Cold toast and cuppa soup!

So, what fine dining establishment serves cold toast and cuppa soup?
Instead of our usual mid week fayre, my friend accompanied me to Conwy farmers' market, where I had a chutney, pickle and relish stall. As she's never been to such a farmers' market before, I told her to bring food and a warm drink. She brought the cold toast; I brought the cuppa soup!
But what other delights were available at Conwy, on the last Wednesday of February?
There were two high class butchers, selling meat direct from their own farms - and both as good a quality as you'd get anywhere. Plenty of fresh, local vegetables were on offer, along with a wonderful variety of smoked produce. I eyed up the smoked garlic, but it was sold in a trice - I'll know next time!
There was a mountain of the freshest bread, which sold very quickly - people know quality when they see/taste it.
Honey, jams, chutneys from the Country market stall and light, fluffy cakes drew shoppers like magnets. Plenty of people stopped by my stall, tasted and bought from me - as it was my first time at this market, I was delighted by their comments!
The stall next to me was loaded with olives, black and shiny or green and plump! I tasted them and settled for some gorgeous yellow olive oil. Mixed with some balsamic vinegar and some home made foccacia to dip, it will be a super accompaniment to a Friday evening pasta dish.
I would say that the market is held in what can only be the most delightful surroundings - the RSPB sanctuary, Conwy, which has easy links from the A55 and Conwy itself. From the sanctuary, you can look out over the Conwy river towards Snowdonia - and take a walk along the river to Conwy itself. From there, you can stroll out to where part of the Mulberry Harbour was constructed for the D Day landings.
Do you know what I'd recommend?
On a sunny spring day, come to the market (last Wednesday of each month) with your picnic hamper and fill it with crusty bread, smoked cheese and a tasty jar of Simply Relish Tomato, red onion and chilli chutney. Pick up a cup cake (or two!) and a bottle of fresh apple juice. Saunter off along the river, past the Castle, to the quay at Conwy and watch the world go by, munching on your local produce 'butty'.
Actually, fine dining at its simplest - and best!

The Country Mouse, Brimstage Craft centre

After a pleasant hour or so spent poking round the quaint little shops of Brimstage Craft centre, our tummies were rumbling, so we popped into the Country Mouse - and got the surprise of our lives.
Even though it was a grey Thursday in January, the place was full! And we had to wait!!
So, what did that tell us? We thought we were onto a winner.
We didn't have to wait long to be seated and, even though it was rather cramped, it felt cozy.
I chose a baked potato with beans and was asked to help myself from the salad bar, which, by the time we were seated, was a little sparse.
My friend chose lasagne, which came with some crunchy green beans, which she left.
It filled a gap; it wasn't expensive; it was edible - but there are better places to spend your money.
I suppose I could say it wasn't memorable and, after writing this blog, I could happily forget all about it.
Except that my friend has found a good clothes shop there.
I'm sure we'll be back.
Meanwhile, 5/10 for food and ambience

Caffi Florence, Loggerheads

We couldn't resist visiting the award-winning Caffi Florence, in Loggerheads Country Park, just outside Mold.
There's a large car park - and you have to pay, but it is a walker's paradise. Even on a cold February Thursday, it was busy.
Ok, the exterior of Caffi Florence is a bit bland, but, once inside, it is all cool and contemporary. There is an extensive menu and they pride themselves on sourcing their produce locally - and they tell you, on a blackboard, where their produce comes from.
The knowlegeable staff are smartly attired with True Taste award aprons, bearing the coveted logo.
Their own chutneys and jams are for sale on the premises at very reasonable prices.
But back to the food...
We both chose the soup and half round of sandwich option - which, from memory, was £6 or thereabouts.
The soup of the day was a big bowl of home made cabbage and bacon soup. It was a bit of a leap of faith to choose this, but, let me tell you, it was absolutely top notch. Thick without being cloying and rich without being sickly, it was heaven in a bowl. I don't think you could get more seasonal - or more local. A twist of black pepper made it a 10/10 for both of us.
Our sandwiches were plump with ham (my friend's) and beef (mine). Although they were just half rounds, they were large enough to accompany the soup without being too filling. Plenty of mayo and horseradish completed the meal, along with a generous pot of tea for two!
I would imagine that Caffi Florence would be absolutely buzzing in the spring and summer. It's a real winner after a stroll along the Leet or an afternoon tobogganing nearby.
We will definitely return, for their other produce and cakes looked oh so tempting, too....
An 8/10, as the seats were a bit hard and it was a tad clinical.

Bodidris Hall, Llandegla

My friend was very excited when I proposed lunch here, one cold Thursday in February 2010. It had been featured on a programme shown on BBC Wales, 'Hotel Stephanie' and one of its promotions was 'All lunches £5.00'.
What would we get for our fiver?
If it's dramatic locations you're after, they don't come much better than this. A mile-long drive leads up to the house, through fields and park land; arriving at the hall is almost (but not quite) a disappointment.
Bodidris has a long history (a quick google will find it far quicker than I can write it) and its character has been 'sympathetically' maintained. A suit of armour greets you at the door, but then service becomes much more personal as you step into the bar/lounge.
Deep filled, squashy sofas and comfy chairs surround low tables; oak panelling and a huge fire complete the ambiance of a 'gentlemen's club'. First impressions - very positive.
More good impressions - quite an extensive choice for our 'fiver'.
Chef's soup of the day was minestrone, which we both chose. To accompany this, my friend opted for ham on brown bread with mustard mayo and I chose brie, red onion and roasted pepper on brown.

The soup was tasty, chunky and hot. Not perhaps top notch, but, for value for money, could not be faulted.
My friend tucked into her sandwich with gusto and pronounced it 'delicious'.
Mine was not quite what it promised to be. Being curious, I opened my sandwich, which revealed the total lack of red onion and a small bowl of red onion confit followed swiftly. I also have to report that the peppers were raw, not roasted. I was informed that the sous-chef had 'roasted them, but not for long'. I do not wish to malign that bit of information - but they were, indeed, raw.
However, the sandwich was tasty enough (despite its shortcomings) and we were offered tea/coffee 'on the house' by way of recompense.
I would say that, perhaps, I was unlucky with my choice. The place was full - and soup and sandwiches seemed a popular option from the fiver menu.
It certainly would not stop me returning - or ordering the same sandwich, although if the same mistakes were repeated, I know I'd think seriously about the qualities of the chef.
So, if it's value for money you want in plush surroundings, this is the venue for you. Take a camera - the view from the front of the hall is stunning.
I'd love to give it a 10/10, but it let itself down, so a 7/10 from me.

The Druid Inn, Llanferres

Nestled in the outstandingly beautiful countryside of the Clwydian Range, the Druid is a picture post-card inn of great character.
We visited one Thursday in January 2010, when the snow was thick on the ground and icicles clung to the black and white eaves.
Inside, a black and white cat lies snuggled on a settle and, in front of a roaring log fire, locals gather round the bar, pint in hand, puzzling over the crossword. The landlady greets you personally and the eclectic tables are filled with ramblers - and their dogs. It is indeed a happy pub.
There is a huge variety of 'specials', written on a blackboard by the bar, but we eschewed these in favour of a simple 'soup and sandwiches' menu for £6.50.
We chose mushroom and garlic soup; thankfully, the garlic was there to provide a base note and didn't dominate the soup, which had a deeply satisfying, mushroomy flavour. Chunks of mushrooms leant a subtle texture to the creaminess of the soup.
Alongside were our sandwiches; rare beef for me and ham for my friend - and plenty of it. A small pot of horseradish accompanied mine, with creamy mayo for the ham.
It was everything we could have wished for - great ambience, prompt and friendly service and a tasty, value for money mid-week lunch. The view from the window (if you're lucky enough to get a window seat) must rank as one of the best in Wales.
I can't wait for the summer, so we can eat on the terrace - we may not want soup and sandwiches in hot weather, so I will be interested to see what will be on offer.
I thoroughly recommend this pub - but don't go when we're there, as we want to window seat, please!!
Overall, 10/10 - can't be faulted for a mid week meal.

Sheldrakes, Heswall

We visited Sheldrakes a few days before Christmas, 2009. The weather wasn't kind to us - it snowed early in the morning and during our visit, but it gave a certain eerie feel to the wild views across the Welsh hills from the restaurant windows.
I have long wanted to visit Sheldrakes, as it used to be the Clubhouse for the Dee sailing club - when there was water in the river Dee!! Dad used to be a member and most of my weekends were spent crewing for him. I remember it well.
I had booked well in advance, but (perhaps due to the weather and its rather out of the way location) it was quite disappointingly empty and lacked atmosphere.
We were seated by the window and I savoured the magnificent view. A huge fire crackled in the hearth and the anticipation of the Christmas meal was high.
Our waitress was very attentive and we were soon plied with our (non alcoholic) drinks and a menu.
We both chose a starter of potato and rosemary soup with pancetta. It was everything I expect from a soup - smooth, creamy and properly seasoned. It was served with warm crusty bread and we couldn't fault it.
My friend had chosed Cheshire turkey with all the trimmings and I went for curried monkfish with butternut and pinenut risotto with watercress and parmesan velouté. This is where the meal started its descent into mediocrity.
My friend's vegetables were like bullets - she sent them back, but they still returned like bullets.
Meanwhile I was searching for the curry on the monkfish. I swear the chef must have thrown it on from the safety of the Welsh hills, for there was none to be found. Nor, I have to say, was there any sign of a watercress velouté. When this was pointed out to the waitress, she did offer to change my monkfish, but, having already made inroads into it, I declined, for it would have been unfair and greedy to accept a second portion that I knew I couldn't eat.
In order to redeem themselves, they offered us a dessert 'on the house'. There was nothing that took our fancy, so we accepted one platter of cheese and biscuits to share between us. Four wedges of different cheeses appeared, with a disappointing cracker selection. One of the cheeses purported to be 'Mrs Kirkham's Smoked Lancashire cheese'. It certainly wasn't smoked - neither, I think, was it of the Lancashire variety. It was served with 'chef's own' chutney of the lip-smackingly vinegary kind.
By this time, we'd lost the will to complain, especially about a platter that was 'on the house', though, had I been paying for it, I would certainly have made my views known.
So, would we return?

Probably, on a wonderful sunny summer's day, when we could sit out and take full advantage if this restaurant's perfect location. I would give one chance for Sheldrakes to redeem its reputation, but, for a pricey menu, it would have to be utterly perfect next time.

Somehow, I don't think it will be.

A miserly 5/10 for their Christmas meal effort.

Cabbage Hall, Little Budworth, Cheshire

This was one of our first meals out - and also one of our most expensive. We visited in the summer of 2009, on a Friday; the place was busy.
It is an elegant ' gastro-pub', with a warm welcome, friendly, helpful staff and an extensive menu.
The idea of blogging hadn't occurred to me at the time, so scant attention was paid to remembering what we ate. Suffice to say, I had a delicious creamy risotto, cooked to just the right consistency. It must have made an impression, as we decided to return late Autumn, 2009.
Again, the welcome was warm and friendly, but the restaurant almost deserted. I'm sure that this is not the case at weekends and evenings, but it was a pleasure to have a choice of tables.
We both decided on a home-made beefburger and chips, but were advised by the waitress, that the chips were scant on the plate. Being hungry, we ordered a side portion of chips.
When our plates arrived, both of us regretted ordering yet more chips, as there were, indeed, plenty nestling around the plump beefy burger. However, our second portion of chips duly arrived, 9 chunky chips carefully stacked in neat precision.
We were overwhelmed!
Much to our regret, we left a lot on our plates.
We both pronounced our burgers 'excellent' and enjoyed the view of Autumn sunshine playing through the last of the golden leaves in the charming garden.
At £10.95 per burger, plus extra for chips and drinks, it was not a cheap lunch, but one that we enjoyed for the sheer elegance of the surroundings.
Whilst we would return, I think we would be more cautious about what we chose from their lunch menu. Nothing is 'cheap', but it is all good quality, freshly cooked and nicely presented. Somewhere 'for a bit of a blow-out'.
8/10 for food, 9/10 for surroundings.

The quest begins

I've always wanted to be a 'lady who lunches'. Now, I am!
I became self employed last year, at the same time as a friend of mine was made redundant. We decided to find the best midweek lunch to be had in and around North Wales.
Each week, we will find a different pub - how hard can that be?
As it turns out, not very hard at all.
I shall base my reviews on:
General ambience
Staff friendliness
Food/price
Anything else that takes my fancy!!

With hungry husbands to feed in the evening, we only want 'lite bites' - but will push the boat out occasionally!!

It should be an interesting blog! I shall enjoy the 'research'!