A splendid birthday lunch at Restaurant 22: Cambridge March 2020

Last Saturday I enjoyed an excellent lunch with two friends in celebration of a special birthday. I have been to Restaurant 22 a couple of times before for dinner with Steve and on those occasions I chose the five and seven-course tasting menus so I knew we were in for a treat. Restaurant 22 is located in a beautiful Victorian townhouse on Chesterton Road in Cambridge.   

The stained glass window in the main dining room is an outstanding feature.

As this was a celebration we had a Kir Royal as an aperitif.

Everything about this restaurant is elegant and I particularly admired these bespoke china plates.

We all loved the fantastically tasty house-baked bread and butter.

The Amuse-Bouche was a choux bun filled with smoked bacon, onion, and Spenwood cheese with a Velouté sauce poured at the table. Divine!

We all enjoyed this starter of Cornish hake, swede, lemon, and charcoal.

For my main course, I chose Burnt kohlrabi, duck egg, hazelnut, and shiitake.

One of my friends chose the Creedy Carver duck, duck fat potato, carrot, and Norfolk watercress for her main course.

I almost considered this Pre Dessert of Meyer lemon, almond, and ricotta too pretty to eat!

I chose the Clotted cream, Yorkshire rhubarb, and green tea for my dessert. 

My friends chose the dark chocolate, salted caramel, and peanut dessert.

At the end of our meal, it was a lovely gesture when my friend was given this chocolate for her birthday.

On this occasion, we chose the Set Lunch Menu (3 courses at £32.50 per person) which is excellent value for money as it included the Bread and Butter, an Amuse-Bouche, and a Pre Dessert. The freshness and quality of the food are very evident and the presentation is exceptional for the combination of colour, texture, and design. Chef Sam is a master of fine art on a plate and his dishes certainly have the WOW factor! In fact, my photographs unfortunately don’t do his spectacular and impressive plates full justice. The service is totally professional and attentive but it also manages to be friendly and informal.  This young team has obviously been very well-trained. Restaurant 22 is the perfect place for special occasion dining and I can highly recommend it. I am always happy to send other people here as I feel certain they won’t be disappointed. It’s essential to book well ahead as this is deservedly a popular and busy restaurant. A five-course and seven-course tasting menu were also available at the lunchtime service.

By the way readers, you may be interested to know that this week is the 5th anniversary of the date I started writing my food and travel blog. For those who have followed me on my journey I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you!

22 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX

Tel: 01223 351880

http://www.restaurant22.co.uk

Castle Cottage Cafe, Oakham was a quirky venue for an excellent Afternoon Tea: September 2019

Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very pretty garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal

Yesterday I had an interesting visit with a friend to Oakham, the County Town of Rutland. I used to live in the area over 40 years ago and my son was born in Oakham Hospital so the place held significant memories for me. It’s an attractive market town steeped in medieval history with lots of independent shops and we were spoiled for choice in the number of cafes and eateries. We had read excellent reviews of Castle Cottage Cafe so thought we would seek it out for lunch.  It’s easy to find although somewhat tucked away in Church Passage, which is just off the Market Place.

The Butter Cross in the Market Place at Oakham features the town pump and some unusual stocks.

Castle Cottage Cafe is located in Church Passage off the Market Place in Oakham.

The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces.

Castle Cottage has lots of outside seating and a very attractive garden but we chose to sit inside for our meal.

The cafe interior is charming, quirky and shabby chic in style.

Although it was lunchtime we chose to order the traditional Afternoon Tea which was served on pretty mismatched china. We ordered a second pot of tea at no extra charge.

We were served very promptly with a splendid Afternoon Tea on the traditional three-tiered stand.

The bottom tier held a selection of freshly-made sandwiches with interesting tasty fillings.

My favourite was the smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich. The bread was soft and very fresh.

We shared a warm freshly-baked large fruit scone with fresh strawberries, strawberry jam, and clotted cream.

The selection of cakes on the middle tier were home-made and absolutely delicious.

We both considered the lemon cake with lemon curd filling and buttercream topping to be light and truly scrumptious.

The cafe interior is delightful with fairy lights, bunting, fresh flowers and lots of quirky vintage pieces. The concept really worked and the food was excellent too!

The entrance to the extensive garden of the cafe, which had a marquee, a summer-house and lots of nice sheltered seating areas.

The cost of our Afternoon Tea was of exceptional value for money at £12 per person and it was probably the best I have ever come across in terms of price, quality, and quantity.

Castle Cottage Cafe,

Church Passage, Off Market Place, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6DR

Tel: 01572 757952

Castle Cottage is a real find and well worth seeking out if you are looking for somewhere to eat in Oakham.

 

Mothers Day Afternoon Tea at Quy Mill

Once a historic watermill, Quy Mill Hotel and Spa is a secluded haven of peace and tranquillity only a few miles outside Cambridge city centre. My daughter and I celebrated Mothering Sunday a day early this year by taking Afternoon Tea at this lovely location.

The charming rear view of Quy Mill Hotel from the garden

We enjoyed the traditional Afternoon Tea which was served on a three-tiered stand

The sandwiches were freshly made with tasty fillings including smoked salmon, chicken, and curried egg, except the Mozzarella and watercress filling which we found rather bland

The scones were exceptionally good and served warm. We chose fruit and cheese from a selection, served with an excellent rhubarb jam and clotted cream

My daughter loved her warm cheese scone served with butter

The sweet tier consisted of crispy hazelnut and cocoa mousse lollipops, baked passion fruit cheesecake, layered sponge and opera chocolate slice, white cafe cappuccino souffle, praline macaroon, and coconut shortbread biscuit.

The traditional Afternoon Tea was reasonably priced at £18.95 per person and was good value.  For the man in your life, it’s worth noting that a Gentlemen’s Afternoon Tea with a delightful savoury selection is also available at £22 per person.

Minor niggles were that the crockery wasn’t bone china which I always look for when sampling an Afternoon Tea anywhere. The sandwich fillings were an odd twist on the usual selection and the Mozzarella and watercress one was too bland for us. These small criticisms were outweighed by the pleasant and relaxed surroundings, the prompt and friendly service, and the fact that it was altogether an enjoyable experience. Finally, the scones were exceptionally good and the rhubarb jam and baked passion fruit cheesecake were different and delightful additions to the sweet feast.

This is a popular destination so book in advance. Highly recommended.

Quy Mill Hotel and Spa

Church Road
Stow-Cum-Quy 
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB25 9AF
England

 (01223) 293383

http://www.cambridgequymill.co.uk

 

A Winter sojourn at Cley Windmill, Norfolk

The story starts here with this model windmill!

This windmill was a surprise Christmas gift from Steve and a major clue to where we were going to stay in January!

Here! Cley Windmill is a spectacular conversion into a guesthouse which I first spotted several years ago when we were staying at a campsite in the village of Cley next the sea in Norfolk. Since then it has been on my wish list of iconic places to stay so this Christmas gift was a lovely surprise.

Cley Windmill dates from the early 18th Century and is a well-known landmark on the North Northfolk coast. It commands breathtaking views over the salt marshes to Blakeney Point and the sea, nestling comfortably by the old quay and alongside the flint-walled cottages of the village.

In 2006 it was a brilliant idea to turn this old windmill into a B and B and a very successful venture it has proved too, especially as it’s licensed for weddings.  A fabulous restoration in a sublime location the windmill sits among the reedy marshes on the edge of the village of Cley and the interior is simply charming. The guest rooms are attractively furmished in a country-chic style with whitewashed walls and set beneath ancient beamed ceilings. We stayed in the Millers Room which is on the ground floor but the upper rooms of the windmill in particular have spectacular views over the coast and marshes. 

Steve enjoyed a hearty meal of gammon, egg and chips at The Kings Arms in Blakeney

During our stay we enjoyed eating at two pubs in the nearby village of Blakeney in the evenings. The meals were hearty, reasonably priced comfort food but Cley Windmill does provide an evening meal for guests if required and if the superb breakfast we enjoyed there is anything to go by the food is exceptionally good!

Cley Windmill is situated right on the edge of the National Wildlife Trust reserve of Cley Marshes and perfectly placed for exploring the delights of the North Norfolk coast. This is one of the most imaginative places to spend a weekend break at any time of the year, but it is incredibly popular for its location and originality. Highly recommended, so if you want to book a room for a special occasion take my advice and book your date early!

Cley Windmill

The Quay

Cley-next-the-Sea

Holt

Norfolk

NR25 7RP

http://www.cleywindmill.co.uk

 

Afternoon Tea at PARKER’s Tavern, University Arms Hotel, Cambridge: September 2018

 

PARKER’s Tavern restaurant is located on the ground floor of the University Arms Hotel on Regent Street in Cambridge

After more than two years of renovation work costing £80 million, Cambridge’s most historic and iconic hotel re-opened last month and I couldn’t wait to visit to sample the food in PARKER’s Tavern restaurant. I had enjoyed a splendid lunch there within days of the hotel opening and returned this week to experience Afternoon Tea with a friend.

The PARKER’s Tavern creative and stylish Afternoon Tea was served in the hotel library on a traditional three-tier stand

We started with the savouries which included a selection of sandwiches, warm sausage rolls and Crayfish pastry boats

The Plum Pudding scones were served warm and accompanied by caramelised apple butter, plum jam and clotted cream

The bespoke china is full of interesting images which reflect Cambridge history

The top tier held an unusual selection of sweet treats – Parkers Football truffles, Sir Isaac Newton’s Apple, Rice Pudding Macaroon, and Iced saffron and rose cake

We were too full to eat all the scones and cakes so we took a ‘doggy bag’ home

I also took my slice of Duke of Cambridge tart home to enjoy later

This Afternoon Tea is innovative and offers a whimsical take on the traditional and clearly a lot of thought has gone into the invention of it. Every sweet and savoury treat created by chef Tristan Welch was inspired by the city’s literary legacy which is explained in the interesting Afternoon Tea menu booklet.

On this occasion one or two things could have been better as the sandwiches were dry and appeared not to have been freshly made, also we weren’t very impressed with the fillings of Coronation Chicken, Spiced Beef and Smoked Trout. However the sausage roll and crayfish pastry boat were very enjoyable. The still-warm scones were light and fruity and we both loved the plum jam. The sweet treats were all delightful, being unusual and creative and there was plenty to enjoy. A choice of teas are available to accompany the food and fresh pots were offered throughout the meal which is always welcome. Service was polished and professional. I think this Afternoon Tea is over-priced as it’s more expensive than any other I have come across in Cambridge but if you are looking for somewhere impressive and indulgent to take a visitor or for a special occasion then PARKER’s Tavern would fit the bill.

Finally the hotel lavatories are well worth a visit as one can hear the dulcet tones of Alan Bennett reading from the ‘Wind in the Willows’ whilst using the facilities!

The PARKER’s Tavern Afternoon Tea is available by reservation only at least 24 hours in advance and costs £33 per person plus 12.5% service charge.

PARKER’s Tavern

University Arms
Regent Street
Cambridge
CB2 1AD

Tel: 01223 606066

For Reservations, email: reservations@universityarms.com

https://parkerstavern.com

Champneys Tring Herts, for a premier spa resort experience: June 2018

Welcome to our latest spa resort experience at Champneys Tring. This month my daughter and I returned to one of our favourite places to celebrate her birthday with one aim, – to indulge in three days of relaxation and pampering and this is the perfect place to do just that!

We enjoyed sampling the new summer menu with the accent very much on healthy eating combined with the Champneys food philosophy of moderation, balance and variety. Dining here is always a pleasure with excellent service and beautifully  presented dishes.

These plates of food are typical examples of the starter, main and dessert courses we enjoyed during our stay. Breakfast and lunch are served buffet style with an enormous choice available, and dinner is a more formal three course meal from an a la carte menu.

The gardens and extensive grounds are beautifully kept and visiting in June we saw the resort at its best bathed in sunshine. We made the most of the outdoor seating and pool areas, and staying in a Ground Floor Garden room on this visit we also had our own patio with chairs, table and sun loungers.

The Mansion House is an elegant building at the heart of the resort with several lounge rooms designed for rest, relaxation and comfort which are tastefully furnished to a high standard.

Champneys Tring

Chesham Road

Wigginton

Hertfordshire

HP23 6HX

Tel: 01442 291000

email: reservations@champneys.com

http://www.champneys.com/spa-resorts/champneys-tring

Restaurant 22 for a birthday feast: Cambridge May 2018

Last week we dined at highly acclaimed Restuarant 22 to celebrate Steve’s birthday. It has been taken over recently by new owners and I was keen to see what they had done to the place and to try the food after reading so many good things about it. We chose the 7-course tasting menu and were impressed from start to finish as the food and service were faultless. It was a memorable fine dining experience par excellence in a quiet intimate ambience which is perfect for a date night or a special celebration.

Elegant and stylish Restaurant 22 is located on Chesterton Road in Cambridge

Nocellara Olives to start the 7-course tasting feast

Cornish mackerel, English wasabi, and radish was the 2nd of three ‘snacks’

Truffle macaroni cheese. This was my dish of the night and we were only on appetisers!

Shallot brioche and cultured butter, Guinness bread with Guinness butter, were both served warm and utterly delicious!

The Amuse-bouche was a velouté of Broccoli, goats curd and lemon

This starter of Cambridgeshire asparagus, ricotta, and Hen of the Wood was most appetising

The attractive fish course of Cambridge Distillery Gin cured salmon, with burnt cucumber and sorrel was an exceptionally tasty dish

The main course of Aylesbury duck, kaffir lime, black garlic and gooseberry was so good that Steve finished mine off as well!

It came as no surprise that Steve chose the cheese board as an additional dish for a £12 supplement! He enjoyed Sparkenhoe Vintage Red Leicester, Montgomery’s Cheddar, Coulommiers Donge, Cropwell Bishop Stilton, and Innes Bosworth Ash Log served with smoked plum chutney, oatcakes and rye bread.

The pretty pre-dessert of sheep’s yoghurt, bitter orange and fennel was an interesting mix of taste and texture

An exquisite dessert of dark chocolate, hazelnut and brown butter completed our meal

22 is the epitome of elegance, charm and class with very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Small and intimate I would recommend this new fine dining restaurant as the perfect place for a date night or special occasion dining. (They have a private dining room upstairs as well.) We received a warm and inviting welcome and Steve thought the birthday card from the team was a nice personal touch which added to the occasion. The 7-course taster menu is reasonably priced and excellent value at £45 a head for food of this standard and quality which is beautifully presented on stylish crockery. The excellent service we considered to be faultless from start to finish. We would definitely return to 22, if only for the Guinness bread and the truffle macaroni cheese which made my night! Steve enjoyed the accompanying flight of wines at £45 which had some interesting choices and perfectly matched the dishes and a glass of port with his cheese course. To start we enjoyed a Cambridge Distillery Dry Gin and Tonic as an aperitif. It was an altogether memorable evening. This new venture certainly has the wow factor and deserves to do well. Booking is essential. Highly recommended, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Restaurant 22 Cambridge

22 Chesterton Road, Cambridge, CB4 3AX

To make a reservation please call 01223 351880 or email alex@restaurant22.co.uk

Step back in time at Carriages of Cambridge for a First Class Afternoon Tea experience!

The splendid entrance to Carriages restaurant, which is located in the display grounds at Bannold Supplies and Services, Fen Drayton, Cambs

Last week I enjoyed a first-class Afternoon Tea with a friend at Carriages, a splendid new restaurant with a vintage rail theme. Located in the village of Fen Drayton, Cambridgeshire, which is about 15 miles from Cambridge, Carriages celebrates the golden age of rail travel and provides an opportunity to step back in time and eat out in style at a purpose-built railway station.

The perfectly recreated Station Waiting Room even had a real fire burning!

You can climb aboard Louis, Oliver or Lancelot’s beautifully restored carriages for your Afternoon Tea experience.

We had booked a private 4-seater compartment in ‘Oliver‘ which has comfy Pullman style seats.

This project has been authentically replicated down to the last detail. For example, the Station platform originally came from Oakham Railway station.

This was the most unusual and delightful setting for Afternoon Tea that we had ever experienced. We were seated in a totally authentic recreation of a fine dining First Class carriage with superb attention to detail from the bespoke china down to the recorded steam train sounds.

The food was excellent with high quality, locally sourced ingredients and stylish presentation and we had a second pot of tea without any additional charge. We both thought the Afternoon Tea was very good value at £21.50 per person, and there was plenty of it. As you would expect the service was first-class too, and it’s the perfect venue for special birthdays or anniversaries in a choice of three beautifully restored 1950’s carriages which can accommodate large groups. This vintage railway-themed restaurant experience is highly recommended and we would certainly be happy to make a return visit. 

 

 

Carriages Tea Room

Capability Barns

Huntingdon Road

Fen Drayton

Cambridgeshire

CB24 4SD

Tel : 01954 233 279 (Booking in advance essential)

https://www.carriagestearooms.co.uk

Opening Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 12:30am – 5:30pm 

(Note that Afternoon tea is served at two sittings – 1.00pm and 3.00pm)

The Boot Pub Brasserie in Histon, Cambs: A tale of two soufflés!

The Boot pub in Histon, which has recently reopened as a White Company Brasserie

Last night Steve and I braved the sub-zero temperatures and the snow to meet up with friends in the village of Histon, which is located a few miles north of Cambridge. We had booked a table at the newly reopened and refurbished pub The Boot which now includes a French-style brasserie, run by the company of celebrity chef Raymond Blanc.

We began our meal with a basket of stone-baked artisan baguette and Rustica olives.

 

Two of our party chose the Cheddar cheese soufflé for starters, which was served with a warm Ford Farm Coastal Cheddar sauce. It was perfectly light and utterly delicious!

Steve chose the Burgundian snails in garlic herb butter, served with a baguette

Another one of our starters was French onion soup, with Gruyère cheese croûtons

 

Two of our party chose the Cheddar cheese soufflé, served with warm Ford Farm Coastal Cheddar sauce. It was perfectly light and delicious.

Another one of our starters was French onion soup, with Gruyère cheese croûtons.

Steve chose the Burgundian snails in garlic herb butter, served with a baguette

For my main course, I chose this classic dish of Slow-cooked Bœuf Bourguignon, red wine, lardons, baby onions, mushrooms, with smooth mash

Must say I liked the look of this Pie of the Week, a chicken and leek traditional homemade pie served with green beans chosen by one of my companions 

Steve and one of our party chose Scottish Hebredian rope-grown mussels, steamed with traditional white wine and shallot marinière or creamy saffron mouclade, served with chips and baguette.

For my main course I chose this classic dish of Slow-cooked Bœuf Bourguignon, red wine, lardons, baby onions, mushrooms, with smooth mash.

Must say I liked the look of this Pie of the Week served with green beans

For my dessert, I couldn’t resist this Pistachio soufflé, famously light with rich chocolate ice cream. Two irresistible soufflés in one night!

One of our party chose this Normandy apple tart, with salted caramel ice cream

It came as no surprise that Steve chose this excellent Cheese plate, with Boy Laity Cornish Camembert, Lyburn Gold, Cheviot and Brighton Blue served with homemade chutney, dried fruit, nuts and crackers

The Three-fruit marmalade crème brûlée was enjoyed by another of my dining companions

The Three-fruit marmalade crème brûlée was enjoyed by another of my dining companions

Steve chose the Cheese plate: Boy Laity Cornish Camembert, Lyburn Gold, Cheviot and Brighton Blue served with homemade chutney, dried fruit, nuts and crackers

For my dessert I couldn’t resist this Pistachio soufflé, famously light with rich chocolate ice cream.

The Boot is a fabulous conversion which includes a big new bar where dogs are welcome, cosy snugs, and open and log burner fires make it a warm and welcoming environment. The sensational oak beamed extension houses the main brasserie restaurant which is extremely attractive. The cuisine is a winning combination of French brasserie favourites and British pub classics with a choice of menus at competitive prices. The service is good and the staff are friendly. For home-cooked food in an informal setting, this place is going to become a firm favourite of mine for the soufflés alone! Highly recommended.

The Boot

1 High St,

Histon,

Cambridge

CB24 9LG

Tel: 01223 209010

boot.histon@whitebrasserie.com

http://boothiston.com

A Winter break in Whitstable, Kent: January 2018

Last week Steve and I enjoyed a 3-day winter break in Whitstable which is a quaint fishing and harbour town on the North coast of Kent. It’s located 5 miles north of Canterbury and 2 miles west of Herne Bay, and very popular with visitors, especially from London. Harbour Street has many independent shops and there is a wide selection of pubs, cafes and restaurants in the town which has the working harbour as it’s focal point. This was our first visit and a post-Christmas gift to me from Steve as he knew I have been wanting to stay in Whitstable for years and had never got around to it.

The Official Brewery of the world-famous Whitstable Oyster Company. We enjoyed sampling several of the beers!

The Royal Native Oyster Stores in Kent is a seafood restaurant offering some of the very best oysters, fish and crustacea. The restaurant is located on the beach and offers stunning views of the company’s oyster grounds.

We found this gem of a pub and restaurant serving real ales, fine wines, delicious seasonal produce and live music. Just a stone’s throw from the sea in Whitstable.

The Hotel Continental is in a prime location as it’s the only beach front hotel in Whitstable.

Whitstable Harbour

We stayed in one of these 150-year old converted Fisherman’s Huts, which were formerly fishermen stores and are now run by the Hotel Continental. They provided the perfect setting for something of a unique overnight accommodation experience that is quirky and fun. The huts are situated just metres from the beach in the centre of Whitstable offering magnificent sea views of the Thames estuary.  Breakfast was served at the Hotel Continental which is about 10 minutes walk away from the huts and included in the price.

The Hotel Continental is in a prime location as it’s the only beachfront hotel in Whitstable.

Dating from the early 19th century ‘The Old Neptune’ Whitstable, or ‘The Neppy’ as it’s affectionately known locally is one of only a handful of pubs to be found on the beaches of Britain.

After a bracing walk, we enjoyed a pint of local beer and fish finger sandwiches with salad and chips at The Old Neptune. 

After a bracing walk we enjoyed a pint of local beer and fish finger sandwiches with salad and chips at The Old Neptune

The Royal Native Oyster Stores in Whitstable is a seafood restaurant offering some of the very best oysters, fish and crustacea. The restaurant housed in a whitewashed former oyster store is located on the beach and offers stunning views of the company’s oyster grounds.

The classic rustic interior of The Royal Native Oyster Stores restaurant where we enjoyed a splendid meal on the first night of our stay. 

We found this gem of a pub and restaurant offering real ales, fine wines, delicious seasonal produce and live music, just a stone’s throw from the sea in Whitstable.

The Pearson’s Arms has a lovely bar area and a rather fine restaurant upstairs where we enjoyed dining on our second night, from a menu which showcased the best of fresh, local produce.

Steve relished eating both native and rock oysters in Whitstable.

The Official Brewery of the world-famous Whitstable Oyster Company. We enjoyed sampling several of the beers!

Some of the interesting images we found in Harbour Street, Whitstable by local enigmatic graffiti artist Catman, a Banksy-style street painter – who apparently keeps his identity firmly under wraps!

So what did I make of our winter break in Whitstable? It certainly has a unique appeal and I can’t really compare it to anywhere else, although I felt that there are similarities with Aldeburgh and Wells-next-the-sea. Our stay in the fisherman’s hut, a meal in one of the best fish restaurants and a pint of a local brew in one of the seafront pubs sums up the charm of quintessential Whitstable: a combination of the classic rugged, cosy seaside town aesthetic and a touch of the modern bohemian! Well worth a visit, a short stay or as a base for a holiday.

We will certainly return when the weather is warmer!

 

The Royal Native Oyster Stores (Fish restaurant)

Horsebridge Road

Whitstable

Kent

CT5 1BU

Tel: 01227 276856

http://www.whitstableoystercompany.com

Whitstable Fisherman’s Huts

Tel: 01227 280280

e.reservations@hotelcontinental.co.uk

Hotel Continental

29 Beach Walk

Whitstable

Kent

CT5 2BP

Pearson’s Arms (seaside pub and restaurant)

Whitstable

Kent

CT5 1BT

Tel: 01227 773133

Email: info@pearsonsarmswhitstable.co.uk

The Old Neptune pub

Marine Terrace Island Wall

Whitstable

Kent

CT5 1EJ

Tel: 01227 227262

http://www.neppy.co.uk