Another good meal at the Saracen’s Head, Symonds Yat

Last weekend I had two good friends come to stay.  It was Mollie’s birthday (we won’t say which one) and they wanted to go somewhere nice for lunch.   I suggested the Saracen’s Head which is right down by the River Wye at Symonds Yat.  I discovered how good this restaurant was in the spring when I had a couple of really delicious evening meals which I would put in the ‘fine dining’ class.   But I had never tried it for lunch – I am usually much too busy to think of doing something social during the day!   My friends had a great walk along the river first as it was a glorious, warm and sunny autumn day.    The leaves were spectacular and the views stunning.   We had booked a table for 1pm and when I arrived I was a bit horrified to see how busy it was.   They have a large outdoor terrace and many walkers, canoeists and general tourists congregate there as it is a great stopping point and watering hole.   However, I needn’t have worried – our table was waiting for us.  We actually moved to a table in the bar area as we had a dog with us.  The service was, as it has been on each of my visits, impeccable.   We had to wait a little to put in our order so we asked if we could share a cold mixed platter as a starter, to keep us going.  No problem.

The menu is interesting – in the evening it is definitely ‘fine dining’ and the cost around £30+ a head.  At lunchtime the menu is much more informal if you want it to be, but many of the evening choices are also available.   There are less expensive options too.  They do seem to manage to cater for everyone’s needs.

All in all, a very good experience.  It is about a 25min drive from Lea House, and quite a twisty route in the dark, but if you are looking for a ’special’ meal, well worth it.

Enjoy -c

Recipe for Courgette Fritters as made on Britain’s Best Dish

This time last year I was telephoned and invited onto the TV programme, Britain’s Best Dish.   I was totally taken by surprise but, on thinking about it, thought it would be fun to do, so I agreed.   After travelling up to Coventry, a long wait around in a cold crypt, I met the judges at the auditions and, to my delight, they enjoyed my dish and I was through to the studio programme.  I had decided to enter a starter as I thought that would be the least contested course!   So I adapted a recipe I have been using for several years now as one of my vegetarian breakfast options – Courgette Fritters – and served them with an Indian spicy carrot salad. 

Courgette Fritters

As soon as my  plants start producing courgettes each year, I set about making batches of these fritters which store happily in the freezer till needed.  I find they are so popular that many non-veggies order them then, oh dear, the summer growing season is over and I run out of fritters all too quickly.  Finally, now the rush of my season has subsided a little, I am posting the recipe that I have been promising guests all summer.   Hopefully not everyone has given up checking my blog to see if it is up yet.

happy cooking – c

My Guests and I had another wonderful curry at The Forge Hammer and River Spice Restaurant at Lower Lydbrook

I discovered this curry restaurant, called  The Forge Hammer and  River Spice Restaurant in Lower Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean, a few months ago.   I was looking through the local paper and read an ad they were running.   Something about the wording made me think that this place might be something special.  So I went with a friend to try it out.  We were not disappointed.   The food is stunning.   The Indian equivalent of a real gourmet menu.  Each dish is totally different and quite clearly lovingly prepared by the two  ex-Delhi chefs.   The owner/maitre d’ , Andy Jopson, will only take one booking for each time slot, to enable each dish to be individually prepared.  They use local meat and produce where possible and the quality is superb.  And it is not unduly expensive – probably around £18 to £20 a head, including a drink. 

I have recommended this restaurant now to several of my guests and twice now  groups  have gone back two nights running, they were so impressed with the food.  The last time, I am delighted to say, they invited me to join them and we had another distinctive meal.    Interestingly, I have tried different dishes each time I have been and they have all tasted completely different – none have disappointed.  They specialise in different Naan breads – all that I have tried have been delicious – the lamb dishes are made with fantastic quality meat, as are the prawns.  And do try the Pinda Channa (curried chick peas served whole rather than as a liquid dhal).  I could go on and on ……

 I just hope Andy is able to keep his chefs for a long time! 

Enjoy – c

Visit to West Midland Safari Park and Hidcote and Kiftsgate Gardens

I have been terrifically busy for the last few weeks – hence the lack of updates.   One week I had a visiting friend from N. Ireland and, since she now knows all the immediate area, we decided to do a couple of day trips to see some other popular sites, well within our reach from here.   The first trip was to the West Midland Safari Park.  I have always wanted to visit and it occurs to me that it would make an ideal visit for my guests from Birmingham and points north, on the day they return home from a stay with me.   It only took us about an hour to get there and we were enthralled with the animals they have there.   There is quite a collection of various species of rare “white” animals – lions, tigers, wallabees and others.  Some are albinos, others not.  The animals are of course quite used to cars so completely ignore them, which means you can get really good close-up views of them.   The only complaint I would make is that the food available in the cafeterias was of pretty poor standard (sorry, but I do judge food as an important part of any experience) but, that apart, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day out.

 

 

 

Another day, we drove into the north Cotswolds.  It only takes 30 mins from Lea House to get to Broadway, one of the most picturesque of the Cotswold villages.   But we were aiming for the very well-known Hidcote Gardens.   We arrived at lunchtime, expecting a really good restaurant that the National Trust properties are renowned for.   Not so in this case.  A small cafeteria had no food and a couldn’t-care’less attitude from the manageress.   We then found the restaurant proper.  There was a queue!  We waited and when we did get seated the food was pretty nice but since they were fund-raising for improvements to the gardens, we felt they could have made much more of the restaurant offer, and generated considerably more funds.  We were not the only people moaning, I hasten to add!!   Anyway, after lunch we went round the gardens.  We were not totally impressed.  It was hard to find your way around – the map given out was inadequate and there were virtually no signs to tell you which bit of the gardens you were in.  However, we were glad we had been.  

 On the way out, we saw the sign (directly opposite the exit) for Kiftsgate Gardens.  I had heard these mentioned on Gardeners World, so in we went.   Well, we were quite enchanted by these gardens.   Much smaller, privately owned and somehow much more personal.  They were beautifully laid out, the plants were well labelled – a most enjoyable experience.   The water garden was an oasis of peace and tranquillity and we sat and contemplated there for some time.  And, lower down there was the most stunning vista of the Vale of Evesham falling away below – you could see for miles, just stunning.   So, again, we drove home having had a really nice day. 

For those wishing to stay at Lea House for several days, a day trip into the Cotswolds adds an extra dimension to everything else that is on offer in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.

Caroline receives an MBE for services to tourism in the Forest of Dean and Wye Valley

Well, you could have knocked me over with a feather, as they say, when I received notification that I had been awarded an MBE.    It is of course an honour, but mostly very nice to be recognised for the work done in promoting the local area of Forest of Dean and Wye Valley.    I am co-chairman of our local tourism association, known as WVFDTA (Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Tourism Association).  I took over as chairman of the old Royal Forest of Dean Tourism Association about 5 years ago I guess.   We had 35 members then.   Now, in conjunction with the old Wye Valley Tourism, with which we merged in 2006, we have in excess of 280 members.  And our boundaries span 3 counties and 2 countries – Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire; England and Wales.  Our aim has always been to promote the area and encourage tourism with increased spend.   And also to make sure we constantly upgrade the quality of accommodation, attractions and activities on offer.   We are very proud of what we have to offer to visitors in this area.   I must say that working on all this TA stuff keeps me extremely busy.  It seems that every day there is an hour or so’s work to be done and I could always do more!  But I do have to run the b&b as well!   Thank goodness for this day and age of electronic communication – it would have been totally impossible to have built up the Association without it.   We have all come a long way in a short space of time and now there is another huge learning curve being undertaken – Social Media!   Hence this blog!!! as well as facebook, Twitter, Flickr – need I go on.   Sometimes it seems quite overwhelming to try to keep up!!  But we do keep trying …..

talk soon – c

Recipe for really easy Freezer Chocolate Gateau

I am not really into very elaborate and tricky desserts so I look for easy, not too precise or fiddly recipes where the results are seriously yummy!  I served a slice of this with a small pile of cold, stewed rhubarb (from the garden) both to guests who had requested dinner a couple of weeks ago and subsequently to the gentleman who turned out to be the AA Inspector.   He gave me the AA Dinner award and the other guests all asked for the recipe – so here it is – Recipe for Freezer Chocolate Gateau.

Recipe for Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

This Recipe for Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup is unashamedly borrowed from a wonderful, and now very old, American cookbook that I bought when I lived in America, in 1983 called The Silver Palate Cookbook.  There will probably be some more recipes on the blog in the future as it is one of the few cookbooks I own that I use many recipes from. 

This recipe has been requested by guests who recently enjoyed it for dinner here at Lea House, and is the starter I gave the AA Inspector when he awarded me the AA dinner award.  It is, of course, a vegetarian option.

TOP TIP FOR FREEZING SOUP – when cooking, use less stock, blend soup and freeze in portions.  Before serving, add extra stock.  This way you do not have a freezer full of frozen water!

Lea House awarded AA outstanding breakfast “Egg Cup” award and outstanding dinner “Casserole” award

Life has been super hectic at Lea House B&B in the last few weeks, hence no blog entries!  Loss of house-keepers (yes, bed and breakfasts have staff issues too) and the anonymous once-in-4-year overnight stay by the AA Inspector!   are the main reasons.  But ….. the great news to report is that not only did the Inspector re-award my ‘outstanding breakfast award, which I gather from the organisation is only awarded to 200 out of their 3,700 guest accommodation properties, but, to my great surprise and pleasure, he awarded me an ‘outstanding dinner’ award also.  This is also only given to around 250 of their g.a. properties.   So, I was very chuffed, to say the least.  Especially so since the dinner I served him was mainly using vegetables and fruit from the garden and was fairly simple.  I will put up the recipe for the Curried Butternut Squash & Apple Soup I served him in a minute, as other guests have asked for it too.

Recipe for Vegetarian Potato Cakes for my guests who have asked

For Mark, who has asked for more recipes like the lentil cakes, for Wendy who enjoyed them every morning and for Doris who is hooked on them too.  Recipe for Potato Cakes – and please remember that my quantities are very approximate and ingredients can be added and/or substituted at will, to your own taste!

I hope you all enjoy – c

Coleford Festival of Words run by the Forest Bookshop. The Garden Cafe Restaurant

I have a guest staying with me who was here to participate in a fund-raiser for the upcoming Coleford Festival of Words.  The evening was held at the Garden Cafe, another of the local restaurants that I can thoroughly recommend for a fun, and slightly different, experience.   Paul Hayes, the owner/chef, presides in his open kitchen in the corner of the restaurant, frequently emerging to check on your welfare and how his food is going down.   It is all, of course, very locally sourced, lots of fresh veggies and herbs from their garden, loads of garlic, and delicious! It is about a 20 min drive from Lea House.