I found another good lunch stop in Southwold. You can't miss the Blyth Hotel as you arrive in the town. It's not on the seafront, just a short walk away. The bar and dining area has a rustic look and some great dishes on the blackboard. I had a roast beef and horseradish sandwich which arrived with some chips and a little pot of homemade coleslaw.
...from the football perspective you understand. We had to go to try it - what with Dad being eighty-something and from Norfolk. It was certainly worth the trip, simple and stylish with a no frills friendly local service and good home-made food. And they certainly pay attention to their bookings as the birthday card was a complete surprise. We had champagne, a three course menu with two very nice wines for around £39 a head, and so as a tribute we feature Delia on our Dish of the Day.
Well, at last we managed to get a table at The Dark Horse. We were going to have an aperitif in the bar area but my moth phobic daughter would not sit next to the display of moths and butterflies in the glass case, so we headed straight for the table instead. The menu includes many restaurant classics and I tried the scallops with pea puree which were very good. The vegetarian main course was a cabbage roulade stuffed with goats cheese and butternut squash. It was also good, but we all agreed that the starters were better than the main courses. The house wine is an aquired taste but the mint tea arrives made with fresh mint which deserves a mention. Well worth a visit if you can find it.
Dissappointing Thai food at The Beehive, Horringer, sadly spoiled by the heavy handed use of palm sugar in all of the dishes sampled. The subtle flavours of sour, salt, spice with a hint of sweetness usually associated with Thai food were totally overwhelmed. Pad Thai was so sweet that my daughter said that it reminded her of a bowl of Sugar Puffs. The Ocean Fire pictured was a mixture of fish with coconut cream and some green curry herbs and spices and the coconut rice could have been served as a dessert.
Maison Bleu are running their month in Provence special menu, which is very good value at £29.95 for three courses; the restaurant in Bury St Edmunds specialises in fish dishes. Granny took the suffolkfoodie offspring for dinner and this is what they said...
"A very good choice with at least six options for each course. Yummy food with all courses being beautifully presented and delicious."
" The staff were friendly, chatty and responsive - they all had personality"
Pictured here are the Sardine and Mackerel Rillettes, with shallots, parsley and capers and toasted bread.
Tolerant of the intolerant at The Bistro on the Quay in Ipswich
Written by Ruth
Suffolkfoodie followers, The Sparkes family, sent in this report following a very good meal at The Bistro on the Quay. Coeliac readers, give it a try and see if you agree.
This restaurant is a great example of how to get it right, from the cheerful attentive service to the beautifully presented and delicious freshly prepared food. I am a coeliac and also have some intolerance to dairy products. As soon as this was conveyed to the waiter he asked if I would like the chef to compose a separate menu just for me. Nothing is too much trouble. Such a change from the usual blank looks of ‘oh not another fussy eater’ that I normally get. A real range of starters, mains and desserts, it was hard to choose.
Recommendations - Bang Bang Chicken with peanut sauce, Grilled Sea Bass and the Grilled Thai Chicken breast. Must try - Samphire, I had never had it before. And Creme Brulee for dessert.
Yes, it is more expensive than your average pub, but then you are getting very high quality food, beautifully cooked and in a light and friendly atmosphere where you are made to feel that your custom is valued. I am going back to try the rest of the menu.
Another day at Pea Porridge - another prestigious award
Written by Claire
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We’d long been planning to try this place when going for walks along the docks at Woodbridge, particularly when it regularly announces fish soup and seafood platters. Finally we got the chance at the weekend. It’s in a great spot for watching the tide and the boats and the menu is appealing, with a good choice of wine by the glass. I went straight for the fish soup and the boys started with oysters which they loved.
Then I became obsessed with the size of the tiny kitchen and the absence of any cooking smells and it became clear that the food must be cooked elsewhere and reheated at the restaurant. Nothing wrong with that, but if I go back I will either go for afternoon tea (cakes looked delicious) or for a cold seafood platter and mixed leaf salad.
In ASK for a family celebration at the weekend. Clutching our '2 mains for 1' vouchers we ordered a variety of starters. All arrived hot and at the same time, followed by the main courses, delivered swiftly before impatience could build.
The kids tucked into their staples of garlic bread followed by pizza. I had the Capra Grill (goat's cheese on ciabatta with caramelised onions, tomato, salad and a balsamic dressing). Well presented and delicious. To follow a dish of penne with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. Very tasty, and filling.
Coffee to finish but others had desserts, with the banoffee pie in particular a high scorer. ASK can be disappointing when busy, with service and portions stretched too thinly, but I couldn't fault any aspects of this meal. The vouchers helped.
Another suffolk foodie favourite at Orford Butley Oysterage - quality fresh fish in a friendly no frills atmosphere, hand-drawn table cloths (printed obviously - they wouldn't have much time to cook) and lovely home-made puddings.
So what's happening at the Dark Horse then?
