As I have mentioned in previous musings I have a friend of several years, Jane who I met through the plus size community. We try to get together as much as possible, however over the past few months it has been pretty tricky.

This has been due to timing, work, illnesses and more.

However we chose a date in the future that we would definitely meet (unless something catastrophic happened) and that was last Thursday.

Jane has suggested a local hotel situated halfway between the two of us. So on a windy cold March night I put on a dress, quickly slapped on some makeup and headed out.

Bit of a rush…

The hotel has been in my past for over 25 years. It was the place I spent my Wedding Night and I have been to many events and other weddings there since, including the beautiful Sara and Shaun’s nuptials.

Wonderful Wedding…

Anyway, we arrived just before our reservation and the hotel was pretty busy. I had never eaten there before so didn’t know just what to expect.

Wedding Guest

The menu was pretty comprehensive but my eyes spotted my favourite; Pork belly.

Now, Pork was not a meat I would ever eat before. Just a memory from childhood of not liking it, and it put me off.

Thankfully many years later I had my opinions changed by my brother in law and I was so glad he did!

Now, if Pork Belly is on the menu it is the thing I always choose.

The Hotel had Twice cooked pork belly with cauliflower and apple mash, seasonal greens with an apple cider sauce. I added a side portion of cauliflower cheese.

Perfect.

Jane went with their Prime rump beef burger with old Nick cheddar, salad, red pepper mayonnaise and chips.

The food arrived in a short time and it looked beautiful. My pork was simply wonderful. The tastes exploded in my mouth and the combination of flavours really worked.

Twice Cooked Pork

The meat was so tender, the mash smooth (although I could have done with twice as much) and the apple cider sauce was sweet and yet sour.

The cauliflower cheese looked a little watery as I poured it onto my plate, but I was so wrong. The sauce thickened as it coated the cauliflower and had a fabulous taste.

So Damn Good

Of course, there was not a scrap left on the plate!

Jane enquired if we were doing pudding.

Well, I was pretty stuffed but had noticed a Baked Alaska on the menu which had piqued my interest.

In fact it was a Baked Alaska with cherry ice cream, vanilla sponge and Kirsch marinated cherries which came flamed at the table.

Well, that sounded quite fancy.

In fact, we both ordered it and a young lady arrived with a bottle of alcohol, large spoon and a lighter.

Flaming Good

Personally I would have been worried that I might set my hair (or eyebrows) on fire and said that to the server. She told me she worries every time she had to do it!

And she had to do it twice at our table.

I have to say that it was really worth it. The sponge was thin and actually crispy, the ice cream so creamy and the marinated cherries were tart and tasty.

After I blew it out

It didn’t last on the plate very long at all.

We sat talking for a little while before getting the bill. As our choices were very similar in price we decided to split the bill right down the middle and at just over £28 it was excellent quality and in my opinion, perfectly priced.

Before leaving we hashed out the date of our next evening out, in just over three weeks. We just need a different location to try out.

A full tummy

Jane and I went out into the cold Spring air, hurried into our cars and turned the heating up!

Till the next time,

SPSG xxx