Future Foods: Wish Lists for 2018

"New Year, New Me?" Nah, not my thing either. But seeing as we're now a couple of weeks into 2018, it's time to establish those goals. 2017 was pretty spectacular - weddings, holidays, honeymoons - meaning this year has a lot to live up to. A LOT. So what is it that I want to do this year? Where do I want to go? Resolutions, wish lists, whatever you want to call them... Let's do this.

As I sit here typing this, stuck in bed feeling totally wiped out, health and wellness should be first on my agenda. It's all cleanses, diets and detoxes shoved in our faces as soon as we hit January 1st, and whilst I do really need to shift a few pounds (plus a few more), it's more about looking after myself than anything else. I always struggle talking about my IBD issues - bowel problems is pretty embarrassing after all - and although I'm lucky it's not so severe, I still get flare ups which bring with them a whole host of symptoms. I've learnt that sleeping it off helps, despite being plagued with guilt for missing work, but it's taking better care of myself that's the overall key. Fear not, I'm not going full on cabbage soup. It's all about balance, right? And there's plenty of fun to be had, so I'm determined not to miss out...

At the end of last year, Time Out published their list of the 100 Best Dishes in London, and with a pal we've decided to try and eat as many of them as possible. I've managed to tick a few off over the years already; BBQ-spiced crispy pigs' ears at Duck & Waffle, salt beef beigel at Brick Lane Beigel Bake, bacon naan roll at Dishoom, a custard doughnut at St John Maltby, pappardelle with beef shin ragù at Padella, confit pork bao at Bao and that EPIC Reuben sandwich at Monty’s Deli. I wonder how far we'll get.

The Chap and I have a few places in the pipeline already, starting with The Bell Inn Langford at the end of this month. After receiving such high praise from Giles Coren in The Times at the weekend, ‘On the final day of 2017, I had not just the best mouthful of the year, but the best mouthful of my life’, I imagine it'll now be rather tricky to get a table! The Mousetrap Inn in Bourton on the Water has also been on the cards for a long time, finally we've booked in for Feb - cheers Frank! 

March sees The Chap's birthday, where we'll be celebrating at Le Champignon Sauvage followed by a jaunt to Hereford. BEEFY BOYS. I've heard only good things about those burgers; Instagram has been teasing me with them all year. And there's a trip to Manchester planned for April too, where I expect there'll be a weekend of good eats and drinks. I'm on the hunt for recommendations if any of you have some, though I've already located a Sherry bar. Yes Shez!

It's the big 3-0 in June; how has that happened? So obviously a month of merriment is required. So far all I've narrowed down is going to Bristol and hitting up Box-E; a pint sized restaurant in a shipping container at Wapping Wharf.

Bristol's one of those places I yearn for. It's not far away, and cheap enough to get to, but it's finding the time to fit it in that's the issue. I'm desperate to get myself to Asado to try one of Lucien's mega burgers, Root for more plant based foods, and Swoon for some of the best gelato around.

Locally, I'm still yet to get to The Coconut Tree, and now they've opened up in Oxford and soon in Bristol, it's become a matter of urgency! Cocktails and spicy Sri Lankan food; why haven't I been? The relatively new Korean place down Cheltenham's Lower High Street, Ginger & Garlic, is somewhere I have been to though. The beef bulgogi hot pot was incredible, but I'm itching to go back to try their other dishes, all with a healthy supply of kimchi.

With 100 dishes to try and scoff in London, I also have a list of places I'd like to get to, which is bound to increase throughout the year:

• The Pilgrm - to stay in those BEAUTIFUL rooms and have cocktails in the lounge.
• Little Duck Picklery - from the team behind Duck Soup and Raw Duck, a fermenting kitchen and eatery. 
• Santo Remedio - Mexican in London Bridge. I want to try the guacamole with grasshoppers!
• Londrino - for a taste of Portugal. 
• Xu - the guys from Bao with gorgeous Taiwanese dishes. All of them my way thanks.
• Duddell's - for that Peking duck and goldfish shaped dim sum.
• Winemakers Deptford - good food and good wine. 

And one final thing. After looking at all my posts from last year, shamefully every single one was from where I'd been invited to do a review, or part of a bloggers event. A free meal isn't what I started doing this for. It's a perk - sure- and gives great exposure to new openings or new menus, but I do question having a whole host of bloggers posting about the same place at the same time. I'm not a brand or treat my blog as a business, I just bloody love food and drink. I'd be a fool to turn down excellent opportunities - I won't be doing that - but I'm going to consciously make more of an effort to post about the places I go to and pay for with my hard earned cash (99% of the time). With a quieter and less expensive year than last, this I think I can do. 

2018, let's be having you! 

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.

BITE Food Festival 2014 // Señor Ceviche

The first week of February saw the return of the much talked about Cotswolds Food Festival, BITE. With a nine day long programme of events including breakfasts, brunches, lunches, teas & dinners; pop-up restaurants; cocktails & fine wines; masterclasses, talks & tastings; meet the chef & book signings; food fairs & farmers markets, I had to go to at least one thing.

Unfortunately, for those of us that work the usual 9-5pm Monday to Friday job, the majority of these special events are during the day, and unless you book time off, you won't be able to go. Also, for those of us who aren't very flush with money post-Christmas - cough, me - you have to be very strict with yourself in choosing what you want to go to. So, an evening dinner, under the £40 mark, it had to be..

Thankfully, a Peruvian pop-up at The Kings Head Inn, Bledington, fit the bill; and for one night only, in the quaint Cotswold pub, Señor Ceviche took the helm. Señor Ceviche is a food concept, where by a team of well travelled folk host no choice/set menu feasts-for-all in various locations, most notably in London. Here, they are serving the kinds of things you'd expect from this type of cuisine, super fresh ceviche and punchy Pisco Sours. If it weren't for the crappy weather, and the very British pub like decor, with added dogs, you'd think you were in Lima - well, sort of.

'La Comida' (the food) on this Thursday evening comprised of four dishes, kicking off with Nikkei Tartar; salmon and tuna tartar with yuzu, hass avocado and baby corriander. It attacked all the senses with sharp diced fish, silky avocado, fragrant herbs and a crisp-like slice of toasted bread (which, thanks to the 'boat' it was served in, looked remarkably like a sail). It was everything I expected and more.  

Alas, I think we may have been forgotten about at this point as most other tables were finishing their third course by the time we were even served our second. I was glad I had a cocktail in hand to sip the wait away because there was some serious food envy on the go. When it did arrive, the self titled Señor Ceviche barely spent any time on the table, and was gobbled up in a flash. King prawn and finely sliced sea bream ceviche in aji tiger's milk (the Peruvian marinade), topped with salty crispy squid rings, red onion slivers and corriander leaves; served on a crisp lettuce leaf in another 'boat'. It was a lighter, more refreshing dish in comparison to the first, and set us up nicely for the main event.

Arroz con Pato was brought out as a sharing dish (we're greedy, but not too greedy to share - thank God); confit duck legs, the biggest I've ever encountered, Andean rice, nicely spiced and flecked with colourful vegetables, and a tangy salsa made with scallops. With the meat falling off the bone, and a wealth of wholesome flavours, it was the standout course, and rightly so.

Last but not least, the dessert, or 'postre', was Pisco Love Cake; a fluffy sponge, which I'm guessing was made using ground almonds, saturated with a Pisco syrup, served with a drizzle of mascarpone cream, and scattered with pomegranate jewels. As far as cakes go, this kind of thing was right up my street; a perfect Peruvian finale, though I could have easily snaffled up a piece double the size - it was that good.

All in all, The Chap and I thoroughly enjoyed our evening at the BITE pop-up. For the quality of food we had, £30 per head seemed incredibly reasonable, and I'll be making sure I have my pennies saved up for similar events at next years festival.

If you see Señor and his Rita's on your travels, definitely pay them a visit.. They ply you with Pisco and feed you well. Muchas Gracias!

A Postcard from London Pt. 1

Earlier this month, the chap and I hit The Big Smoke for a weekend trip. We only had one aim in mind: to eat and drink ourselves silly. So, where I'd normally plan an itinerary of art galleries and 'must-see's, I replaced it with a lengthy list of bars and restaurants. A gourmet getaway if you wish. Anyway, not to bore you with all the details, I'll just tell you where we went and what we ate, with lots of visuals.

First stop, Honey & Co, a Middle Eastern jewel in Fitzrovia, which recently won the award for 'Best Newcomer' at the Observer Food Monthly Awards. We were one of the first there for lunch, and sat in the window of the tiny restaurant, we watched as, one by one, it filled to capacity. We had a selection of homemade bread and olive oil to start - milk, brioche and flatbreads - all light and fluffy, and to drink, I went for one of their own iced teas; it was orange blossom, and it was divine. The chap had moussaka with a big leafy salad for a main course, whilst I had chicken, braised with lots of spices and currants, all wrapped up in a flatbread, and served with a parsley/pomegranite/sumac salad. It was perfect. I only wish that I had saved some room for dessert as their cake/pudding selection looked ace; think pistachios, honey, cherries, rose, almonds.. I'll be back

We ventured to The Experimental Food Society exhibition in Shoreditch; a culinary arts event featuring a number of pioneering foodies. Greeted with a meadow of sugar flowers and a cake constructed to a life size version of The Queen, we went on to try breathable tea, bread made from brocolli, boozed up chocolate bars and smoked liqueurs. The Meringue Girls had their colourful 'kisses' for sale, and there were odd ice creams from Lick Me I'm Delicious; I had a quinelle of port and stilton on a savoury cracker, whilst the chap had a scoop of salted caramel whisky in a bitter dark chocolate cup. Our favourite experimentalists were The Robin Collective, who have created Winston Churchill Historical Bitters; bitters infused with moisture extracted from the walls of Churchill's underground bunker. Fancy a taste of the iconic figure? Apparently we did. The bottle's now sitting on our shelf. Oh, and we tried some of their 'Medicinal Marshmallows' too - an 'aphrodisiac', rose, chilli and ginger, and a 'remedy for a broken heart', red wine and black pepper.

Next on the list was to find Upstairs at Nancy's, a little London pop-up above The Crown and Shuttle pub, serving the likes of Borough Wines, Boodles, Sipsmith, Partizan and Redchurch Brewery. The main reason I wanted to go was for their barrel aged cocktails, I had my heart set on a Negroni made with Kamm & Sons Ginseng Spirit and Sacred Vermouth, but it wasn't open. The pub was really lovely though, so it didn't really matter, instead, I had a strong Botanist gin and tonic as the rain pummelled down outside.

After a spruce up, we galloped to The Running Horse Mayfair, a recent re-opening just around the corner from Bond Street tube station. With the face of Chase Vodka behind the bar, along with the ex-bar director of Sketch, it's obvious this place will do well. It's early days at the moment, a very British drinking den - filled with modest tables and chairs, wood panelled walls, and pubby green tiles - but the pair have big plans for the place, particularly the upstairs area. Watch this space. It has a limited menu, but it's all top quality, and pre-dinner bar snacks of a pork pie and scotch egg, washed down with a 'healthy' gin, beetroot and lemon balm sours, was spot on.

Dinner was a grand affair, the much talked about Duck & Waffle atop Heron Tower, which I had booked months ago. Shooting skyward in a glass lift felt a bit like Charlie and The Chocolate Factory; I'm not used to big city living and hoofin' skyscrapers, so going 40 floors up at a very fast pace, peering over London's landmarks, was a breathtaking experience. We arrived a little early in order to soak up the surroundings, and I'd already heard about the bar's inventive cocktails. If there's something a bit weird on a menu, you can be rest assured that I'll probably pick it, so my drink of choice was a Verde; gin, chartreuse, agave, rosemary, citrus and kale juice. Yep. Vivid green in colour, quite sharp, with a savoury/kale-y aftertaste. A new take on the Bloody Mary perhaps. Predictably, the chap chose a gin martini with a lemon twist. Even if you don't come here for food, I'd definitely recommend coming just for a cocktail; leave all your troubles at street level and enjoy the ride, it feels magical.

For eats, we were persuaded into trying their freshly baked bread, a spicy sausage and gruyere combo, which taunted us as it arrived, as it was too hot to eat with all it's molten cheese and oozing oils. The idea is that you get a few dishes to share but, being in a two, it makes it a bit awkward as you don't want to over-eat/over-spend. We started with a raw plate; yellowfin tuna with watermelon, balsamic and basil; presented on a block of salty-marble-rock, which we were told to rub the fish on to get added flavour. There were five nibbles, so we fought over the last one. We then asked for the rest to come together so we had lots to pick at and taste; roasted octopus/ chorizo/ potatoes/

lemon/ capers, pollock meatballs/ lobster cream/ parmesan, and the duck and waffle. To be honest, I was a little gutted that they had sold out of the spicy ox cheek doughnut, but I'll have to try that another time.

Neither me or the chap were very keen on the fish meatballs, everything about them was a bit bland; rich but without flavour. The octopus had it all though - salty, sour, smooth, chewy, crispy - all the tastes and textures you'd want in a dish, so we were able to forgive. And as for the duck; it lived up to expectations. A duck leg confit sitting on a picture-perfect waffle (though I doubt the Belgians would approve), topped with a fried duck egg, and mustard maple syrup on the side. Its the breakfast dish turned badass, the humble bacon sarnie just wouldn't make it in these waters. Sweet, savoury, and super indulgent; I'm glad it was to share. So, whilst I don't think it was the best food I've ever had, I'd go as far as to say that it was possibly the best restaurant... What a view.



Part 2 Coming up..

Of Mice & Men // Of Cheese & Beer

A few weeks ago the chap and I headed over to John Gordon's for an impromptu tasting session; a selection of beers mostly from Cotswold Spring Brewing Co and a whacking great cheese board that could happily feed an army of furry little rodents, all from The CheeseWorks in Cheltenham.

JG's have been doing tastings for quite some time now, though, surprisingly, I've never actually been to one. They've had a bit of a revamp recently. Earlier in the year they redesigned their downstairs space in order to stage these kinds of events and, where they used to only host one every couple of months, they now have weekly shindigs - more heavily focussed on whiskys. To coincide with all of this, they've dramatically updated their website, so its much easier to see what exciting things are coming up, and there's even a TV Channel to learn about all things grape and grain. So quickly drink up, it's all go go go..

As the nights draw darker and colder, you'd probably think a robust red wine and cheese pairing most appropriate, but beer and cheese is actually a match made in dairy heaven. Not being an avid beer drinker, I feel as though I've now come out a little wiser, and - sorry hops - I may have given you a bit of a bad rep in the past, I hope you'll forgive my naivety.

Cotswold Spring Brewing Co. were responsible for 6 out of the 8 beers we tasted that evening (the other 2 were guests on the JG menu). Established in 2005, they've worked hard to build on their reputation as being a leading craft micro-brewery in the South West. Using pure natural Cotswold spring water, they traditionally brew their beers and ales with no added colourings, flavourings or artificial preservatives, and they're all naturally cask conditioned, giving a variety of cleverly named characters; Ambler, Stunner, Codger, etc..

The CheeseWorks also take pride in having that 'local' touch, right from the off you can tell how passionate they are about the handmade products they sell; be it from from producers in the area, nationally, or over the channel. As a family run business, they bring the shopping experience down to a personal level; inviting you in to soak up the atmosphere, gain some knowledge from the friendly staff, and ultimately, get a helping hand in finding the perfect cheese for your occasion. In this instance, the 8 cheeses we were given were all made in the UK, and had been specifically picked to match each beer, though cross contamination was encouraged - being a food nerd, I stuck to the planned pairings, and made lots of notes, so here it goes..

1) (CS) Trooper with Swaledale Goats Cheese.

Being the strongest of the night, this amber IPA at 5.2% was a good way to kick those taste buds in gear. A pleasing nose of fruit and gooseberry; sweet malty start in the mouth with fruit coming through and a punchy hop bite with a distinctive bitter finish. Any more than a pint then I'd be sure to write off the next day, but it's a great opener to a boozy evening, and paired with the goats cheese; lovely. I'm a MASSIVE goaty lover - cheese, milk, butter, and recently, meat - but I'd not tried this type from the Yorkshire Dales. Made all year round - which affects the taste, season to season - it was not overly 'goaty' but initially sweet and minerally with a smooth rich tang as the flavour develops. It didn't fight for attention over the beer, and would be a good 'starter' to any cheeseboard; even those that don't like a goat would probably enjoy this.

2) (CS) Codger with Smoked Worcester.

The brewer's 8 year best seller; a dry, crisp, chestnut, perfectly balanced beer with a subtle hoppy finish. Though neither were necessarily our favourite, this nutty flagship beer alongside the smoked cheese was the best combo. The codger longs for a smoky partner, and this local - almost bacon-y - beast, is just perfect. Being smoked over oak chippings for a week enhances the earthy notes in the base cheese, and can be very strong.

3) (CS) Old Sodbury Mild with College White with Truffles.

Despite it's dark sultry appearance, this complex 7 grain beer, as the name suggests, has a very low ABV. Initially dry with a bitter sweetness. Chocolatey notes and a long finish. We're told it was voted as the Supreme Champion at the SIBA 2011 National Beer Competition, and goes hand in hand with pretty much all things savoury. The College White, made by The Oxford Cheese Company, is very similar to a brie, but has a layer of truffle butter sprinkled with truffles running through the middle of it, which enhances the strong yet creamy texture. If you're not keen on the fungus, I'd truffle-shuffle away from this one.

4) (CS) Aviator with Hereford Hop.

This 5% Cologne-style lager is cool, crisp and refreshing. Having lots of carbonation in this one means that it works really well with cheese as it cuts through that fatty goodness.. Mmm. The Hereford Hop, though not actually made in Hereford, is coated with golden toasted hops; this gives a savoury, beery, yeasty, umami flavor, which contrasts well with the natural sweetness of the cheese. Obviously, a beery cheese is going to go with beer, so these 2 are the winners in my beer-goggled eyes.

5) Point Black Ale with Old Winchester.

This gothic number is an American interpretation of black beer as an ale, which means more hops as well as fruity notes that come from using an ale yeast. It uses roasted malts which adds a slightly burnt character to the beer, but doesn't have any bitter aftertaste that you might expect. It comes from Wisconsin, yep, America's Dairyland, home of the 'cheese-heads', so you know it's going to work. Old Winchester, made in the New Forest, Hampshire, is a big award winner. A hard cheese aged for 16 months, with a crumbly texture; it has a nutty, browned butter taste and a pronounced sharp tang. I bloody love this one, and it's a fab match to beer.. All beer.. Anything.. Just eat it.

6) (CS) Stunner with Isle of Mull.

This straw coloured ale is the fresher faced brother to the Codger, another bestseller but with a very different style. A mouth-filling malt complemented by a tropical fruitiness on the nose and palate, with a long refreshing finish. This citrusy stallion is almost grapefruit-like and needs a feisty pairing, like the Isle of Mull. An 18 month old Scottish cheese, made next door to a whisky distillery; it smells and tastes winey and fermented, which contributes to the yeasty and sharp flavours. This one is strong, I'm informed that it might be one of the strongest they have in the shop, prepare yourself.

7) Curious Brew with Crozier Blue.

If nothing else, this one just sounds like it's meant to be. The new draft beer at JG's, from Chapel Down Vineyards in Kent, is a uniquely satisfying, drier, cleaner, fresher, lager beer. Fermented using champagne yeast, before adding the rare and fragrant Nelson Sauvin hop, the beer is cold filtered into bottles. A sweet, almost floral, finish craves a salty blue. The Crozier - similar to Roquefort - is made from ewe's milk, and has a toasty, biscuity flavour, with a peppery punch and roast lamb on the finish. One of the standout cheeses for me, in all it's mouldy glory.

8) (CS) Ambler with Colston Bassett Stilton.

At 3.8%, this is a good heavy-session beer - LADS - smooth and perfectly balanced, it has a malty start with a rounded hoppy finish, which really goes with blues. Stilton; a classic, this particular one, made in Nottinghamshire, has a complex flavour. At first sweet and creamy, giving way to a grassy, long, piquant tang but never sharp or harsh; rather mellow and fruity. 

As much as I'd like to tell you that this is the romantic love story where their amber and milky eyes met across the room; they'd noticed eachother before; but this was their first encounter; they knew it was meant to be; and happily ever after.. Its actually more like a holiday fling; doing something you wouldn't normally do; when in Rome and all that. You might dapple again in the future, but for now you simply treasure the memory. Ahh beer, we'll always have John Gordon's.. So, pass me the port.

Hawkes House Happenings

On Monday evening, I was lucky enough to be invited to a sneak preview of a friend's new business venture, Hawkes House, Thornbury. Located on St Mary's Street, the former pub/live music venue, The Barrel Inn, has been stripped back and transformed into a beautiful new neighbourhood café bar. Local Cotswold folk might already know James and Simon as they own a firm Tewkesbury favourite, Theoc House, but to those that don't, their concept is simple; they open 8:30am - 11pm seven days a week, where you can eat breakfast, brunch, elevenses, lunch, afternoon treats, early evening snacks, dinner, late night munchies, and if needs be, some nibbles to soak up all that accidentally drank alcohol.

Whilst the bar is well stocked with an excellent selection of spirits, both local and continental beers, and a concise but varied wine list, Hawkes House isn't just a pub. They serve expertly made coffees, cuppa's from Attic Tea, and a range of soft drinks that would cater to anyone's taste. It's all very relaxed, and with a stack of books and board games, the whole family can stay entertained. So whether you just pop in for a swift one, or leisurely spend the day browsing the daily papers, or even make a night of it, glad rags and all, this is the place to go.

Having a bit of inside gossip about what the place was like beforehand, and a few updates on the progress of the refurbishment, these guys didn't have a particularly easy ride, but boy, what a masterpiece they've created. The pair have clearly learnt a lot since they opened the doors to Theoc two years ago, she's like the older and wiser sister, whereas Hawkes House, with it's open kitchen, exposed brickwork, retro furniture, and industrial lighting, is the new swankier sibling. 

As for the food, in celebratory style we decided to start off with some antipasto and tapas to share between us; salami, chorizo and prosciutto were the stars on the meat board, with sun dried tomatoes and olives dotted about, rounded off with a few bread-y goods. Tapas wise, we had to try the black pudding scotch egg - which, you'll be glad to know, had a perfectly runny centre - and the beer battered cod with tartare sauce was another winner too. Roasted veg with goats cheese, sesame and soy beef strips, and lime, chilli and garlic tiger prawns were also thrown into the mix, and priced at £7.50 for a choice of three dishes, you can't go too wrong.

For a main course, after much deliberation, I went for the Cataplana fish stew (I had no idea what Cataplana meant, but trusty Google has informed me that it's a Portuguese seafood dish). It was a plate almost overflowing with a rich, smoky tomato sauce, with a bounty of prawns, mussels, chunks of cod, salmon and chorizo lurking underneath. I was more than happy that it came with a wedge of sourdough to mop everything up. The other mains on our table were the classic steak and chips, pork t-bone with Tewkesbury mustard mash and gravy, shepherds pie topped with sweet potato and a curry from the specials board, all of which everyone enjoyed.

To give you a bit more info on the food - though you could, and should go check it out for yourself - the menu contains a list of all day brunch options, sandwiches on local Hobbs House bread or in a focaccia, antipasto and tapas dishes,  a variety of burgers (not just your standard beef) and more substantial seasonal fare, currently titled 'winter warmers'. There is also a daily specials board which, as you'd expect, changes on a daily basis, and sees the likes of more unusual 'chef's special' dishes (I spied swordfish on Monday), and that's where you'll find your Sunday roasts.

There's a separate dessert board, which, again, changes according to what the kitchen fancy making. We were late in the game when we'd finished dinner, so our options were limited, but we snapped up some creme brûlée's and sticky toffee pudding, which were both sumptuously satisfying. Take note, if you're clever enough to scout out what's on offer early on, get in there quick before your favourite gets crossed out!

Its probably safe to say that Hawkes House won't be winning any fancy schmancy awards for their offerings because, basically, its not that kind of place; they're all about serving quality food and drink which is affordable (most things are under a tenner with the most expensive being the 8oz rump at £12.95). Whether you're local, or just a passer by, there are plenty of friendly faces to welcome you no matter what the occasion, and right now it makes a gorgeous retreat from the cold - they have a lovely outside seating area which will come into it's own in the summer months. Despite not really knowing what else is in Thornbury, Hawkes House seems like its on to a good thing, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on it.. Like a hawk some might say.

Gin & Jelly Night

I've been to a fair few tastings in the past year - be it wines, gins, vodkas, etc - and have learnt that I much prefer premium spirits and the more unique distilled goods over the mass produced (alcohol snob, I know), and whilst my conscience feels a lot better for it, and my hangovers less severe, it is not so great for the bank account.

With this in mind, we decided to hold our own G&T tasting, a DIY Ginstock if you will (which you may have caught in London this summer on World Gin Day). We asked each of our guests to bring a gin of their choice, ideally something a little unusual, so we could learn about them, sample, compare and then score. Alongside this we'd be tasting the controversial Aldi Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin, priced at an almost penny-saving £9.65, winning a silver medal at the International Spirits Challenge, beating the likes of two of the biggies, Bombay Sapphire and Hendrick's.

As we haven't staged 'an event' like this before, we were out to impress, so after much thought into alliteration and all things British, we made it a 'Gin and Jelly Night'; a boozy kids party, full of wobbly treats - gin based of course - and bunting, plenty of bunting.

We welcomed guests with Red Snapper shots, aka Bloody Mary's with gin, not vodka, made with lots of Tabasco to give it that fiery kick you get from a regular shot, and garnished with a teeny celery stick. Then after a few of those, we moved onto an 'English Garden' cocktail - gin, pressed apple juice and elderflower cordial - made into a punch concoction with the addition of vermouth, lemon juice, tonic, oh, and more gin. We served these in an assortment of jam jars tied up with string, and a stripey straw.

Now, on with the tastings. Firstly, tonics. We scoured the supermarkets in the past week trying to find various brands, and we found Schweppes, the pub favourite, Fevertree, the new classic, a supermarket own, of which we chose Waitrose, Fentiman's, and the local 6 o'clock tonic, made in Thornbury. Lack of glasses meant that we couldn't sample them all at once, but we were able to compare two at a time throughout. I took charge at this point, and let everyone else taste the tonics blind; after scoring, they had to guess which brand they were. Most were able to spot the obvious Fentiman's with it's lemongrass and herbal flavourings, alongside Fevertree's aromatic citrus version, which was a favourite amongst many. Schweppes was the least interesting, with pretty much no flavour at all, and everyone found the 6 o'clock too dry and overly fizzy. The surprise winner was the Essential Waitrose Indian Tonic Water; great value at 50p a bottle, and an all round clean tasting, refreshing mixer.

Being floral fiends, we also had a battle of the elderflower tonics; Fevertree and the brand new Bottlegreen one. With a much stronger taste, the locally produced Bottlegreen was the favourite of the two, and we all agreed that it would easily spruce up a cheap spirit.

At this point I cracked out the first of the jellies; Autumn plum jelly sweets taken from the latest Waitrose Kitchen magazine. High on sugar we hit the hard stuff, starting with our own purchase, Boodles Gin, winner of Ginstock 2013. "Famous for having one of the more understated juniper flavours among the top gins distilled in Britian", it unusually contains no citrus, but includes rosemary and sage instead. Alone, it was strong but smoother and sweeter than most, then with a splash of tonic, the herbiness made itself apparent.

Next we had the famous Williams Chase Elegant Crisp Gin, "a single estate apple spirit re-distilled in small batches in their own Copper Gin Still." Being made from apples, and including Bramley's and both orange and lemon in the botanicals, this is a bold, sharp tasting gin, which might be best used in cocktails over a traditional G&T. Nevertheless, it was a crowdpleaser and scored highly. 

Luckily for us, we had a couple of drink connoisseurs round, and were treated to a sneak preview of the new Cheltenham Gin, Brennen & Brown. Made using a complex vacuum distillation method, the gin is classed as having a 'hint of ginger' and notes of orange and lemon. As much as we wanted it to be great, unfortunately it was a bit of a disappointment for everyone. No one managed to get any ginger whatsoever, making it a really non-descript gin.

Following that, we had the mighty Plymouth Gin. We had visited the distillery last month, where we took the tour, and sipped some mean Aviations in the bar, so from experience and reputation, we knew this would be a firm favourite. With an interesting history dating back to 1793, Plymouth is a blend of 7 botanicals giving a fresh juniper taste, and an aromatic corriander aroma. Another high scorer, this a versatile gin which would work just as well in cocktails as it would simply with tonic.

By now we were feeling the effects of a fair few drinks, so it was time to bring out the show-stopper jellies; I needed to make sure everyone remembered them, didn't I? A White Lady jelly - gin, lemon juice and Cointreau - made pink with the aid of food colouring, and put into hollowed out strawberries and lemon peels. Clearly clinging onto the summer with British strawb's and pink lemonade jelly wedges, both of which went down a treat. 

Venturing into the more unusual, we tried Zuidam 5 Year Old Single Barrel Genever. "Distilled from malted barley, rye and corn, then infused with botanicals such as juniper, liquorice root and aniseed, the genever is then aged in a whisky barrel." The smell and taste of whisky was so strong that no one was able to tell that it was in fact a gin based spirit, and with a rich caramel colour, it would be easy to mistake it for one of those Scottish barreled drinks. It had an oaky vanilla-y finish, which was great for the whisky lovers, but scored very low for the haters (like me!), though a bit of ice did help it go down.

Greenall's London Dry was next, a gin you'd probably be able to find in most supermarkets, and actually produced in the same distillery as the Boodles we had bought. Weirdly they don't give any information about botanicals or product history on the bottle, other than the fact it was established in 1761. Clearly it must be a closely guarded secret, but nothing out of the ordinary stood out, so I'm guessing its a blend of the usual juniper/citrus suspects. As it's branding suggests, its a good everyday gin.

Last jelly of the night was an elderflower, lemon and gin combo, topped with blueberries and served in vintage crystal sherry glasses, which I forgot to photograph - I'll blame the booze - and rounded off with a taste of the Aldi Oliver Cromwell, that was used in all the jellies and cocktails served that evening. The verdict? An incredibly cheap gin which doesn't taste cheap in the slightest. Sure, it hasn't got any unique selling point - it does look very much like a Gordon's rip off - but as a clean, well rounded drink, it is one which most of us would be happy to keep by for when we get home after one of those hard days at work.  

All in all, a bloomin' good night was had. We learnt that everyone had different favourite gins but were able to appreciate the range of botanicals and qualities of each - apart from the whisky one.. That really did divide the room. Bottlegreen has come up trumps with it's new Elderflower Tonic; I'm intrigued to taste it's other new addition - pink pomegranate - so very girly. And probably is the best tonic around at the moment is Fevertree, but at a third of the price, the Essential Waitrose one seems like a no brainer for your G&T.

SO much gin, and not a single tear was shed, so maybe it's not Mother's ruin after all..