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July 2010

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This looks nice and esy. You can get sake and mirin (sweet wine) from Waitrose and oriental supermakets. See also our links.

If you can’t get mirin and sake, try to substitute with dry sherry and add a teaspoon of sugar.

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July 2010

I have never eaten squirrel so I can’t comment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/squirrel-meat-supermarket

Its apparently selling well.

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July 2010

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/american-craft-ales-brewed-in-the-usa-2036768.html

The British Beer Festival @ Earls Court

http://gbbf.camra.org.uk/home

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July 2010

Try also octopus and cuttle fish.

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Telephone number: 01491 641 282

Website: www.thefivehorseshoes.co.uk

Date of visit: 27 July 2010

Approximate cost per head: Around £20 for 2 courses

Comments on wine list/beer: Brakspear (£3 a pint of ordinary). Wines list is simple but good on French and reasonably priced

Summary:

This pub is in the middle of nowhere. It is impossible to come across it by accident. In fact, you have to go out of your way to look for it.

It is sited down a single track road off  B480 at Stoner. Although the address is Maidensgrove, you actually go pass Maidensgrove and aim for Upper Maidensgrove.

The restaurant/pub is listed in several guides including Sawday’s and Harden’s – so I thought that I’ll check it out.

Outside the pub are an array of wooden tables – well spaced apart. Inside there are 2 bars and a restaurant.

The menu is pretty British and Countryside. There are venison and steak on the menu – a single pager. I went for the doorstop sandwich (£7.50) – I asked for smoked ham but am sure that I got roast pork instead.

The sandwich came as two halves of multigrain bread stuffed with salad and meat. The sandwich is served on a wooden board with a side salad of undressed continental leaves. You also get a bowl of chips.

The chips must be one of the best thick cut chips I have ever eaten. They were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They were not broken down on the edge through over boiling like triple cooked chips.

I noticed that they were also advertising pizza from the wood burning oven – only available at weekends.

I have to admit that I was impressed and will soon be back to test out the pizza and the main menu.

I will also take this opportunity to warn you about the road – it is very narrow and dangerous when it’s dark.

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Eddie

Jukly 2010

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July 2010

I am off to Glasgow for a reunion with ex colleagues, can you reciommend somewhere?

I am also in Mardrid for a short holiday later this year, again, any recommendations?

Nev

Thanks for you questions, my recommendations are as follows:
 
They are all reasonably priced except the last 2 in Madrid.
 
Glasgow
Babbity Bowster – 16 Blackfriars St G1 1PE 0141 552 5055
This is a fun place and is good for a gathering traditional Scottish Fare witha French twist.

http://www.list.co.uk/place/19508-babbity-bowster/
 
Re Madrid,
 
Botin, oldest restaurant in the world, walking distance from the grand via, excellent roast suckling pig, suckling lamb. Book now!
http://www.botin.es/INGindex.html
 
For seafood, try
 
http://www.ladorada.es/
 
Used to have Julio Inglesia as a part owner in the 80s. Short taxi ride from Grand Via.
 
 
Or, if you are visiting the Prado Museum (don’t queue downstairs. You can get in upstairs and its a shorter queue) or the Tyssen Museum,
try the garden restaurant in the Ritz Hotel
 
http://www.ritzmadrid.com/web/orit/hotel_ritz_madrid.jsp?c=ppc&p=worldwide&cr=rtz_dynamic&gclid=CIKMuffYiKMCFR4B4wod7zDWZQ
opposite the Museums. This is slightly pricier.
 
To go all out at over €100 plus a head, try Le Terezza de Casino (round the corner fdrom Grand Via). This is serious cooking, the chef was trained at El Bulli (was best restaurant in the world) and the menu mirrors El Bulli – similar to The Fat Duck.
 
Regards
 
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