Birthday brunch at Smiths of Smithfield

Sunday 19th I had a birthday brunch at Smiths of Smithsfield with friends. Again I have been here before too. Its got a trendy London feel with a very good menu - you would be hard pushed to not find something to eat. Its a very relaxed if not noisy environment with a mix of large long benches and smaller round tables.

From my past visit I can recommend the Marconi cheese with smoked haddock, this time however I went for the homemade soup of the day - Leek and Potato with a thick slice of buttered white bread on the side. I was a little disappointed to find out that it was the thick liquidated type not the liquid type with chunks.

I know a very boring order but to be honest a heavy night drinking in Brighton the night before I just really fancied soup!

So not a huge amount to report back really...

Food - good
Drinks - good
Service - OK
Environment - not good - too noisy

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Rivington at Greenwich

Thursday 16th I visited the Rivington in Greenwich a restaurant offering great British food all sourced from the UK and Ireland. Choose from their restaurant menu or small bar menu either way you wont be disappointed. I have been there a few times now and enjoyed every time.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the Rivington is in fact part of the Caprice group which for all of those that dont know is the group that owns, the Ivy, Scott's, J.Sheekey, Daphne's and well most of the good ones in London!

This time we both had the Rivington Burger from the bar menu which was less than £10 and very good value for money in my opinion - it was a very good size portion home made burger cooked to order - in my case medium all severed open on a wood board with a side of yummy fat chips.

As I said I have eaten there before the restaurant isnt cheap but worth the prices. The food and the service is very good, a small seating area down stairs and a small outdoor area too.

But dont listen to me go and check it out for your self.

And if you are interested I have included a (rather bad) picture of my burger!

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Delicious Indian takeaway from Old Harlow, Essex

Tried and tested the best Indian takeaway I know. The Raj Lodge restaurant is the one we always get our takeaways from when back in Essex. We ordered a small feast tonight and it was bloody lovely the best I've had for ages, I wiped the plate clean with the tasty naan bread and even went back for seconds! I am rather odd (well thats what i'm told. I dont think I am) I cant take heat, so when it comes to curry I'm a Korma, Pasanda girl and if there is a slight hint of heat its game over and I will sulk for the rest of the evening so when I get a tasting good curry it makes me really very happy. Needless to say I ended up with a Pasanda, rice and Aloo Saag. 

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Simple cheap pub grub in Mawnan Smith

Dinner at the Red Lion in Mawnan Smith was cheap eats; main course and drinks for 5 was under £75. Now I thought that was very good value for money. Again the Doom Bar featured and also the faithful Sauvignon blanc. Nothing fancy just a pub restaurant in a small village serving pub grub. It had a good menu something for everyone and a good specials board. I had the Mushrooms Stroganoff, others had; steak pie, Sea Bass fillet, lasagne with chips and plaice, it was just what we needed. We were in and out with in an hour and a bit. 

I'd say it was good for what it was and it didnt break the bank 

atmosphere: 1.5/5
service: 3/5
food: 3/5
drink: 3/5
value for money: 4/5

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Cream tea at the castle

We decided to visit St Michaels Mount while we were down in Cornwall this week. Whilst there we thought would should try out their cream tea. So it was cream tea's all round. I can gladly report that we were not disappointed! 2 large homemade scones severed with yummy Rodda's Cornish cream. I shared mine with my boyfriend and it was plenty for 2. It was delicious and very naughty, all made that much nicer after walking around the grounds and house steeped in history with views out to sea. 

The over all experience was lovely but not with out a hefty tourist price tag I am afraid. Especially if you don't get your times right and the causeway gets swallowed up by the tide. We paid £2.50 to park, £1.50 each to get the 2min ferry over and the £8 to look around the house. 

atmosphere: 3/5
service: 3/5
food: 5/5
drink: 4/5
value for money: 2/5

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Alright at the The Shipwight Arms

We started our evening by jumping into our friends boat to get across the Helford River to the Helford village and mooring up at the Helford River Sailing Club where we began the night with a large glass of wine for the girls and Doom Bar's for the boys out on the terrace. 

Then it was on to The Shipwright Arms (01326 231235) down the way for a bite to eat. This pub sits just on the rivers edge with the most breath taking views of the Helford River and bundles of outside space for you to fully appreciate them. 

We arrived for a late dinner, around 8.30/9pm which did unfortunately upset our ordering: no steak and no lobster, very disappointing as I wanted the lobster and several others at our table wanted the steak. 

Anyway we ordered accordingly, I opted for the crab salad (seen as I couldn't have lobster it seemed like the next best thing) others ordered, steak pie, pork chops, and some Thai pork dish with rice. Our food arrived, large hearty potions with side salad baskets and massive plastic mixing bowls full of pub chips.  There was a guy out side cooking the last of the steaks and the other meat dishes on a large brick barbecue, which was a nice touch. Sadly though the food was very average, I found a lot of shell in my crab and the thai dish, and I quote, 'resembled a pot noodle'. Having said that the menu wasn't very pricey, you could eat for about £8-15 and as I said they were big meals. 

The best thing about the evening was sitting out side eating and drinking with friend looking out on to the river. We have been here before and it was once an old stomping ground for one of our party. It isn't going to set the culinary world a light but it is a lovely little gem and if you keep your expectations in check then you will on be let down.

atmosphere: 5/5
service: 4/5
food: 2/5
drink: 3/5
value for money: 3/5

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Oysters on the river

This week I'm down in Cornwall. Helford Passage to be exact, situated just on the north side of the Helford River. A beautiful place that we have visited before and will, I am sure continue you to for many more summers to come. Amazing views and great sailing. 

This evening we visited what used to be the local pub but is now and has been for the last two years a swanky oyster bar called The Ferry Boat Inn. This discovery upon arrival received a mixed response from our party. So there was nothing left to do but to try out the new (or not so new) local restaurant out for ourselves. Also with it being the only local watering hole and eatery it would be rude not to.

6 of us turned up without booking a table on a raining Monday night, we thought with it being towards the end of the season and it being a Monday night we would be fine but when we got  there at 8pm it was packed both inside and out! Lucky they have have a small bistro set towards the back of the restaurant which was empty where there was a large table waiting for us. 

We obviously ordered the local Helford River oysters farmed just around the corner at the historic Duchy of Cornwall Oyster Farm, 5 fresh regular oysters and 5 deep fried oysters to share. I must confess I couldn't bring myself to even try the deep fried ones, normally I will try anything but this time I just couldn't. So I played it safe with the plan oysters with a squeeze lemon. We were quite disappointed to find out that they only had 9 oysters left! Which considering it's an oyster bar and it was only 8.15pm is quite poor form.  

Main course they had a great selection of fish and meat dishes including lobster and chips for £18.50 (this being the most expenses dish on the menu) and a competent specials board. Most of us ordered from this, braised ox cheek with horseradish mash, Haddock and chips, fish pie and I had the grilled plaice with chips. 

Over all the meal was lovely, the only complaint was that the fish pie was so hot you had to wait a good 10 minutes before you could safely eat, to which we could only concluded that it must have been nuked in the microwave. 

The Ferry Boat Inn does has the most amazing views of the Helford River with lots of outdoor seating which in my books is an absolute must! 

So if your ever in the area I would throughly recommend it! 

Venue: 3/5 

Location: 5/5

Food: 3/5

Drink: 4/5

Value for money: 3.5/5

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A bite to eat in Marylebone High Street

Food with friends is one of life's greatest pleasures. Made even better with a bottle or two of wine!

This week I went to The Prince Regent on Marylebone High Street for just that. We walked in around 9pm ordered a bottle of their house white and the sharing plate for two with a side order of mini pies. 

The pub has a lovely atmosphere and is very welcoming, my friend had recommended and we were not disappointed. Decked out in rich warm red's, gold's, purple's and green's with large gold gilt mirrors and beautiful chandeliers all of which inspired by the regency period, it is very pleasing to the eye and added to its incredibly inviting character.

We sat and chatted on the lavish red velvet sofa whist drinking our very reasonably priced bottle of wine, during which we had our cutlery and condiments brought over to us by a lovely, friendly guy and a few moments later our food arrived. Over all the food was ok not brilliant, it was a very good size and a good selection for a sharing plate. 

I will defiantly go back and I would also recommend it too. Its a lovely pub that serves pub food, its as simple as that and to be honest if its great food your after there are plenty of restaurants along the street to choose from. 

atmosphere: 5/5
service: 5/5
food: 3/5
wine: 3/5
value for money: 4/5





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Exhibition launch

On Wednesday my friend and I went along to the opening of a new photographic exhibition, 'B Sides London' at Fiumana Fine Art Gallery in the lovely Connaught village.

The exhibition: Small and compact, worth checking out when your next in the village.
To drink: Piper-Heidsieck champagne in fabulous branded red saucer champagne glasses.
To eat: Posh chocolate truffles of some sort? not to good.

You can see more of Dunsch's work on his site at www.oliver-dunsch.com.

we were give a signed limited edition print of this when we arrived, which was a nice touch.

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