:00.001+01:002010-08-08T20:37:57.464+01:00EXTRA! EXTRA! Restaurants in la Belle France, no. 2<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On our way to Toulouse airport for our flight home, we stayed over first at Najac, then in Toulouse itself.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At Najac, a beautful medieval village (<a href="http://www.najac.com/">www.najac.com</a>), we stayed in a Logis (<a href="http://www.logishotels.com/en.html">www.logishotels.com/en.html</a>) the Belle Rive (<a href="http://www.lebellerive.com/">www.lebellerive.com</a>). It was nicely located - our room looked across the river and up the hill at the local chateau.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We ate at the hotel; their menus read extremely well. Stupidly, I didn't make any notes but the food was very good. I do recall that Paul had the Astet Najacois, a local speciality of roasst pork and filet mignon. I had the Boudin au canard - basically, black pudding with duck meat. Both very tasty and beautifully presented.</div><div style="color: purple; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Rating: THREE-PLUS STARS</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Finally, for our single night in Toulouse, we ate at Benjamin (found in the trusty Rough Guide to France). Again, not entirely clear now about what we ate, other than that I had the local speciality, cassoulet. The food was good, but the service was rather slow and desultory.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="color: purple;">Rating: THREE STARS</b><br />
<b style="color: purple;"> </b></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-63943788139418543412010-08-08T18:38:00.002+01:002010-08-08T20:37:26.753+01:00EXTRA! EXTRA! Restaurants in la Belle France, no. 1<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paul and I recently spent a fortnight in France. We are lucky to have friends who are willing to let us use their lovely holiday home in rural France, near Monistrol d'Allier - not far from Le Puy-en-Velay, where the lentils come from.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Monsitrol is a pleasant little town on the pilgrimage route through France to San Sebastian de Compostela in Spain. The main restaurant was, until recently, at a hotel called Les Gorges and, particularly for a French eatery, frankly dire.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Fortunately, it has new owners and (wisely, I think) a new name - Le Pain de Sucre (The Sugarloaf). Even better, the restaurant has been renovated from a dreary, dull room, to a bright and airy one. And, better still, the food on offer is extremely tasty. We visited three times over the two weeks we were there and were never disappointed. They do delicious, thin-crust pizzas and and an excellent €18 menu with 3 courses. Their confit of duck was delicious.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple;">Rating: THREE STARS</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On 20th July, we decided we fancied lunch out. It makes a change from my standard baguette, paté and cheese. :o)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We chose to visit a restaurant we had only recently discovered (despite passing close to it many times) in nearby St Christophe sur Dolaizon; the Auberge du Grand Chemin, r</span><span style="font-size: small;">un by Julie and Julien Bonfils</span><span style="font-size: small;">. They are a charming couple, welcoming and </span><span style="font-size: small;">friendly. The food is excellent.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <a href="http://aubergedugrandchemin.com/">http://aubergedugrandchemin.com</a></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We took a table inside, out of the hot sun, to profit from the €16.50 (four course!) menu. Outside, you get to choose from a selection of salades and other dishes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After Julie had taken our order - in good English and with a cheerful smile at our attempts a French, Julienpopped out of the kitchen to give us an amuse-bouche in a shot glass. It was made up of mashed Le Puy Lentils, covered in salted Chantilly cream, sprinkled with chopped peanuts. We were, to be honest, dubious, but really enjoyed the tastes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To start, we had the trout with green lentils and the gratin</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">ée</span> of bleu d'Auvergne (a very tasty take on cheese on toast). Next came the cocotte (in this case, a beef stew) and small steak in a green pepper sauce. Delicious. This was followed by fromage blanc (unmatured cheese) with cream and honey. Very nice. Finally, we were treated to an assiette gourmand ("greedy plate") made up of four tiny desserts: maccaron; compote of banana and apple covered in cinnamon crumble; choux buns with Chantilly cream and chocolate sauce; and a blueberry sorbet. I think we must have enjoyed this, because we finished every last morsel.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The cost of two menus, a 50cl carafe of a good house white and two HUGE cafés au lait: €45. Very good value, so far as we are concerned.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple;">Rating: FOUR STARS</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: purple;"> </b></span></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-57055602077207229032010-06-20T22:27:00.003+01:002011-02-10T18:06:31.417+00:0018th June 2010 - Little Dudley House, Dorking<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(01306 885550 - <a href="http://www.littledudleyhouse.co.uk/">www.littledudleyhouse.co.uk</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The first proper outing of the Old Horses for some time - Paul, Chris and Lyn painting Dorking red. Well, maybe a deep pink.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Starters:</b> Crab cakes; Ham hock terrine with pear chutney and Mussels with aeoli.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mains:</b> Sea bream x 2 and Smoked haddock risotto, plus an extra portion of 'Hand Cut Thrice Cooked Chips'.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Desserts:</b> Ice cream and sorbet x 3 (various combinations of Cassis and Apple sorbets and Horlicks, Caramel Ripple, Strawberry and Vanilla ice creams).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Drinks:</b> Caipirinhas x 3; water.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cost:</b> £112.75 (inc discretionary 10% service charge).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everything about this evening was practically perfect. We were greeted at the door and offered the choice of going straight to our table or having a drink at the bar. The building is a delightful mix of the old and the new - though Paul and I were not convinced by the white leather pouffes.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The caipirinhas were excellent - tart and refreshing, with a whole (though cut up) lime in each. And at just the right point, halfway through the drink, we were escorted up to our table. Again, a choice. Did we want to be in the main room or in the Glass Room. We chose the main room - principally because it was a little cool and cloudy. We'll save the Glass Room for a warm, bright day, I think.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Basically, every mouthful of food was excellent. It was well presented and perfectly cooked. The crab cakes were wonderful, the mussels were excellent (Paul tells me - not my thing) and the thrice cooked chips were crisp and delicious. Best of all, the sorbets and ice creams (which were an unplanned indulgence) were just that - indulgent, mouth-watering and a reason in themselves for a return visit.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For us, this restaurant was a real treat. A lovely building, friendly staff who gave excellent service, wonderful food and even enjoyable background music.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">FIVE STARS</b></span></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-6686741248086136502010-06-20T21:31:00.000+01:002010-06-20T21:31:33.163+01:00DELAYED ENTRY 3rd June - Cook-Ri, Epsom<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(01372 727444 - <a href="http://www.cook-ri.co.uk/">www.cook-ri.co.uk</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paul and I (Chris) went for dinner with our friends Alison, Abby and Gemma. It was a little strange - we were the only group in the restaurant. Still, it has only opened fairly recently.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I can't now remember every dish we tried, but some things did stand out.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were given a complimentary starter - a water puri. It was a small, dish-shaped pastry shell, with pulses and a very liquid sauce inside. The waiter told us to put it all in our mouth and bite. It was a close fit, even for a big mouth like me. But, what a sensation! Crunch, wet, cool, spicy, delicious...</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Paul had a duck starter called Haas Ko Choyla, which was very tasty. I had a lamb main course called Himali Masu, which was delicious and tender. We all tried a bit of everything, and it was extremely good.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The service was discreet yet friendly and warm. This restaurant deserves to prosper - go and try it!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">FOUR STARS</b></span></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-19412881102209451152010-06-20T21:14:00.000+01:002010-06-20T21:14:24.962+01:00DELAYED ENTRY May 2010 - Singtong Neeyom Thai Restaurant, Halesworth, Sufflok<span style="font-size: small;"></span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(<span class="skype_pnh_container" dir="ltr"><span class="skype_pnh_highlighting_inactive_common" dir="ltr" title="Call
this phone number in United Kingdom with Skype: +441986873737"><span class="skype_pnh_textarea_span"><span class="skype_pnh_text_span">01986 873737</span></span><span class="skype_pnh_right_span"></span></span></span> - <a href="http://www.singtongthairestaurant.co.uk/">www.singtongthairestaurant.co.uk</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We spotted this restaurant on our 2009 trip to Southwold, but too late to try it out. So we were keen to go this year. And we were really glad that we did.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were greeted by a charming man, the husband of the chef. The chef, Piek, is a skilled Thai cook, producing wonderful, truly authentic Thai food. Eating here was almost exactly like eating in a good restaurant in Thailand itself (and we've eaten in quite a few there).</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Piek surprised us by telling us that, when she first came to the UK, she worked for a while in Epsom - our home town!</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, we can't now remember precisely which dishes we ordered, but we can say that we really enjoyed them.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our rating: <b style="color: purple;">FIVE STARS</b></span></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-17255267260694937502010-06-20T20:37:00.004+01:002010-06-20T20:56:37.532+01:00DELAYED ENTRY March 2010 - New Zealand (Various)<span xmlns=""></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">On 11th March this year, Paul and I (Chris) celebrated 25 years together. Such a big anniversary seemed to deserve a big holiday to go with it, so we decided to re-visit New Zealand - something we'd talked about for YEARS. On the way we spent three nights in Hong Kong, but we didn't have any extraordinary meals there.</span></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span><br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The first noteworthy meal was at Lumberjack's in Owaka (<a href="http://www.catlins-nz.com/lumberjack.html">www.catlins-nz.com/lumberjack.html</a>). Paul had chicken in a plum and curry sauce (MUCH nicer than we thought from the description) and I had a rib-eye steak with a stout and garlic sauce. Actually, it was good enough that we happily went back the next night - although, to be honest, the choice is a bit limited in Owaka - when I had venison in a blueberry and red wine sauce, and Paul had lamb. We drank Monteith's beer. All very nice - well cooked and with friendly, efficient service.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">Later, in Hokitika, we visited the Priya, an Indian restaurant on Revell Street. We had a mixed starter, followed by Lamb Rogan Josh and Kudai Chicken, with Cobra beer. Delicious food, good service and nice background music.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">On our actual anniversary, we were in Arthur's Pass Village, being entertained by the world's only Alpine parrot, the Kea (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMLpPoOeays">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMLpPoOeays</a>). It seemed appropriate to eat at a cafe/bar called the Wobbly Kea (<a href="http://www.wobblykea.co.nz/">www.wobblykea.co.nz</a>) The food was good though not extraordinary of itself (lamb shanks/rib-eye steak) - but they did very good garlic bread and the chips were nice too.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">The most entertaining eatery was Sophie's Cafe in Christchurch. We went there for our last meal in New Zealand - brunch, before we headed for the airport. They serve a fine cooked breakfast and delicious milkshakes - so delicious, in fact, that I had to have two: vanilla and caramel. The walls of the cafe are covered with photos of Sophie (and sometimes her partner, Hudson) with celebrity customers. (Many I didn't recognise, so I guess the celebrities in New Zealand, but what do I know?)</span></span><br />
<br />
<span xmlns=""><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt;">I'm not going to bother rating them all, but we had excellent food in New Zealand.</span></span><br />
<span xmlns=""></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-78809960350934201712010-06-20T16:42:00.005+01:002010-06-20T16:56:36.698+01:00DELAYED ENTRY February 2010 - Blubeckers (various)<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">(<a href="http://www.blubeckers.co.uk/">www.blubeckers.co.uk</a>)</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">During January and February, the Blubeckers chain ran a promotion using scratch cards. Each card entitled the bearer to a discount on the food element of your meal. According to one of the waitresses we spoke to, the discount could be up to 100%, though we rarely did better than 20% - still, that was enough to encourage us to pay them four visits in February.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">We went to:-<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">Shepperton<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">Gomshall Mill, Guildford<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">Hampton Court<br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">The Refectory, Godalming</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">The food was, with only one exception (suitably rectified by the manager), very good. The service was more variable but generally fine. The woman who served us at the Hampton Court restaurant was very competent.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">Our favourite of the four restaurants we used was the Refectory at Godalming. A lovely building with bags of character and charm.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns="">Our rating overall: <span style="color: #993366;"><b>FOUR STARS</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span xmlns=""></span></div>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-64606584041505525762010-06-20T16:22:00.002+01:002010-06-20T16:22:24.908+01:00DELAYED ENTRIESFor personal reasons, not only have we not been dining out quite as much as usual but there hasn’t been the will to keep the blog up to date. Things are improving now and so I thought it would be good to mention a few things that have happened since the last post. Things probably won't be quite so detailed for these posts.<br />
Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-10855219065872234122009-10-22T22:04:00.001+01:002010-06-20T20:57:50.909+01:0015th October 2009 - Bwyty Mawwddach, Maesygarnedd, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau LL40 2TA<span style="font-family: arial;">(01341 424020 - <a href="http://www.mawddach.com/">www.mawddach.com</a>)<br />
<br />
<b>Starters:</b> Butternut squash soup and Homemade chicken liver pate with chutney and toast.<br />
<br />
<b>Mains:</b> Sea Bass with salsa verde and home made chips and Local aged Welsh black rib eye steak with homemade chips, slow roasted plum tomato, field mushrooms and garlic butter.<br />
<br />
<b>Drinks:</b> Two pints of fizzy Boddingtons. Good but could be better.<br />
<br />
<b>Cost:</b> £48 plus tip.<br />
<br />
A stylish new restaurant a short drive from Dolgellau. The building is lovely with exposed beams and clean lines.<br />
<br />
The staff were friendly and efficient. The food was very well cooked and presented; and it tasted excellent.<br />
<br />
Our rating: <b><span style="color: #993399;">FIVE STARS</span></b><br />
</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-76957525537674516072009-10-22T22:00:00.002+01:002010-06-20T20:58:27.869+01:00Saturday 19th September 2009 - Blue Mint, 21 Waterloo Road, Epsom<span style="font-family: arial;">(01372 724167 - <a href="http://www.blue-mint.co.uk/">www.blue-mint.co.uk</a>)<br />
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<b>Starters:</b> Spicy crab cakes; Bata chop and Chicken chaat with puri.<br />
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<b>Mains:</b> Fish Korma; Chicken Biryani and Khodu lamb, with pilau rice.<br />
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<b>Drinks:</b> Beer.<br />
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<b>Cost:</b> c £70.<br />
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On the whole, the food remains as good as it was on our previous visit (</span><a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/08/20th-march-2008-blue-mint-21-waterloo.html"><span style="font-family: arial;">http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/08/20th-march-2008-blue-mint-21-waterloo.html</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">). The Chicken Biryani was just a tasty as before and the Khodu lamb was excellent. HOWEVER, the Fish korma was, at best, bland.<br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">The problem we had</span></b> was that, after we had eaten the poppadoms brought to eat while we ordered, we were left for about 40-50 minutes just waiting. We noticed that none of the other customer seemed to get any food either. No explanation was given, service just suddenly resumed.<br />
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Maybe we would be better off visiting mid-week, as we did the first time?<br />
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Our rating: <span style="color: #993399;"><b>FOUR STARS</b></span><br />
</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-89782944068408405812009-09-03T21:32:00.005+01:002010-06-20T16:15:51.632+01:00EXTRA! EXTRA! - Some restaurants in Amsterdam...<span style="font-family: arial;">Over the August Bank Holiday, as it our custom, Paul and I went to Amsterdam. We were there from Saturday 29th August to Tuesday 1st September. Apart from some pleasant bars, we had three very good meals in three quite different restaurants.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Saturday:</b> We went to the <b>Sherpa</b>, a Nepalese/Tibetan restaurant (58 Korte Leidsedwarsstraat - 020-623 9495 - </span><a href="http://www.sherpa-restaurant.nl/"><span style="font-family: arial;">www.sherpa-restaurant.nl</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">). While I can't recall exactly what we had at this point, I do know it was delicious and spicy. Similar to Indian cuisine but not precisely the same. The staff are friendly and helpful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Sunday:</b> We went to our regular, <b>t'Fornuis</b>, a Dutch restaurant (33 Utrechsestraat - 020-626 9139 - </span><a href="http://www.hetfornuis.com/"><span style="font-family: arial;">www.hetfornuis.com</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">). Starters were a fish pastry and a goats cheese tart; mains were duck and lamb; desserts were ice cream and creme brulee. The food is always excellent here, we've never had a disappointment in over 10 years. The staff are friendly, cheerful and efficient.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Monday:</b> We decided on the <b>Puri Mas</b>, an Indonesian restaurant (37-41 Lange Leidsedwarsstraat - 020-627 7627 - </span><a href="http://www.purimas.nl/"><span style="font-family: arial;">www.purimas.nl</span></a><span style="font-family: arial;">). We've been there before but some years ago. The food was very tasty - we had the Puri Mas rijsttafel, a collection of delicious dishes, including a very good Rendang. The staff are charming and uninstrusive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Tuesday lunch time:</b> before heading for the airport, we used the Italian restaurant directly across the street (alley) from Puri Mas [can't remember its name]. We both had pizza, an American and a Pepperoni. Really tasty; the salami used on the Pepperoni pizza was delicious.</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-23127260282576667922009-08-28T00:08:00.002+01:002010-06-20T20:59:05.510+01:0021st August 2009 - Loch Fyne, Cobham<span style="font-family: arial;">(01932 586 010 - <a href="http://www.lochfyne.com/Restaurants/Locations/Cobham.aspx">www.lochfyne.com/Restaurants/Locations/Cobham.aspx</a>)<br />
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<b>Starters:</b> Potted shrimp; Mackerel <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">rillettes</span>; Salmon fish cake.<br />
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<b>Mains:</b> Battered haddock, chips and mushy peas x 2; Smoked fish pie<br />
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<b>Drinks:</b> Paul had a coke, otherwise tap water.<br />
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<b>Cost:</b> About £54, plus tip.<br />
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The food was tasty and generally the produce they used was of very good quality. The staff were friendly and helpful and the atmosphere really pleasant.<br />
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The one off note was when the Salmon fish cake starter was brought up. The accompanying salad was mainly made u of iceberg lettuce. In itself that would have been disappointing, but it was also about two days beyond being fit for consumption. We called a waiter over and before we could say more than, ‘Excuse me,…’, she had whisked it away with a ‘That won’t do at all!’.<br />
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The prompt, firm way in which that was handled redeemed the restaurant in our eyes.<br />
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Our rating: A good <span style="color: #cc33cc;"><b>THREE STARS</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-42974166470125456902009-08-06T00:21:00.002+01:002009-08-06T00:25:11.957+01:0010th May 2009 - The Chalk Lane Hotel, Epsom<span style="font-family:arial;">(01372 721179 - </span><a href="http://www.chalklanehotel.com/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.chalklanehotel.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">)<br /><br />Delicious food in a tranquil, unrushed setting.<br /><br /><strong>Starters:</strong> Squid in sweet chilli sauce (Lyn); Caramelised chicken wings (Paul); Tartar of Scottish salmon with Le Puy lentils (Chris).<br /><br /><strong>Mains:</strong> Forerib of Angus Beef (Lyn); Confit of duck (Paul); Crispy belly pork (Chris).<br /><strong><br />Desserts:</strong> Summer pudding with vanilla ice cream (Lyn); Trio of caramel puddings (Paul); Strawberry and cherry soup with crème fraiche ice cream (Chris).<br /><br /><strong>Drinks:</strong> Glass of Cava Rivas Merlot (Lyn & Chris); Glass of Cava Rivas Cabernet Sauvignon (Paul).<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> £105.00, inc service.<br /><br />Every dish was beautifully prepared, perfectly cooked and very well presented. Even the crockery was just right. The wines and food were delicious. We could find no fult with anything.<br /><br />Even though the hotel’s exterior is a little unprepossessing, the restaurant is nicely decorated and as well presented as the food.<br /><br />The service was efficient, very professional and not at all hurried. The woman who appeared to be in charge was very good at anticipating our needs. Lyn was most impressed by the lack of fuss when she asked for a ‘doggy bag’.<br /><br />Our rating: <strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;">FIVE STARS</span></strong> - extremely good value for money<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>We have since paid a return visit for an ‘ad-hoc nosebag’ with Hazel, the 4th Old Horse. Everything was just a excellent - we were not at all disappointed.</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-86439024992746641912009-08-04T00:04:00.002+01:002010-06-20T20:59:58.127+01:00April 2009 - Saigon Chef, Grand Parade, Ewell Road, Surbiton<span style="font-family: arial;">(020 8399 6789 - <a href="http://www.saigonchef.co.uk/"><span style="color: #3333ff;"><b>www.saigonchef.co.uk</b></span></a>)<br />
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Excellent food and a pleasant atmosphere.<br />
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<b>Starters:</b> Vietnamese spring rolls, Vietnamese pancake, Crispy fried monkfish, BBQ spare ribs and Crunchy salad with lotus root.<br />
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<b>Mains:</b> Stir-fried chicken with sweet basil, Vietnamese roast pork with honey and herbs, Fried lamb with satay sauce and Special fried rice.<br />
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<b>Drinks:</b> Tsing Tao and Tiger beers, Vietnamese tea.<br />
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<b>Cost:</b> £60.80 plus service charge.<br />
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We enjoyed every mouthful of this meal - even though we did order rather a lot of food. There was a pleasant buzz from the other diners, who also seemed to be having a good time. Certainly, the couple who Paul knew from his CPS days were - they were celebrating an anniversary.<br />
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The service was attentive but not intrusive. The staff were very friendly.<br />
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Our rating: <b><span style="color: #cc33cc;">FIVE STARS</span></b> - extremely good value for money</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-61738374104235264032009-08-03T00:15:00.001+01:002009-08-03T00:17:08.401+01:00January 2009 - The Bali, 5-6 New Parade, London Rd, Dorking<span style="font-family:arial;">(01306 887860)<br /><br />A very pleasant, stylish restaurant with good staff.<br /><br /><strong>Starters:</strong> Lyn - Prawn Satay; Paul - Mixed Satay; Chris - Won Ton Goreng - plus prawn crackers.<br /><br /><strong>Mains:</strong> Kari Ayam (Chicken Curry); Abon Daging (Crispy beef with vermicelli) and Bali Kambing Hajau Kari (a northern Malaysian lamb curry) - plus coconut rice and special fried rice.<br /><br /><strong>Drinks:</strong> Singha beers all round.<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> £72.00 plus tip.<br /><br />Actually, I originally ordered the Peanuts and Ikan Bilis Tidbits for my starter, but the waiter came straight back with the sad news that it was no longer available.<br /><br />With the sole exception of the Won Ton Goreng, the food was all cooked and delicious. The Won Ton were dark, dry and seemingly overdone, with a dry and tasteless filling. - though the dip was nice. The prawns were excellent, tasting of the grill and perfectly cooked. The satay sauce was very good, with plenty of peanut.<br /><br />This restaurant will certainly be visited for an ad-hoc nosebag at some point.<br /><br />Our rating: <strong><span style="color:#993399;">FOUR STARS</span></strong></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-72179647548695063192009-08-02T23:05:00.001+01:002009-08-02T23:44:25.173+01:00January 2009 - Ask Italian, High Street, Epsom<span style="font-family:arial;">(01372 740992)<br /><br />Our first chain restaurant for the Nosebag Club, but not a bad choice.<br /><br /><strong>Mains:</strong> Ravioli Burro e Pesce (Lyn); Pizza - Festa di Carne (Paul); Lasagne (Chris) - plus garlic bread.<br /><br /><strong>Desserts:</strong> Tiramisú for Lyn; Honeycomb Cheesecake for Paul; Torta di Mele [Apple Pie] for Chris.<br /><br /><strong>Drinks:</strong> A glass of house red (Merlot De Gras from Chile for Lyn; Rioja [a Tempranillo] from Crianza for Chris); . A glass of house white (Pinot Grigio for Paul).<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> £65.00 plus tip.<br /><br />The waiter was friendly and efficient (although we did see him spill red wine over a member of another group!) and the atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.<br /><br />More importantly, the food was tasty and well presented. The wines were all very good (quite right too - they weren’t cheap). We enjoyed the garlic bread - a pizza base soaked in garlic butter, very tasty. And the desserts were enjoyable too.<br /><br />Our rating: <strong><span style="color:#993399;">THREE STARS</span></strong> but at the high end of the rating.</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-24602504682270124402009-08-02T18:31:00.001+01:002009-08-02T18:35:43.523+01:0027th November 2008 - Khan’s, Upper High Street, Epsom<span style="font-family:arial;">(01372 723316 - </span><a href="http://www.the-khan.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.the-khan.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">)<br /><br />We sat down and at once were offered poppadoms and chutneys - both very good.<br /><br /><strong>Starters:</strong> Chum Chum Chicken and Samosas.<br /><br /><strong>Mains:</strong> Biryani Chicken; Murgh Handi Laziz [chicken in spices and coconut cream with chillies] and Gosht Cholay Lahori.<br /><br /><strong>Drinks:</strong> Kingfisher Beer.<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> £75.<br /><br />This restaurant benefits from very tasteful décor, friendly and efficient staff… and intriguing blue lights set into the risers of the stairs up to the toilets.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the food did not match the pleasant atmosphere and charms of the staff, being ‘OK’ at best - Lyn felt her Biryani was ‘poor and tasteless’.<br /><br />The chef seems to have managed to cook without the chemical additions favoured by some, but has not found a way of getting the flavour back - places like Le Raj (<a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/07/28-sep-07-le-raj-211-fir-tree-road.html">28 Sep 07 - Le Raj, 211 Fir Tree Road, Epsom Downs</a>) and the Blue Mint (<a href="http://oldhorsesnosebagclub.blogspot.com/2009/08/20th-march-2008-blue-mint-21-waterloo.html">20th March 2008 - Blue Mint, 21 Waterloo Road, Epsom</a>) do this so much better.<br /><br />Our rating: <strong><span style="color:#993399;">THREE STARS</span></strong> but, without the atmosphere and staff, probably <span style="color:#993399;"><strong>TWO STARS</strong></span>.</span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2411279411084648639.post-623363450932690932009-08-02T18:11:00.001+01:002009-08-02T18:14:23.969+01:0028th August 2008 - Epsom Thai, South Street, Epsom<span style="font-family:arial;">(01372 724333 - </span><a href="http://www.epsomthairestaurant.co.uk/"><span style="font-family:arial;">www.epsomthairestaurant.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">)<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#990000;">*** SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE BY - Allis Rennie</span></strong><br /><br />We stared at the menu for quite a while, wondering where to start…<br /><br /><strong>Starters:</strong> Chicken Satay, Tod Mun Pla (fish cakes), Crispy Chicken Wings and Moo Ping (barbecued pork).<br /><br /><strong>Mains:</strong> Sweet and Sour Chicken, Garlic Beef, Tamarind Duck and Red Curry with Chicken - plus Coconut Rice, Egg Fried Rice and Plain Fried Noodles.<br /><br /><strong>Desserts:</strong> 2 x Lemon Sorbet; 1 x Orange Sorbet; 1 x Banana Pudding.<br /><br /><strong>Drinks:</strong> 8 x Singha Beer.<br /><br /><strong>Cost:</strong> £83.<br /><br />The atmosphere felt very like some of the restaurants Paul & I used in Thailand. The service was good but discrete.<br /><br />The food was excellent. The starters were all good; the chicken wings and pork were delicious.<br /><br />Similarly, the main courses were all delicious and well-balanced - memories of meals in Thailand… The Garlic Beef worked VERY well, the Red Curry was hot (too hot for Lyn, although she acknowledged the underlying flavour was very good) and moreish (one of the best we‘ve ever had). As for the duck - a wild card that turned up trumps (*groan*) - the bst of four very good dishes.<br /><br />Both rice dishes were tasty - the coconut rice also satisfyingly sticky. We were glad Lyn suggested ordering the noodles; they were tasty and gave another texture to the meal.<br /><br />The desserts - sorbets fine, but fairly ordinary; the banana pudding (banana in warm coconut milk) was rather nice.<br /><br />Our rating: <strong><span style="color:#993399;">FIVE STARS</span></strong></span>Chris Parkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16773111477421603686noreply@blogger.com0