Straits Brasserie is located near the Cathedral area of Lincoln, which is where you'll find cobbled streets and beautiful little boutique shops. I'd advise anyone visiting this restaurant, not to wear heels, as manoeuvering up the cobbles is a great challenge.
As you walk into the restaurant, you realise that certainly the waiting staff aren't Brazilian, although the waiter who served us, could pronounce all the dishes perfectly. I would say the menu is very good, although my companion said they thought the menu a little sparse.
The decor was good, although, at times i felt i had to lower my voice, as the tables are rather close together. Unfortunately the weather wasn't good enough to sit on the terrace, but i would certainly try it out there. Service was good, we were served promptly and staff were extremely polite.
For a starter, i had Lula Frita (fried squid with salad and sweet chilli mayo), this was a fantastic dish, they'd actually put bits of chilli in the batter as well, so it wasn't just your bog standard calamari....i ate every last bit! I had a small glass of wine to accompany this, which is by no means small, i was actually glad i didn't order a large glass. For main course i had the XinXim de Galinha which is Chicken and King prawns in Mild Spicy Coriander,Red Palm oil, Peanut & Cashew Sauce served with Rice. If this is traditional Brazilian food, then i want to go to Brazil, pleeeeeaaasse!!!! I thought i may be able to manage a dessert, however tempting the chocolate lovers' dessert sounded, i settled for the Irish coffee, as i had already eaten so much.
All in all, excellent atmosphere, price and fantastic food, well worth a visit!!!
My ratings-
Service- 8/10
Atmosphere- 8/10
Food- 9/10
Price- 9/10
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
The Chequered Skipper, Ashton, Northants
Ashton village is an absolute gem, it's an estate constructed by the Rothchild family and having had strong links to Royalty from Henry the Eighth, to Charles the Second, there is no doubt that there is something very regal about this village. The village consists of stunning scenery, beautiful cottages and you will see numerous peacocks wandering around the village to add to the wonder of the place.
At the hub of the village, is a green where you will see a beautiful building, only on closer inspection do you realise it is a pub/restaurant, nothing like the 'in your face' establishments that we are so used to in this day and age. There is an absolutely breathtaking roof terrace, which would be perfect on a summers' day, however, everytime i have visited the Chequered Skipper, it has been raining, or too cold.
There was a fire at the Chequered Skipper in 1996, therefore the pub went through a complete refurbishment. What a wonderful job was done, the decor is fantastic and the wooden fireplace a great feature. Service in the Chequered Skipper can be rather hit and miss, it tends to be completely packed all the time, so as long as you are prepared to wait, you will not be disappointed!
The menu is changed often, so everytime i have gone back, i have had something different! Last time i went i had gorgeous breaded chillis, with a dipping sauce, for main course i had a tender cut of beef in a mouthwatering brandy based sauce, with seasonal vegetables and dauphinoise potatoes and last but not least...something i'm not usually a fan of...dessert...possibly the best dessert i've EVER had in my life: a large chocolate brownie, with chocolate sauce and heavenly homemade white chocolate icecream.
Every time i go to the Chequered Skipper, i must have this dessert, and i leave feeling extremely full. Although service can be slow, it's to be expected in this little oasis. So i thoroughly recommend a visit to this most romantic and historic village, also take the time for a walk around before your meal.
My ratings-
Service- 6
Atmosphere-7
Food- 9
Price- 8
At the hub of the village, is a green where you will see a beautiful building, only on closer inspection do you realise it is a pub/restaurant, nothing like the 'in your face' establishments that we are so used to in this day and age. There is an absolutely breathtaking roof terrace, which would be perfect on a summers' day, however, everytime i have visited the Chequered Skipper, it has been raining, or too cold.
There was a fire at the Chequered Skipper in 1996, therefore the pub went through a complete refurbishment. What a wonderful job was done, the decor is fantastic and the wooden fireplace a great feature. Service in the Chequered Skipper can be rather hit and miss, it tends to be completely packed all the time, so as long as you are prepared to wait, you will not be disappointed!
The menu is changed often, so everytime i have gone back, i have had something different! Last time i went i had gorgeous breaded chillis, with a dipping sauce, for main course i had a tender cut of beef in a mouthwatering brandy based sauce, with seasonal vegetables and dauphinoise potatoes and last but not least...something i'm not usually a fan of...dessert...possibly the best dessert i've EVER had in my life: a large chocolate brownie, with chocolate sauce and heavenly homemade white chocolate icecream.
Every time i go to the Chequered Skipper, i must have this dessert, and i leave feeling extremely full. Although service can be slow, it's to be expected in this little oasis. So i thoroughly recommend a visit to this most romantic and historic village, also take the time for a walk around before your meal.
My ratings-
Service- 6
Atmosphere-7
Food- 9
Price- 8
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
The Old Pharmacy, Solva, Pembrokeshire
Having lived in Pembrokeshire for nearly four years, i ate in many different restaurants, however out of all the restaurants i ate in the Old Pharmacy is one of only two restaurants really worth mentioning. Set in a tranquil village between Haverfordwest and St Davids, Solva is a beautiful place for walks, and i had been told the Old Pharmacy was a fantastic restaurant.
From the outside, it doesn't look particularly spectacular, and the inside decor isn't fantastic. The restaurant is quite small, and you almost feel like you're too close to the tables surrounding you, which can be a good thing, if you like to 'earwig' into other peoples' conversations, like i do.
The Old Pharmacy specialises in fish and seafood, being in a prime location for seafood, you know that the quality is good, all the food fresh. The service was ok, the waitress who served myself and a friend, was polite enough, but nothing to rave about.
For a starter, i had a prawn dish, they were probably some of the best prawns i have tasted (in the UK), the quality shone through. I had a 'welsh steak' for my main, yes i know i should've sampled more seafood, but my friend ordered the 'seafood extravaganza', so i got to sample some of the lobster etc. Portion sizes were good, and i thought the prices were reasonable, seeming as you're paying for top notch fresh food.
One of my friends mentioned writing about this restaurant, one of his negative points was that they don't change the menu very often. I would completely agree with this point. The Old Pharmacy have every element you need for a fantastic restaurant, however, they just need to push some boundaries, as they say 'variety is the spice of life'. The chef/s are obviously skilled in the dishes they cook, so why don't they create some new dishes, change the menu every couple of months. I had a fabulous meal last time i went there, but was disappointed to see pretty much the same menu a year down the line.
I wouldn't want to end this on a negative point, as the Old Pharmacy is a great restaurant, in what i consider a region which doesn't have too much to offer real 'foodies'. This place is well worth a visit, maybe followed by after dinner drinks in one of the local pubs!
My ratings-
Service- 5/10
Atmosphere- 5/10
Food- 7.5/10
Price- 8/10
From the outside, it doesn't look particularly spectacular, and the inside decor isn't fantastic. The restaurant is quite small, and you almost feel like you're too close to the tables surrounding you, which can be a good thing, if you like to 'earwig' into other peoples' conversations, like i do.
The Old Pharmacy specialises in fish and seafood, being in a prime location for seafood, you know that the quality is good, all the food fresh. The service was ok, the waitress who served myself and a friend, was polite enough, but nothing to rave about.
For a starter, i had a prawn dish, they were probably some of the best prawns i have tasted (in the UK), the quality shone through. I had a 'welsh steak' for my main, yes i know i should've sampled more seafood, but my friend ordered the 'seafood extravaganza', so i got to sample some of the lobster etc. Portion sizes were good, and i thought the prices were reasonable, seeming as you're paying for top notch fresh food.
One of my friends mentioned writing about this restaurant, one of his negative points was that they don't change the menu very often. I would completely agree with this point. The Old Pharmacy have every element you need for a fantastic restaurant, however, they just need to push some boundaries, as they say 'variety is the spice of life'. The chef/s are obviously skilled in the dishes they cook, so why don't they create some new dishes, change the menu every couple of months. I had a fabulous meal last time i went there, but was disappointed to see pretty much the same menu a year down the line.
I wouldn't want to end this on a negative point, as the Old Pharmacy is a great restaurant, in what i consider a region which doesn't have too much to offer real 'foodies'. This place is well worth a visit, maybe followed by after dinner drinks in one of the local pubs!
My ratings-
Service- 5/10
Atmosphere- 5/10
Food- 7.5/10
Price- 8/10
La Tasca, Cambridge...a chain too far??
I am not a complete food snob, i see that there are actually some really good chain restaurants, however the main problem with chain restaurants is the lottery of service, food etc. Cambridge isn't known for its' Spanish food, however, when needs must La Tasca has been in the past a fairly good place to go (the Bury St Edmunds branch is pretty good).
So bear in mind, i usually have a good idea what i want when it comes to tapas, my friend and I walked in to La Tasca one lunchtime. There were hardly any people in the restaurant, however i believe there was only one waiter. When we finally got our drinks, the guy tried to convince us to go with the buffet menu (basically the limited dishes that had been sat out all day). When we said no to this, the guy kept trying to convince us (he was obviously trying to get rid of the food), i eventually lost my rag and went into my rant about my dislike for buffet food in restaurants.
After the waiter informed us the food would take longer as it had to be cooked (no shit sherlock), we sat there feeling rather deflated. All we wanted was a quick lunch, with ok Spanish food. Not pressure from some spotty youth.
The food came out, it was all pretty dire to be honest. The prawns were almost non existent, very small 'king prawns', cooked so much they had shrivelled up, chorizo was again dry, the only saving grace was the chicken in sherry and mushroom croquettes. The thing about this chain, is that people judge Spanish food by La Tasca....please please don't!
La Tasca is pretty much a glorified McDonalds, for those who want to waste a bit of money on substandard food, awful service and...well the decor is pretty nice actually. The thing that annoys me most is that half the people in La Tasca probably don't even know that they're getting a poor deal! This is an example of chain restaurants at their worst.
My ratings-
Service- 2/10
Atmosphere- 4/10
Food- 3/10
Price- 4/10 ( a rip off for what you actually get)
So bear in mind, i usually have a good idea what i want when it comes to tapas, my friend and I walked in to La Tasca one lunchtime. There were hardly any people in the restaurant, however i believe there was only one waiter. When we finally got our drinks, the guy tried to convince us to go with the buffet menu (basically the limited dishes that had been sat out all day). When we said no to this, the guy kept trying to convince us (he was obviously trying to get rid of the food), i eventually lost my rag and went into my rant about my dislike for buffet food in restaurants.
After the waiter informed us the food would take longer as it had to be cooked (no shit sherlock), we sat there feeling rather deflated. All we wanted was a quick lunch, with ok Spanish food. Not pressure from some spotty youth.
The food came out, it was all pretty dire to be honest. The prawns were almost non existent, very small 'king prawns', cooked so much they had shrivelled up, chorizo was again dry, the only saving grace was the chicken in sherry and mushroom croquettes. The thing about this chain, is that people judge Spanish food by La Tasca....please please don't!
La Tasca is pretty much a glorified McDonalds, for those who want to waste a bit of money on substandard food, awful service and...well the decor is pretty nice actually. The thing that annoys me most is that half the people in La Tasca probably don't even know that they're getting a poor deal! This is an example of chain restaurants at their worst.
My ratings-
Service- 2/10
Atmosphere- 4/10
Food- 3/10
Price- 4/10 ( a rip off for what you actually get)
Serrano ham croquettes
You'll have to bear with my measurements...i don't ever really measure the ingredients! That is definitely somethin i must start doing. Now these croquettes, i started sticking to a recipe, then completely changed it, these croquettes are best served with alioli (Jamie Oliver does a good recipe or just buy it from specialist food sections in the supermarkets).
You should need:
The filling:
Approx 400g of serrano (or prosciutto ham)
1 or 2 red onions
3 cloves of garlic
A dash of milk
Splash of white wine
1-2 tablespoons of flour
Pinch of basil
Salt and Pepper
2 eggs
The coating:
Eggs
Flour
Breadcrumbs
For the best results, start this recipe the day before serving! Begin by heating oil in a pan, add onions, garlic, basil (i always add my herbs towards the beginning-get more flavour), cook under the onions etc are nice and soft. Then add the milk, white wine and flour, keep stirring for 5-10 mins on a low heat, then add the serrano ham (the consistency should be nice and thick by this point.
Have a little taste and season accordingly, then add 1 or 2 eggs (see the consistency after you add the first one). Then you need to mix it all up with your hands and spread the mixture onto a plate, then put into the fridge. Ideally leave the mixture for a few hours, then take it out and make into croquette shapes, return to the fridge ( leave for a few hours or overnight).
Your next step is the coating. Put on 3 seperate plates: eggs (beaten), flour and breadcrumbs. Take a croquette, then coat in egg, flour, egg again, then breadcrumbs. Repeat for all the croquettes, and again- return to the fridge to set. I'll just mention, the reason i put these in the fridge so much, is because then they set properly, and i hate it when they fall apart...however if you are in a rush, alter the timings.
Finally, cook either in the oven or fry until golden brown!
A favourite tapas dish of mine (certainly not the easiest)!
You should need:
The filling:
Approx 400g of serrano (or prosciutto ham)
1 or 2 red onions
3 cloves of garlic
A dash of milk
Splash of white wine
1-2 tablespoons of flour
Pinch of basil
Salt and Pepper
2 eggs
The coating:
Eggs
Flour
Breadcrumbs
For the best results, start this recipe the day before serving! Begin by heating oil in a pan, add onions, garlic, basil (i always add my herbs towards the beginning-get more flavour), cook under the onions etc are nice and soft. Then add the milk, white wine and flour, keep stirring for 5-10 mins on a low heat, then add the serrano ham (the consistency should be nice and thick by this point.
Have a little taste and season accordingly, then add 1 or 2 eggs (see the consistency after you add the first one). Then you need to mix it all up with your hands and spread the mixture onto a plate, then put into the fridge. Ideally leave the mixture for a few hours, then take it out and make into croquette shapes, return to the fridge ( leave for a few hours or overnight).
Your next step is the coating. Put on 3 seperate plates: eggs (beaten), flour and breadcrumbs. Take a croquette, then coat in egg, flour, egg again, then breadcrumbs. Repeat for all the croquettes, and again- return to the fridge to set. I'll just mention, the reason i put these in the fridge so much, is because then they set properly, and i hate it when they fall apart...however if you are in a rush, alter the timings.
Finally, cook either in the oven or fry until golden brown!
A favourite tapas dish of mine (certainly not the easiest)!
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
El Puerto, Prince Street, Bristol
As you will get to know, my favourite food is Spanish. Although in my opinion, the only true place to experience Spanish food is Las Ramblas in Barcelona, i have searched in many areas for good Spanish food, to forget for just one minute that i'm not in Barcelona, but in the UK!
Myself and my friend Laurie first visited El Puerto in 2010. We scoured the internet to find somewhere in Bristol, to fulfil our need for all things tapas. We found El Puerto on the internet and ventured to Prince Street.
Walking into the restaurant, it was rather empty at the time, however, in the space of 15 minutes the place became packed. We were shown to a table by a Spanish waiter (which instantly screams authentic to me). The place is probably what you'd call a cliche in terms of decor, subtle lighting, large candles and a mediterranean colour scheme.
As always, Laurie gave me the reigns with ordering the tapas! We usually have between 6-8 dishes between us, which is rather greedy, but as i've said before, we love tapas!
When our dishes came out, the table became a little over-crowded, we could've done with a bigger table really. The food is good at El Puerto, the best dishes for me would be the 'gambas al ajillo' (king prawns with garlic, olive oil and chilli), the 'albondigas' (meatballs in tomato sauce) and the 'mejillones marinera' (mussels in wine and parsley sauce). Although a massive fan of chorizo, i found the chorizo infierno slightly over cooked, and the jamon serrano wasn't the best cut i've ever had.
The ambience in El Puerto is great, although my views may be slightly biased, due to the great company (Laurie). I shall be visiting the restaurant again soon, however shellfish will be strictly off the menu (as Laurie is pregnant).
Well worth a visit and not your usual chain restaurant!
My ratings-
Service- 8/10
Atmosphere- 7/10
Food- 6.5/10
Price- 8/10
Myself and my friend Laurie first visited El Puerto in 2010. We scoured the internet to find somewhere in Bristol, to fulfil our need for all things tapas. We found El Puerto on the internet and ventured to Prince Street.
Walking into the restaurant, it was rather empty at the time, however, in the space of 15 minutes the place became packed. We were shown to a table by a Spanish waiter (which instantly screams authentic to me). The place is probably what you'd call a cliche in terms of decor, subtle lighting, large candles and a mediterranean colour scheme.
As always, Laurie gave me the reigns with ordering the tapas! We usually have between 6-8 dishes between us, which is rather greedy, but as i've said before, we love tapas!
When our dishes came out, the table became a little over-crowded, we could've done with a bigger table really. The food is good at El Puerto, the best dishes for me would be the 'gambas al ajillo' (king prawns with garlic, olive oil and chilli), the 'albondigas' (meatballs in tomato sauce) and the 'mejillones marinera' (mussels in wine and parsley sauce). Although a massive fan of chorizo, i found the chorizo infierno slightly over cooked, and the jamon serrano wasn't the best cut i've ever had.
The ambience in El Puerto is great, although my views may be slightly biased, due to the great company (Laurie). I shall be visiting the restaurant again soon, however shellfish will be strictly off the menu (as Laurie is pregnant).
Well worth a visit and not your usual chain restaurant!
My ratings-
Service- 8/10
Atmosphere- 7/10
Food- 6.5/10
Price- 8/10
Scallop, chorizo and king prawn stack (starter)
Depends how many people you're cooking for, but i'd recommend 4-5 scallops, king prawns and slices of chorizo per person. If you buy a chorizo ring (even better if it's from Spain or a specialist food shop), however many scallops and prawns depending on how many people. This is a really simple starter, that also looks good on the plate!
To begin with put a dash of extra virgin olive oil in a pan, put in 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic (depending on how many you're cooking), a red chilli (chopped finely), cook for a couple of minutes then add the scallops (be careful with these, keep a close eye on them so they don't become over cooked).
Either in the same or a different pan, add the king prawns, when the scallops and prawns are almost cooked, add the chorizo (chop it into slices).
Then hey presto, just need to stack the food up! Put the chorizo slice at the bottom, then scallop and a king prawn on top. Garnish with either a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce or balsamic vinegar! Enjoy :-)
To begin with put a dash of extra virgin olive oil in a pan, put in 1-2 cloves of chopped garlic (depending on how many you're cooking), a red chilli (chopped finely), cook for a couple of minutes then add the scallops (be careful with these, keep a close eye on them so they don't become over cooked).
Either in the same or a different pan, add the king prawns, when the scallops and prawns are almost cooked, add the chorizo (chop it into slices).
Then hey presto, just need to stack the food up! Put the chorizo slice at the bottom, then scallop and a king prawn on top. Garnish with either a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce or balsamic vinegar! Enjoy :-)
First restaurant review- O'Connells Sleaford, Lincs!
After a recommendation to visit the restaurant Italian Connection II in Sleaford, myself and boyfriend Jay decided we would get a taxi in, and enjoy a good bottle of wine! Our taxi driver was extremely friendly and gave us a brief history of Sleaford, in terms of nightlife and places to eat. His perspective was rather bleak, and i began to regret choosing Sleaford as the place for a nice meal...but we arrived in the town and walked on towards the restaurant recommended.
First impressions of the place weren't good, with letters missing from the sign and decor similar to that of an 80's social club...things were not looking promising. With few options available, we entered the 'restaurant', only to be hit with a barrage of wailing customers, and we were told there were no tables. I know, i know, we should've booked...but still, a part of me was glad the place was fully booked.
We then carried on walking around Sleaford, with little expectation that we'd find anywhere to get a good meal. I believe it was instinct that i chose to walk towards the old mill, i was sure someone had mentioned another restaurant hidden out the way.
Lo and behold, hidden in the corner of the car park, we could see the sign 'O'Connells', with few options available, other than cheap pub food, we thought it worth walking a few hundred metres to view this hidden establishment.
To our shock, the closer we got, the more pleased we became. Upon looking through the window and a brief peruse of the menu, we decided the place looked rather like a pearl hidden in the seaweed. We were met by a friendly young man, who took us to our table. We looked at our surroundings, and were pleased with what we saw. As i have said, first impressions do count, and the decor was beautiful, a cross between modern chic and rustic farmhouse, with superb beams, complimented by serene lighting and furnishings.
Now to the important part. The food. The menu is not extensive, however there is definitely something for everyone. I chose the prawns cooked in a brandy and cream sauce to start with, probably not the ingredients i would put together, however the dish was a new sensation to the tastebuds. They got the portion size just right for me, and i finished the whole starter!
We both ordered steak for main course. There was just the right amount of time between the starter and main course, during this pause, the ever friendly water brought us a bottle of rioja, and uttered the line 'thankyou and thankyou very much', he was tentative and extremely polite, i could not fault the service.
I didn't know what to expect with the steak, however was hopeful after a delightful starter. The portion size for the main was enormous, in some ways i wish i hadn't had my starter. The steak was cooked the way i like it- rare, there were delicious home-made chips, and perfectly seasoned mushrooms, with salad on the side (i'm afraid the salad didn't get a look in). To top off this dish, i had a generous serving of red wine jus. It may sound like a simple dish, however, as a steak lover, i am amazed how many places get such a simple dish wrong. Although i couldn't finish the meal, i was a very happy customer.
We liked this restaurant so much, that we moved from our table to the sofas, and enjoyed a couple of after dinner drinks.
This restaurant was a gem in an otherwise flailing town. I would certainly visit O'Connells again.
My ratings would be as follows:
Service- 10/10
Atmosphere- 9/10
Food- 8.5/10
Price- 9/10
First impressions of the place weren't good, with letters missing from the sign and decor similar to that of an 80's social club...things were not looking promising. With few options available, we entered the 'restaurant', only to be hit with a barrage of wailing customers, and we were told there were no tables. I know, i know, we should've booked...but still, a part of me was glad the place was fully booked.
We then carried on walking around Sleaford, with little expectation that we'd find anywhere to get a good meal. I believe it was instinct that i chose to walk towards the old mill, i was sure someone had mentioned another restaurant hidden out the way.
Lo and behold, hidden in the corner of the car park, we could see the sign 'O'Connells', with few options available, other than cheap pub food, we thought it worth walking a few hundred metres to view this hidden establishment.
To our shock, the closer we got, the more pleased we became. Upon looking through the window and a brief peruse of the menu, we decided the place looked rather like a pearl hidden in the seaweed. We were met by a friendly young man, who took us to our table. We looked at our surroundings, and were pleased with what we saw. As i have said, first impressions do count, and the decor was beautiful, a cross between modern chic and rustic farmhouse, with superb beams, complimented by serene lighting and furnishings.
Now to the important part. The food. The menu is not extensive, however there is definitely something for everyone. I chose the prawns cooked in a brandy and cream sauce to start with, probably not the ingredients i would put together, however the dish was a new sensation to the tastebuds. They got the portion size just right for me, and i finished the whole starter!
We both ordered steak for main course. There was just the right amount of time between the starter and main course, during this pause, the ever friendly water brought us a bottle of rioja, and uttered the line 'thankyou and thankyou very much', he was tentative and extremely polite, i could not fault the service.
I didn't know what to expect with the steak, however was hopeful after a delightful starter. The portion size for the main was enormous, in some ways i wish i hadn't had my starter. The steak was cooked the way i like it- rare, there were delicious home-made chips, and perfectly seasoned mushrooms, with salad on the side (i'm afraid the salad didn't get a look in). To top off this dish, i had a generous serving of red wine jus. It may sound like a simple dish, however, as a steak lover, i am amazed how many places get such a simple dish wrong. Although i couldn't finish the meal, i was a very happy customer.
We liked this restaurant so much, that we moved from our table to the sofas, and enjoyed a couple of after dinner drinks.
This restaurant was a gem in an otherwise flailing town. I would certainly visit O'Connells again.
My ratings would be as follows:
Service- 10/10
Atmosphere- 9/10
Food- 8.5/10
Price- 9/10
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