Tom Kerridge & The Hand & Flowers

Early October saw Cheltenham Literature Festival return to our home turf. As usual, the brochure was jam packed full of exciting events and big names, which inevitably makes our jobs harder in trying to choose who to go and see. With a limited budget, The Chap and I could only really get tickets for a handful of things, but the No.1 priority was to snag Tom Kerridge's 'Best Ever Dishes' promo talk.

The nation fell in love with him from the start; a big burly chap with a cheeky grin, an infectious laugh, a thick West Country accent, and the ability to produce mouth-watering gutsy pub food that pleases everyone, including those ruthless Michelin inspectors! In 2011, The Hand and Flowers became the first pub to receive two stars in The Michelin Guide. It also proudly holds four AA rosettes and is currently voted number one UK restaurant by Restaurant Magazine - blimey!

Even though Tom's literally half the man he used to be, his charm was exactly the same at the event; we creased up laughing at some of his childhood tales, swooned over stories about him and his wife (the talented Beth Cullen Kerridge), and drooled at the descriptions of his recipes. We needn't have been too envious of all the delicious sounding food though, The Chap and I had a reservation at his pub, The Hand & Flowers, the following month!

It had been a LONG time coming; we booked it in January and could only get in in November! It was pencilled in as a belated anniversary trip, but thanks to a crazy turn of events, it turned out to be more of an extended engagement celebration. We stayed nearby at Danesfield House - George Clooney had a second wedding party here don't you know - and they were SUPER generous in helping us celebrate such a momentous event... Frankly, it was perfect.

I won't go into all the details of what we ate, you really only need to see how utterly awesome each course was. The food at Hand & Flowers makes no apologies for it's rich indulgence, and as a result, we could only manage one dessert between two. Whilst I'd normally stew in my own disappointment after situations like this, I'm in the fortunate position of having another reservation at the pub for my Dad's birthday next year. I'll make it my mission to make up for it.

We arrived early so we could have a couple of drinks at the bar; The Chap tried out the H&F beer, whilst I had the house G&T. In Tom's previous TV series, he went to The Ginstitute in London to create his own gin to serve at the pub, and this is it; I honestly consider it to be one of the best G&Ts I've ever had. With herbs and celery nestled in the glass, it was fresh and distinctly savoury. I also had a Monkey 47 with lingonberries, which was nice, but the first was so unusual it couldn't be beaten. 

Appetizers of sourdough and whitebait cured our munchies whilst we made tough choices on the menu (and scowled at neighbouring tables already tucking into their dinner). 

Not often choosing the soup option, I went against the grain and plumped for Lovage Soup with Bramley Apple, Smoked Eel, and Ham and Cheese Tortellini (£9.50).

The chap had Crispy Pig’s Head with Spiced Date Puree, Apple, Plum and Pancetta (£10.50), and I had a little piggy jealousy.

My main course was Barrow Farm Partridge with Black Pudding Purée, Morello Cherry Ketchup, Frosted Almond and Game Pie (£35.00) - perfect for this time of year.

The Chap had Essex Lamb “Bun” with Sweetbreads and Salsa Verde (£27.00) with a side of Hand & Flowers Chips (£4.50). This lamb bun was something else (at the back of the photo), and it needs explaining. A sphere of brioche/pastry with a cutlet bone proudly sticking out of the top; inside is a layer of cabbage encasing slow cooked lamb and sweetbreads and a final joyous nugget of lamb in the centre. Sat lonely on a giant plate, it didn't look like much, but boy was it deceptive; those cylindrical chips were never destined to be polished off!

For dessert we shared Blueberry Soufflé with Parma Violet Ice Cream and Lemon Verbena Syrup (£9.50). It was light, sweet, floral and a little sharp; and although we were forcing ourselves to fit it in, it was much needed after all the rich, salty food. YUM.

Our wine choice was Saumur-Champigny, Domaine des Roches Neuves - Loire, France 2013 (£40.50). Predominantly Cabernet Franc, it had layers of red and black fruits, elevated acidity, young tannins, and a seductive savoury earthiness. It felt like a very food friendly wine; its depth and intriguing quality complimented each of our courses wonderfully.

For me, The Hand & Flowers was a game changer; it's a completely different experience to any other Michelin starred restaurant I've ever been to. A meat-eater's heaven, the food is big - in flavour and richness - yet it still has the finesse that you expect from somewhere carrying two stars. 

It's not cheap, but after waiting 9 months to get a table, you really don't care; it totally lived up to all my expectations. And the finishing touch? Our doggy bag of leftover chips, which we scoffed the next day.

Cheers H&F, see you again in March! 

Creative Origins Pop Up Shop Cheltenham

Remember the prints that I had made last year (see here)? Well, next week they will be making an appearance at Creative Origins Christmas Pop Up Shop & Gallery, Cheltenham. There'll be a whole host of creative goods from other talented people too, so put it in your diaries!

This is the first time I've had anything for sale in the local area, so because of this (and as a little Christmas treat) I'll have them at a special pop up price. 

Each print is in an edition of 10, signed and numbered, and will be available for £55. Once they're gone, they're gone! 

Follow Creative Origins on Twitter

Fine Dining at Ellenborough Park

When you're looking for somewhere to go for dinner, no doubt you'll be asking friends who've been there, what it's like, who's written reviews about it, who the chef is, etc, etc.. At Ellenborough Park they've taken these "who"s to another level; a who's who of what's on your table - cutlery n'all! Stylishly presented in a handy infographic, this is different territory for a restaurant of this standard. It can sometimes be a bit daunting when you're face to face with a perfectly laid out table - with barely an inch to perch your elbow - so this is a refreshing stance.

The main man behind this idea - king of Ellenborough Park's kitchen - is proud Welshman David Kelman. You might recognize his name; he was one of the 24 chefs within the ninth series of the Great British Menu. Having achieved many respected and acclaimed awards over the years, David has just been named Chef of the Year at the Taste of Glos Awards 2014; he won the same accolade in 2013, so he's clearly doing something right. His restaurant, The Beaufort Dining Room at Ellenborough Park, proudly holds an accomplished 3 AA rosettes; this is awarded to outstanding restaurants where cooking is underpinned by the selection of the highest quality ingredients, consistently excellent timing, seasoning and judgement of flavour combinations and supported by a well-chosen wine list.

I'm yet to go for dinner, but The Beaufort Dining Room is one of Cheltenham's finest restaurants. It's situated away from the hustle and bustle of the centre, past Prestbury, at the foot of picturesque Cleeve Hill. With original oak panelling, Tudor fireplaces and stained glass Oriel windows, it provides the perfect setting for celebrations and special occasions. The A La Carte menu features classic British dishes with a modern twist, all using the best local produce - think Pan-fried Loin of Spring Lamb, Peas, Broad Beans, Leeks and Asparagus, Wild Garlic Potato Purée, Young Carrots & Honey Glazed Sweetbreads - drool. Two courses are available for £45, or three for £55, though a triumphant three course Sunday Lunch is £30 per person; great value!

I have visited Ellenborough Park once before, to sample their Afternoon Tea, and let me tell you, it was by far the best I've had in and around the area. Not only were all the elements executed to such a high standard - a serious choice of tea, quality sandwiches, fluffy scones (the blueberry and buttermilk was a winner), perfect patisseries - but even the plates/cups/teapots/cutlery were well considered. Apparently, the fine bone china was specially commissioned for the hotel; the designs echo the original features of the building, ensuring that the history is carried throughout the whole Ellenborough experience.

If you haven't planned your trip to the hotel yet (why haven't you?!), then perhaps following one of David's recipes might be of interest to you instead? Fellow Cotswold blog Rich in Flavour has shared David' luxurious take on boiled egg and soldiers, complete with asparagus, peas and air dried ham; I need to make this ASAP... Or how about fillet of cod with baby vegetables, saffron potatoes and tomato dressing? I'll salute my fave local foodie mag, Crumbs, for that one!

So how's this for size; thanks to David Kelman and Ellenborough Park, you can serve up these dishes at your excellently laid out table! Job done.

Farmer's Feast: The Wheatsheaf Inn Northleach

On a slightly warmer Saturday on the 20th of last month, The Wheatsheaf Inn in Northleach hosted it's Farmer's Feast. The event, which had an afternoon and evening sitting, celebrated all the fantastic produce that The Lucky Onion group get from their suppliers, whilst at the same time raised money for The Duchenne Children’s Trust. We took the opportunity to celebrate our recent good news (see here - eek!) and popped over for the lunchtime feast.

Meandering through the pub to get to the garden, we were greeted with a beautifully decorated marquee; rows of tables set up in a square, centred around giant jungle-like plant pots, hay bales instead of chairs to sit on, country-fied bunting - not the kitsch sort Cath Kidston would approve of - and string lighting to set the mood. The table arrangements were my favourite; hessian runners down the centre, plates, cutlery and glasses all laid out flawlessly, paper bags weighed down with soil showing the menu for lunch, potted herbs instead of flowers, a variety of squashes as centrepieces, and dishes filled with radishes, dolloped with mayo for nibbling on. They'd really gone all out. Not only that, but there was some incredible toe tapping and various musical instrument playing (even behind his head) from Stomping Dave. I defy anyone to watch him work and not have a smile on your face!

The event showcased some of the Cotswolds’ highest quality food and drink heroes; New Wave Seafood, Neal's Yard Dairy, Cotswold Curer, Dolcetti Gelato, Macaroni Farm, Butts Farm, Bobby Beer, Chase Vodka and Bath Ales. The huge amount of food that was included in our £35 ticket price was astonishing, and this generosity was returned by the fact that over the course of the day, and through an auction held in the evening, The Wheatsheaf Inn managed to raise over £12,000 for the charity!

If you've ever been to one of The Lucky Onion establishments, then you'll probably know how good their eats and drinks are (see my review of the opening of 131 The Prom Cheltenham), so it was inevitable that this would be something to remember. The lunch sitting hadn't sold out, which probably worked in our favour as we could spread out a bit; people must have been super squished together in the evening! It was very much a 'community spirit' vibe; sit next to some strangers, chat, share food and enthuse about what a lovely time you're having.

To start, we had huge charcuterie board courtesy of Cotswold Curer, served with cornichons, caper berries, fig and apple chutney, and an abundance of Hobbs House bread with Netherend Butter. I could have easily just stuffed myself full on this, but it was only the beginning.

Next up was the New Wave seafood platter; oysters, smoked salmon and crevettes, with lemon, mayonnaise and the usual garnishes - Tabasco and shallot vinegar. I'm pretty thankful a few people weren't up for oysters.. More for us! 

The main course was a beastly Gloucester Old Spot from Butts Farm; slow roasted, the pig was perfectly tender, with some delicious crispy crackling and a hefty amount of apple sauce to go with it. Large bowls filled with different salads were passed around to add a bit of health to the situation. However, it was definitely a case of eyes bigger than our bellies, as most of us couldn't finish our plates - the chap next to me bagged his leftover pork to take home to his cat!

Thankfully, dessert wasn't too heavy - a 'Seasonal Hedgerow Mess' - like a classic Eton Mess, with whipped cream and tart red berries, but instead of the meringue being bashed up and folded in, long fingers of the stuff protruded out. It did make us all giggle when it arrived at the table.

As if we'd not had enough, out came a cheeseboard with a selection of Neal's Yard Cheese; Stichelton, Stawley, and a soft brie-type variety that I'm not sure of (Tunworth?), served with oatcakes and quince jelly. Phwoar.

Drinks weren't included in the ticket price, so after The Chap polished off a couple of Bobby Beers - a classy local brew - we shared a bottle of Williams Chase Chateau Constantin red wine. It was light and fruity; a great partner to the feast we ate.

This is just a sample of the type of food that The Wheatsheaf serve; I've visited them a few times before, and they're always awesome (go for the Marathon Pudding.. you'll thank me for that). It has that rural retreat in a cutesy Cotswold village thing going on, but with the added bonus of boutiquey bedrooms and interesting interiors. I'm yet to venture over for their Steak Night in the Back Bar, which runs Sunday - Thursday from 6pm; £16 for 3 courses; no reservations, no choice, and a miniscule price to pay!

There's a Film Club in the snug on the last Thursday of every month, which seems very appropriate now that the weather's getting more winter-y (check their Facebook page for up to date info - though heads up, Elf is on the 23rd Dec!).

If this hasn't enticed you to go and visit, then I don't know what will. I shall definitely be keeping my eyes peeled for any future events that they hold, and you should too.

Outlaw's in Rock: A Nathan Outlaw Restaurant

A weekend trip to Cornwall at the end of August prompted a sneaky booking for Nathan Outlaw's brasserie in Rock. Obviously, having seen all the amazing fishy foods that he creates on the TV etc, we'd have loved to go to his 2 Michelin Star restaurant at the St Enodoc Hotel, but as always money dictates us more than we'd like, so the more affordable fare we went... Luckily, Outlaw's in Rock is situated at the same hotel - a reception desk distance away - so with the same location and the same stunning views over the Camel Estuary, it didn't feel as though we were missing out too much.

Being a little hasty in our departure, we were too early for our reservation, so thought we'd have a look to see what Rock had to offer. As we soon found out, there's not really much there. It seems like Nathan Outlaw is the reason that people visit the little Cornish town, and what with the two restaurants in St Enodoc, and his Mariners Pub down the road (a collaboration with the local Sharp's Brewery), it would seem he's turned it into a foodie destination.. Somewhat similar to Simon Rogan's takeover in Cartmel.

It had been quite a long drive with very little breakfast, so our tummies were rumbling before we'd even parked up. The hotel itself, with its pale lemon yellow painted facade, looks pretty retro; not somewhere you'd think would house a Michelin Starred get up. Inside, Outlaws in Rock has a much more contemporary feel to it; a large bar, plenty of art, interesting wallpaper, and huge floor to ceiling windows and doors, leading out onto a terrace overlooking the landscape.

Seated in prime position at the window - I ignored the fact it was raining - we perused the menus with a bowl of beautifully plump olives, bright in colour and bursting with flavour. As August basically obliterated my bank balance, instead of going a la carte, we opted for the Celebration Lunch Menu. This menu - at £25pp - sees a selection of Nathan's recipes from his latest book 'Fish Kitchen'; the three courses are picked to suit the season, and it enables visitors to try dishes before going home to cook them for themselves.

With a summer inspired lunch, white wine was required, and Outlaw's has a gorgeous list; every wine (thereabouts) is available by the glass, carafe or bottle - almost unheard of in the majority of places. As I was playing designated driver and The Chap was hankering after more than just a glass, we went for a carafe of Montravel 2013, Domaine de Perreau, Bordeaux, France (Sauvignon Gris, Semillon), priced at £20.25. We patted ourselves on the back for our good decision whilst tucking into the biggest slices of homemade bread; one, a springy, perfectly porous sourdough, the other a dark, yeasty Doom Bar beer bread.

Our starter was Crispy Bass, Pickled Carrots, Sweet Vinegar Dressing and Jalapeño Mayonnaise. "This simple dish is always popular, working well with a variety of fish, and the mayonnaise adds a lovely kick." 

The crunchy pickled carrots cut through the deep fried crispy fish goujons, which were - as expected - perfectly flakey inside. They made for great dipping material into the peppery jalapeño mayo, and the little squeeze of lime brought together all elements - a gentle nod to Mexico maybe?  

Main Course: Cod, Pancetta, Pickled Mushrooms and Grape Dressing. "Cod is a lovely, but subtle fish and wrapping it in pancetta really enhances the flavour. I pan fry it first to colour the bacon then roast in the oven. Pickled mushrooms for acidic, together with the sweet freshness of the grapes, work brilliantly with the salty bacon."

White fish (or chicken) wrapped in pancetta is quite a staple in many pubs/restaurants these days, but this was something else. It was a big, robust piece of fish - no messing about - and the mushrooms and grapes not only added a sweet-sour vibe to the whole thing, but also some finesse. I did think that a sturdier vegetable might have suited the dish better though; delicious as they were, the courgettes soaked up quite a bit of the oil that it was dressed with. 

Dessert: Strawberry and Elderflower Sorbet, Meringues, Elderflower Cream and Lime. "For me it simply isn't summer without strawberries!" 

This really was summer personified; fresh, floral, creamy, zingy, and prettily presented to top it off. Need I say any more?

Not wanting our lunchtime retreat to end, we plonked ourselves in the lounge area with a cup of strong coffee for me and a Nikka from the Barrel Whisky for The Chap. If Outlaw's hadn't impressed us enough, they brought out some sublime fudge and ginger biscuits to go with our drinks; such old school teatime treats, it was as if I'd gone to my grandparents (just these hadn't been within an inch of a packet in their lives).

Feeling both full and content, we left with a promise that we'll definitely return for the 2 star experience. But as for the excellent value lunch we had here, I'd say Outlaw's Rocks.. *cringe*

Outlaw's in Rock, St. Enodoc Hotel, Rock Road, Rock, Cornwall

PL27 6LA

Purslane Cheltenham // Bank Holiday Lobster Night

The August Bank Holiday seems like forever ago now *sigh*... But I sure haven't forgotten about the lovely foodie event that The Chap and I went to on that weekend.

Cheltenham's Purslane Restaurant, tucked away on Rodney Road just off the High Street, held a Lobster Night on both the 22nd and 23rd August to celebrate the last long weekend before the C-word. It also served as a sensational finale before their summer holiday closure, which only lasts two weeks - don't worry!

I've been to the restaurant a couple of times since it opened in 2012, and each time I've been wowed by the food. It specialises in the freshest, sustainably-caught fish and seafood from British waters, but there are other local offerings - meats, vegetables, cheeses - from nearby farms, which can be found on the menu too.

Head Chef Gareth Fulford delivers the most delicate dishes, packed with the purest flavor, served up in the most eye catching way. You don't know whether to just sit and appreciate your dinner's beauty, or dive right in because it looks and smells so bloody delicious... If you've ever been out for food with me - or if you've read any of my other blog posts - you'll already be aware that I nearly always do the first, slyly (probably not so slyly) taking a photo before doing the second, not leaving any morsel left on my plate.

When we arrived we were given a glass of organic sparkling Cremant de Bourgogne along with the menu to remind us of what we'd signed up for. All the details were available to view online beforehand, but not wanting to ruin the theatre on the night, I tried to avoid looking at it too much. If the lengthy list hadn't already convinced us, the selection of warm homemade breads with Netherend Farmhouse butter difinitely assured us that we were in for a good time. The soda bread, with a deep treacley flavour, was the favourite in both our eyes, and it's not often we agree!

One fizz down, we ordered a bottle of crisp Vinho Verde that would easily compliment each course, and out came our appetiser. Evesham pea mousse, mint jelly, goat's curd cream. Peas, mint and goats cheese are a classic combo; each layer had it's own distinctive flavour and texture to enjoy, but scooping up a spoon of them all together was a dream.

The starter was a Pressed pork shoulder and smoked ham hock, Discovery apples and Summer beans, not something I'd normally choose, which is what I find great about tasting menus. The pork was in no way fatty, it just pulled apart with ease, and the sharp apple puree cut through the dish wonderfully; I'd choose it again for sure.

Main Course was what the whole thing was about though,
and what could be more extravagant than lobster?! (well maybe caviar and foie gras.. but I'm not that keen on those)  Half a native lobster, grilled courgettes, samphire, gnocchi, lobster bisque.

From previous experience of 'half a lobster', I envisaged a lobster cut down the centre, grilled - still in the shell - with a shed load of butter, making it a pretty tricky and messy task trying to eat it. I should've known that wouldn't be the case, shouldn't I? Instead it was the prettiest dish of the night; a vibrant white and pink lobster tail sat on a bed of salty samphire (the rest of the lobster meat was pressed into a disc of deliciousness), charred yellow courgettes, pillowy potato gnocchi and a rich sauce. They meant business with this one.

A little break and we were brought out a dairy fix; A selection of local artisan cheeses with damson jelly, celery, wheat wafers and fig and hazelnut bread. One was a goat's (which I might guess was Ragstone - I can't remember, I'm going on what they have on their à la carte menu), one was a hard cheese (Burford?) and the last was an all time fave, Stinking Bishop.. Cheese.. Fruit jelly.. More good bread.. What's not to like?

At this point even greedy ol' me was getting full, but there is ALWAYS room for something sweet. Roasted Victoria plums, buttermilk pannacotta, almond sponge, plum sorbet. Each component was pretty straight forward, but that's often the key to desserts; when simple things are done well, there is no need to faff around. It had it all; a marzipan-like crumbly sponge, balanced out with the juicy jammy plum, mellowed out with the creamy vanilla pannacotta, and then the tart ice cold sorbet refreshed your palate to go again.. Can this be made into an endless dessert?.. Please?

The Lobster Night was priced at £50 per head, which included the glass of Cremant but not any additional drinks. Amazing value if you ask me, and their regular menu is just as reasonable should you wish to go check it out. (FYI.. See Jay Rayner's glowing review)

Purslane are having an Ayala Champagne Tasting night for their next event on Friday 17th October. It's £85pp, which might sound steep, but considering you have a glass of champers with each course (there's 6 of them) and then a cognac with coffee at the end, I'd say it's a deal worth doing!

Let's count those pennies to see if I can go..

Lunch at Le Champignon Sauvage

I've always thought that the word 'mushroom' really suits those little capped fungi; short and stubby, hidden away in the woods with an aura of uncertainty about them. Hop over the channel, however, and you find a much fancier word for them; 'champignon'. It stands proud, opulent but unassuming, and in a way this is exactly what Cheltenham's Michelin Starred restaurant does.

Oh, Michelin Stars in Cheltenham? Surely it’s a super swish regency styled affair that has pretentiousness as part of the dress code? Thankfully not; Le Champignon Sauvage lives up to its ‘wild mushroom’ name. With not one, but two stars, it’s comfortably nestled into its surroundings in the Suffolks – a blink and you’ll miss it kind of thing. It doesn’t need to shout about its existence, it’s been around since 1987 and has maintained a fantastic reputation as being one of the best restaurants in the UK. The keen eyed amongst you will also have spotted that Chef David Everitt-Matthias won Chef of the Year in The Good Food Guide 2014; that’s pretty bloody big.

I visited Le Champignon Sauvage for the first time way back in 2010; at that point, fresh from uni and still in my student overdraft, I was just beginning to find my passion for food and drink, though I’d not really experienced much in the fine dining department. I remember being bowled over by dinner, ordering a lovely bottle of Viognier, but generally feeling a little awkward... What a difference four years makes. This time, after reading rave reviews about the great value set menus, I was taken as a birthday treat for lunch, and every inch of my visit – even down to the Tic-Tac’s in the bathroom – was perfect.

The restaurant seemed much more open than I remembered; it's bright, roomy and has an interesting selection of art work dotted around (granted, I wouldn't choose some of it myself, but at least they spark conversation). You're close enough to neighbouring table to scout out the food - though it's not really necessary here, you know everything's going to be good - but you're not too close to hear what dramas are going on in their personal lives.

Service runs like a well oiled machine thanks to the small team headed up by David's other half, Helen. No sooner are you sat down with menus to browse through, a selection of canapés are placed on the table to get tummies rumbling. With combinations of beetroot, horseradish, and goats cheese on crisp wafers, I was definitely ready for a decent lunch.

A three course set lunch menu sets you back at £32, which seems crazy cheap considering what and where you're eating. Not only this, but you get all the in-between-y bits too. After canapés came one of David's 'essences'; layers of intense savoury flavours - creamy, mousse-y, foam-y - as light as air. These kind of things play tricks with your brain; the daintiness of its appearance, and the textures it contains, make you anticipate something sweet, but there's no sweetness to be found. Freshly baked bread comes next; bacon and shallot brioche rolls all round for us - divine. We were even offered more, but declined as we didn't want to over do it.

There are a generous three options per course, making it incredibly difficult to choose. My starter was pigeon breast with baby gems, peas and pancetta, dotted with purées and drizzled with a glistening jus. The decorative shoots entice you in and it's full of classic spring/summer ingredients, bursting with flavour; gorgeous.

Three out of four of us chose the pork fillet for main course; rolled in Lapsang Souchong tea, it sat on a bed of mushrooms, parsnip and tenderstem brocolli. Hidden underneath, smeared across the plate, was a rich burnt orange purée, permeating the dish with marmalade aromas. Pork's not usually what I'd go for, but the smoky tea coating intrigued me. It was everything I hoped it would be; this little piggy did good.

Dessert was the toughest decision. Us girls went for a sweet option; I had compressed watermelon with quite a tart cream cheese, sable biscuit and the most refreshing cucumber sorbet; a sensible choice after a big lunch. My Mum had a panna cotta with muscovado and baby figs - equally delicious - but the both of us had massive food envy thanks to the other side of our table. The Chap and my Dad opted for a cheese board. The waitress then arrived with a heaving basket full of different cheeses, to which she knew every single one, and they could each choose 6. Judging eyes peered out from our side, as we desperately wanted to make sure they picked some good ones for us to try too.

The cheese boards came out with our desserts, neatly laid out in a row - from mild to strong - as a guide to which order you should eat them. An abundance of bread rolls, slices of fruit loaf, and a selection of crackers accompanied the cheese; this worked in our favour as there was more than enough to feed the two gents, and they happily let us have a nibble. Note to self: ignore your sweet tooth next time and hit up the cheese.

I simply couldn't have wished for a better Birthday lunch, David Everitt-Matthias deserves his Chef of the Year crown, and all the other awards and accolades he's gathered along the way. Cheltenham needs to champion Le Champignon, because you couldn't forage a fault if you tried.

Glasgow Gorge-Fest

I've been very slack in updating my blog on a regular basis - sorry! I can't quite believe it has been a whole month since coming back from Glasgow, and that I've only just managed to find the time to write about what I've been stuffing my face with. So let's not beat about the bush..

We stayed at 15 Glasgow; a luxury boutique bed and breakfast hotel situated in the West End. With just 5 suites, this listed Victorian townhouse was the perfect location for venturing out dinner and drinks (which is literally all we had planned to do). Booking through Mr & Mrs Smith got us a bottle of wine in our room upon arrival too. That, a lovely bunch of flowers, and a foil wrapped Tunnock's Tea Cake made a great start to our break.

Luckily the owner, Laura, is a big foodie too, and she was able to make a list of all her favourite places to try out; the majority of which were in the Finnieston/Kelvingrove area. So on her recommendation, we booked a table at the new Ox & Finch restaurant, and headed to Argyle Street to work our way through some of the gin cocktails at The Finnieston. We were only going to stay for one, but ended up having two because they slipped down so easily. I kept it Scottish with Caorunn Gin in mine, whilst The Chap fell madly in love with a take on an Old Fashioned that used tequila and mezcal instead of bourbon.

Across the road and up on Sauchiehall Street is Ox & Finch, which boasts 'contemporary, relaxed, sharing dining'. Its big and bright, thanks to it's corner site with generous windows and high ceilings; even the kitchen's open, so it feels very approachable. The inside has been stripped back to brick, and the decor plays with a number of textures - steel, tiles, concrete - keeping your eyes entertained as you admire it's beauty.

It's all about the food here though. It has a tapas-vibe with a menu full of small dishes designed to share, pretty similar to London's Duck & Waffle actually. The menu is split into snacks (£3-4), raw, cured & cold (up to £6.50), seafood (£7-9), meat (£5-8) and vegetables (mostly £3.50). Desserts are a fiver if you can fit them in too.. We could not - poor form.

Orders come out as they're ready, so if you're like us and order as much as possible, then you end up having a continuous stream of food brought to the table. AMAZING. We had crispy fried squid, chilli and orange salad with saffron aioli; tartare of roe deer, egg yolk, hazelnuts and mustard; roast asparagus, poached egg and pancetta; seared scallops, lardo di colonnata and cauliflower puree; grilled baby gem, parmesan crackling, anchovies and caesar dressing; and braised ox cheek, roast cauliflower puree, thyme & bacon gremolata.

With such a range of dishes, your tastebuds are kept constantly excited; hot, cold, salty, sweet, spicy, sharp, creamy, crunchy, rich, fresh.. You get the picture. It was incredible and I wish Ox & Finch was on my doorstep.

The following day we'd booked lunch at Cail Bruich thanks to a tip from Girl Around Glasgow. It was voted Scotland's best restaurant for the 2nd year in a row, and they had a crazily good offer on during our visit; three courses with three matching wines for just £15! Certainly not to be sniffed at.

Only one other couple were in the restaurant the whole time we were there, which I'd normally hate when going out to eat, but it was different here; it felt like we'd been let in on a secret. First course was the juiciest piece of chicken with barley, topped with delicate onion rings and served with a light, fruity red wine. Next was pork belly with tenderstem brocolli, peas, and a tangy vinegary sauce. A fulled bodied red with much more spice accompanied this one. Dessert, which came with quite a sweet white, was the standout dish for me, mainly because it was a bit unusual; strawberries, a biscuity crumble, mallow-y meringues, and WHITE ASPARAGUS ice cream. So unexpected and so so good.

That night, a bit unsure where to go, we headed for The Gannet. They only had a table available quite late in the evening, but that was fine considering our 3 course lunch - haha. When we arrived, the people at our allotted table hadn't finished eating, but again, no big deal; a drink at the bar is always fine with me. However, by the time we sat down, we were probably halfway through our bottle of wine, which seemed a little ridiculous. Sure, dinner was nice, but by that point I was a bit too boozy to enjoy it properly. To be honest I can't even remember what I ate, and it was too dark to take any snaps to jog my memory. Although we got a 'free liqueur' at the end to apologise, I thought it could have been handled better, and we ended up being the last ones in there, feeling a bit miffed.

Ilustration by Adrian B McMurchie

On our numerous visits to Finnieston, we spied a lunchtime special at Old Salty's - a traditional chippy and cafe. For a fiver we bagged ourselves a mammoth fish goujon buttie with a mound of chips; all freshly fried to order, and served with some tangy homemade tartare sauce on the side. Unsurprisingly, The Chap had to help me finish mine; there are never any lonely chips left abandoned on a plate when he's around.

On our last night we ventured off in a different direction, where we found Stravaigin, the sister to Glasgow's famous Ubiquitous Chip. Stravaigin means 'to wander'; it's a Scottish restaurant, which dabbles in different cuisines from around the globe. Not so much a fusion, but more of a culinary trip. It's been awarded Michelin's Bib Gourmand in 2012 and 2013 and also has 2 AA Rosettes, not to mention it's highly praised wine list.

Whilst checking out the menu, we both had a cocktail made using Pincer; a Scottish vodka flavoured with extracts of milk thistle and wild elderflower - yum. I plumped for a middle eastern veggie dish and The Chap went for a mega steak. As for our wine selection, we chose the 2011 Chateau Viella Madiran purely based on it's description: Fancy a drink outisde the box? Charming, youthful but gutsy red from, Southern France. Fruity and moreish, this new bag in the box will change the way you think about wine. I'm not sure it changed the way I think about wine, but it was bloody good, as was the food.. Another place that I'd love to be my local.

Our flight home wasn't until the evening, so we planned on having a big lunch to keep us going. I'd asked some Glasgow foodies on Twitter what their fave cheap eats were, and a couple mentioned Bread Meats Bread, slap bang in the city centre. There's never any question about whether or not to go for a burger with me - as long as it isn't anything to do with those golden arches or the crowned variety. I do LOVE the trend of fancy burger joints popping up, but it has made it impossible to decide where does THE best, so being told where to go by someone else made the whole ordeal much easier.

They operate a no bookings system, a no brainer when there's such a quick turn around - it doesn't take long to wolf the goods down - but it did mean we had to queue for a bit. Handed a menu, and having a clear view of the open kitchen resulted in us firstly, having food envy, secondly, knowing exactly what we wanted to order, and thirdly, drooling at the thought of it.

We both went for the premium 'Black Label' beefy blend; I stuck traditional with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle and sauce, whereas The Chap had added smoked brisket in a Sriracha and BBQ sauce, with cheese and pickles. This was our first encounter of Poutines too; triple cooked chips topped with fresh cheese curds and house gravy. Phwoar. We went for the sweet potato version, which balanced out the salty cheese and gravy perfectly. It. Was. Epic.

There are still a number of places that were on my list of recommended eats/drinks, but there's only so much two greedy people can fit in before beginning to resemble a hippo.. "I'll be back."