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

You will be walking in the air with The Snowman Afternoon Tea at Cafe Rouge, Cambridge: January 2020

This week I enjoyed a festive treat at Cafe Rouge in Cambridge to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Available for a limited time only for the Christmas season it was an excellent selection of sweet and savoury treats which we both enjoyed and considered to be good value at £29.95 for two people to share including hot drinks, with refills at no extra cost. I am usually cautious about sampling a themed Afternoon Tea as they rarely live up to the traditional one but having enthused about the Cheese Afternoon Tea at Cafe Rouge on my previous blog post I felt it was worth a try and I wasn’t disappointed.

The Snowman was served on a three-tiered stand with a bespoke Snowman at Cafe Rouge plate for the sweet treats. 

The top tier included a warm, spiced mixed berry crumble mini dessert, white chocolate mousse, carrot cake, and marshmallow-topped chocolate cheesecake.

On the bottom tier, we started our feast with Cafe Rouge’s delicious Croque Monsieur. There was a choice of  “Festive Croque” with a filling of either turkey or mushroom and spinach. 

The other seasonal addition was a dish of everyone’s favourite “Pigs in blankets” (Pork sausages wrapped in bacon.)

On the second tier, we enjoyed warm fruit scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, with the addition of large Snowman white chocolate buttons.

The Snowman Afternoon Tea at Cafe Rouge is inspired by the original book and film The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. 

I will be returning to Cafe Rouge on another occasion to sample their new Chocolate Afternoon Tea which is available soon and sounds an irresistible temptation! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Midsummer House, Michelin star dining in Cambridge: August 2019

Midsummer House is a two-star Michelin fine dining restaurant which has a modern, vibrant yet relaxed ambiance and is widely considered one of the finest restaurants in Cambridge and the UK. The cuisine is French Mediterranean and the service is friendly and efficient. Midsummer House celebrated it’s 20 years anniversary in 2018 with chef Daniel Clifford at the helm and was awarded its second Michelin star in 2005. Currently, it’s 21st in the UK on the Good Food Guide list in 2019 and I have wanted to eat here ever since it opened. I was saving Midsummer House for a special occasion so planning well in advance for my 70th birthday celebrations I booked a table for lunch for Steve and myself as a special treat.  Last month my wish came to fruition and I wasn’t disappointed because it was lovely in every way and a splendid introduction to the Midsummer House dining experience.

This lovely view was taken from the adjoining river footbridge. Access to Midsummer House restaurant is by this footbridge or by walking across Midsummer Common. 

Midsummer House is located on the edge of Midsummer Common with its own secluded garden along the banks of the River Cam. 

All the above taster dishes were complimentary appetisers served before the three-course set Lunch

Crispy pork belly, cannelloni of radish and apple, with cider pickled cockles was the first  course on the set Lunch menu

For the second course, we enjoyed stuffed fillet of sea bream, piquillo pepper, courgette and basil purée

We decided to add a cheese course to our lunch so we were offered the choice of four kinds of cheese from a delectable selection

The accompanying biscuits were home-made on-site and scrumptious

Coriander white chocolate dome, coconut and mango, with Jasmine rice for the dessert course

To complete our splendid meal we chose some complimentary Midsummer House hand-made chocolates from a selection

Granny Apples on her big birthday. Lunch at Midsummer House gave me plenty to smile about! 

We chose four kinds of cheese from a delectable selection

For food of this quality, we felt that the price of the set lunch at £50.00 per person was reasonable and the sharing cheese platter was an additional £28. (Note – when booking a reservation a deposit of £50 person is required.) Drinks are expensive but as we were celebrating a special occasion we had champagne to start, beer and sparkling water with the meal and Port with the cheese. It was the extra special little touches like the birthday card for me and chocolates to take away in a customised box which made our lunch at Midsummer House so memorable. A lot of thought and attention to detail clearly goes into every aspect of this ultimate foodie experience with that added dash of theatre to the impeccable but friendly service. 

We enjoyed the lunch so much that we are already planning to return to Midsummer House for our anniversary next year to sample the eight-course taster menu. Better start saving up now!

Midsummer House

Midsummer Common,

Cambridge

CB4 1HA

Reservations: 01223 369299

http://www.midsummerhouse.co.uk

 

Champneys Henlow revisited August 2019

It was a special birthday and my daughter and I returned to Champneys Henlow for a three-night spa break last month to celebrate. Henlow Grange is a health spa located in Bedfordshire which is set in 150 acres of beautiful grounds. Refurbishment of the spa began in 2017 and work is still ongoing. We visit every year so it was with great interest that we noted the changes which have succeeded in blending the old familiar traditional feel of the place with contemporary innovations. Our ultra-stylish Luxe room was on the ground floor opposite the weir so we had a splendid private patio area with terrific views, and we were lucky to have lots of warm sunny weather during our stay too.

Our little piece of heaven at Champneys Henlow! 

The lush grounds are the epitome of peace and tranquility. 

We started our blissful four days with a substantial Afternoon Tea in the restaurant

With the emphasis being on healthy eating food is always one of the highlights on a Champney’s spa break, and this was an example of a four-course dinner we enjoyed one evening. All the meals are low calorie or light diet and the portion sizes are small but surprisingly tasty and filling.

To start – the Amuse-bouche of the day

Followed by a delicious home-made soup

And my favourite dish – a twice-baked cheese Soufflé

For dessert – a meringue nest with soft fruit

And my favourite dish – a twice-baked cheese souffle

For dessert – meringue nest with soft fruit

At Champneys Henlow we took advantage of being able to eat outside most lunchtimes

The pool has an adjacent jacuzzi and several seating areas and day beds for lounging around

We spent a lot of time relaxing in the stunning pool and spa area

We particularly liked this new garden area which was a delightful place to sit……

and appreciate the beautiful plants and water features 

With special thanks to Lucy and Hannah who made our stay special with thoughtful gestures like this cake for my birthday. A lovely surprise at lunchtime on our final day!

Granny Apples says “Cheers”!

Welcome to a taste of Cádiz, Andalucia, Spain: May 2019

Cádiz is a port in Andalucía, Southern Spain known as ‘the silver teacup’ and it’s generally considered to be the oldest continually inhabited city in Europe. Now well into its fourth millennium, the ancient centre is surrounded almost entirely by water, which makes it stunningly picturesque and full of charm.

Restaurant Café Royalty is located on Plaza de la Candelaria, Cadiz 

Steve and I first visited Cádiz one year ago and we were very keen to return to some of our favourite places and discover new ones like Restaurant Cafe Royalty above where we enjoyed fine dining style tapas from this delicious menu which was excellent value at 22 euros per person.

Plaza de la Candelaria is a very beautiful quiet square in Cadiz where Codigo de Barra, another fine dining restaurant is also located. Having enjoyed a meal here last year we were making a return visit to celebrate Steve’s birthday.

Codigo de Barra serve their unique olive ‘surprise’ for the first course 

Followed by a dish representing the origin of tapas – a slice of Iberian ham on top of a sherry glass of consommé

The 3rd course was their quirky take on the traditional shrimp fritters

Toasted brioche, cured egg yolk and marinated sardines for the 4th course

Followed by garlic prawns with dry sherry

Roast lamb with vegetables in a lavender sauce for the 6th course

French toast with Thyme ice cream completed another outstanding meal at Codigo de barra 

Roast lamb with vegeatbles in a lavender sauce

with Thyme ice cream

We enjoyed tapas for lunch with sumptuous fresh oysters most days at our favourite bar Taberna La Bombilla near the central market in Cadiz. An ideal location for people -watching with good food, beer, and service at very reasonable prices. 

Just one of the fabulous stalls which surround the fish market in the centre of Cadiz

The highlight of our trip to Cadiz this time was a visit to a Flamenco Tavern, which was a totally authentic, mesmeric and entrancing experience.

Afternoon Tea at The Ivy Brasserie, Cambridge

Last month I enjoyed a delicious Afternoon Tea at The Ivy Brasserie in Cambridge to celebrate a friends birthday. 

We chose the traditional Afternoon Tea which included a selection of savoury delights, warm fruited scones and unusual sweet treats served with pots of tea or coffee.

Served on a three-tiered silver stand we tucked into a tasty and unusual selection of savouries which included truffled chicken brioche rolls, marinated cucumber and dill finger sandwiches, and smoked salmon on dark rye bread with cream cheese and chives. On a separate cake stand we were served warm fruited scones with Dorset clotted cream and strawberry preserve.  The sweet treats of Raspberry cheesecake, Chocolate and salted caramel mousse and Crème Brulee doughnuts completed a splendid Afternoon Tea. The mousse was amusingly served in a miniature ceramic plant pot and decorated with fresh flowers which was a surreal touch.

This is my third visit to The Ivy which is a vibrant and sophisticated addition to the Cambridge dining scene but each time my experience has been rather let down by some minor niggles about the service. On this occasion we had to ask twice for some milk for my friends tea and it was a very long wait and when I asked for a second pot of tea it didn’t arrive until I had asked for the bill! I must add that having spoken to friends about this they were very complimentary about the service at The Ivy so it must be that my experience is not the norm. As it was a birthday celebration my friend was delighted to receive a mini cheesecake with a candle as a surprise from a member of staff. A nice touch and highly recommended for at £18.95 per person this is probably the best value Afternoon Tea in Cambridge. Served daily from 3-5pm. 

The Ivy Cambridge Brasserie

16 Trinity Street

Cambridge

CB2 1TB

Tel : 01223 344044

http://www.theivycambridgebrasserie.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

A Healthy Afternoon Tea at Champneys Tring, Herts: August 2015

Last month my daughter and I stayed at Champneys Premier health spa resort at Tring for a birthday treat for me. We were very fortunate to enjoy two days of pampering, and rest and relaxation whilst basking in glorious hot sunshine. Having skipped lunch on the day we arrived we decided to sample the Champneys Healthy Afternoon Tea, which was an interesting and different take on the usual fare.

The view of the rear of the spa resort showing the Mansion House and the Terrace café

Our Healthy Afternoon Tea was served al fresco on the café terrace on a classic three tiered stand, in brilliant sunshine

A sweet and savoury tier

And a second tier of cakes

Another view of our healthy afternoon tea!

The Champneys Healthy Afternoon Tea menu included sandwiches made with Granary bread, filled with Coronation Chicken and Free Range Egg and Watercress, with an Oat biscuit topped with Smoked Scottish Salmon and Cottage Cheese for the savoury tier.  A homemade Wholemeal and Cranberry Scone with Strawberry Jam and Fromage Frais, and a selection of mini tartletts of lemon curd and raspberry, chocolate and orange mouse, vanilla cream and blueberry, with a square of carob and beetroot cake, and a square of carrot cake. Also included were a pot of tea or coffee or a choice of herbal infusions. Very good value at £25.00 for two people.

Freshly made and simply delicious!

A selection of beautiful  flowering plants adorned the terrace and patio of the cafe

The view from our patio as we lay on the sun loungers soaking up the heat of the day 

‘Granny Apples’ reclining on a bed of green velvet cushions in her favourite spot, a pagoda in the grounds of the spa

We stayed in a ground floor garden room with patio in the new low rise block behind the glass pool to the far right of this pic

The impressive rear view of the Mansion House, and adjoining Terrace Cafe, which are set in spectacular gardens

A perfect summer’s day and Champneys Tring provided the perfect setting to enjoy our al fresco healthy afternoon tea

More information on Champneys Tring, the original health spa at http://www.champneys.com

Tel: 0843 3162222 for Reservations

Other Champneys resorts are available at Henlow, Forest Mere and Springs for day spas and spa breaks.

Top tip – it’s well worth signing up to Champneys mailing list for offers, as we do. The ‘Bring a friend for free’ deal makes a spa stay an affordable treat when it becomes half price and you can split the cost.