Where we ate:
The Tudor Bar at the Hougue du Pommier Hotel
La Route de la Hougue du Pommier, Castel, Guernsey, GY5 7FQ.
When we ate:
7pm
Thursday 9 July, 2009
What we ate:
Lightly seasoned and spiced octopus
Calamari
-
Grilled haddock and chips
Steamed sole wrapped in lettuce with mustard cabbage and a lobster reduction
Brochette of salmon and scallops
Smoked haddock
Roast rack of lamb
-
Passionfruit creme brulee
Apple crumble
What we drank:
Chenin blanc
What we paid:
£22 per person for two courses plus drinks and coffee
For this impromptu family get together of nine people aged between 24 and 79 the staff at the Hougue du Pommier hotel's Tudor Bar made us feel really welcome. On a beautiful summer's evening we enjoyed a drink in the hotel's peaceful garden before entering the bar for our meal. We were given a large table where we could spread out and chat in comfort.
In addition to the usual menu there were two specials, the grilled haddock and the roast rack of lamb, and also a seafood menu (for the whole month of July). Most of us ordered either one of the specials or from the seafood menu, which was mouth-watering.
The hungriest members of our party ordered starters. The portion of calamari was reasonably sized and well presented, but the octopus' appearance was disappointing. From the description on the special seafood menu we were expecting a summery salad of dressed or marinaded fresh octopus. However the octopus had been finely chopped and curried in a mild sauce and was presented in a brown dollop in the centre of a bare white plate. The portion was also rather small. The taste was good, but didn't completely atone for the size, appearance and lack of convention of this dish.
The main courses were much more exciting, all served with crisp steamed green vegetables, intensely garlicky mushrooms and dauphinoise potatoes. I chose sole, from the seafood menu. Two substantial fillets of sole had been wrapped in lettuce and delicately steamed. The fish was nothing short of excellent. It was accompanied by some startling sour mustard cabbage and a sweet, intense lobster reduction. The combination of flavours was delightful. My fellow diners were all pleased with their main courses too and we were impressed by the efficient service from all of the friendly members of staff.
I was unwise to choose a dessert as I was actually full from the sole, however as others were indulging I chose a light-sounding passionfruit cheesecake. This was a cheesecake of two halves, or perhaps three thirds. The slim biscuit base was light, crisp and pleasantly savoury. The "cheese" was also very light, flavoured delicately with passionfruit. So far so good. Unfortunately atop the dessert was a thin disc of rubbery, gelatinous nastiness that tasted overwhelmingly of sour passionfruit. I don't have a sweet tooth and relish the sharpness of unsweetened fruit, but this was far too much of a sour, sharp taste even for my palate. The slimy, chewy texture of the passionfruit gel ruined a pretty good cheesecake. Inexplicably, it was served with a ramekin of warm custard (from a tin).
Reports of the apple crumble were much more flattering.
The waiting staff members acted only too happy to take photographs of us after our meal while we enjoyed generous pots of tea and filtered coffee (although to some guests' disappointment the hot drinks were not accompanied by a petit four or after dinner mint).
In conclusion I feel that the Tudor Bar's best feature was the temporary seafood menu. Some of the food was wonderful, but certain dishes did not make the mark and there is room for improvement in these areas. The hotel restaurant was fully booked on the Thursday evening when we visited, evidently it is popular even in the current economic downturn. The high quality service and ambience of the hotel indicate clearly that someone has put a great deal of thought into this place and this needs to be applied to the Tudor Bar menu in order to ensure that it becomes a top dining destination on the island.
Will we go back?
Yes, I think so. The hotel is beautiful and the service is welcoming and efficient. We will pick carefully from the menu and almost certainly skip dessert in future.
Monday, 13 July 2009
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Eating: Baan Thai, Guernsey
Where we ate:
Baan Thai
19 Mill Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1HG.
When we ate:
8.30pm
Wednesday 30 June, 2009
What we ate:
Subtly spiced pork kebabs
Spicy clear sour soup with ginger, lemongrass and prawns
Green curry with chicken
Steamed Jasmine rice
Glass noodles with chillied prawns
What we drank:
Singha
What we paid:
We didn't! Just £14 for the drinks and a tip. I was the lucky winner of a £25 voucher to spend on food at this delightful restaurant.
The restaurant is usually open on Sunday evenings, which is rather unusual in Guernsey. We wanted to dine at Baan Thai on Sunday 28 June, but the restaurant was closed just for the day so we booked for two nights' later instead. It was worth the wait!
We were greeted warmly and offered a choice of tables plus a recommendation to sit near the open door where there was a welcome breeze on this hot, sticky evening. Freshly made prawn crackers were brought to the table immediately with the menu and our drink order was taken. The menu included a wine list and the daily special, which was a choice of yellow curries. The prawn crackers were crunchy and full of chilli flavour, a culinary universe away from the greasy, smelly freebies offered with so many Chinese takeaways.
Each dish on the menu was explained clearly and it took us a while to choose between many enticing options. When our order was taken we were asked how spicy we would like each of the dishes.
The starters of clear sour soup with prawns and the spiced pork kebabs arrived swiftly. Both dishes were presented beautifully. The soup was hotter than expected, but not overpowering and all of the different flavours could be recognised. The pork was spiced well, resulting in a buzz of heat in the mouth but no discomfort in the throat.
The main courses followed and once again we were in awe of the spectacular arrangement of the brightly coloured food on the plates. The green curry was a perfect example of this popular Thai dish, it was fragrant and packed with moist slivers of chicken. The texture of the Jasmine rice complemented the coconut milky curry sauce. The glass noodles were deliciously aromatic and the number of prawns was generous. Our crisp beers were an ideal, neutral accompaniment to the many different taste sensations of the food.
The portions were right for us as we hate both waste and gluttony. If you come to Baan Thai really hungry, or skip the starter, you may wish to order a side dish to accompany your meal.
The service was friendly and efficient and we felt comfortable in this small, tastefully decorated restaurant. Traditional Thai music helps to set the scene. For those who detest to be "pestered" while eating with frequent questions from eager waiting staff, this is the perfect place. We did have to attract the waitress's attention deliberately on several occasions and then she came to our table instantly. The dishes are excellently prepared and presented and the laidback service showcases them deservedly. If you visit Baan Thai expect some great food, but be prepared to be left to your own devices.
Will we go back?
Yes, with our own hard-earned cash.
Baan Thai
19 Mill Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1HG.
When we ate:
8.30pm
Wednesday 30 June, 2009
What we ate:
Subtly spiced pork kebabs
Spicy clear sour soup with ginger, lemongrass and prawns
Green curry with chicken
Steamed Jasmine rice
Glass noodles with chillied prawns
What we drank:
Singha
What we paid:
We didn't! Just £14 for the drinks and a tip. I was the lucky winner of a £25 voucher to spend on food at this delightful restaurant.
The restaurant is usually open on Sunday evenings, which is rather unusual in Guernsey. We wanted to dine at Baan Thai on Sunday 28 June, but the restaurant was closed just for the day so we booked for two nights' later instead. It was worth the wait!
We were greeted warmly and offered a choice of tables plus a recommendation to sit near the open door where there was a welcome breeze on this hot, sticky evening. Freshly made prawn crackers were brought to the table immediately with the menu and our drink order was taken. The menu included a wine list and the daily special, which was a choice of yellow curries. The prawn crackers were crunchy and full of chilli flavour, a culinary universe away from the greasy, smelly freebies offered with so many Chinese takeaways.
Each dish on the menu was explained clearly and it took us a while to choose between many enticing options. When our order was taken we were asked how spicy we would like each of the dishes.
The starters of clear sour soup with prawns and the spiced pork kebabs arrived swiftly. Both dishes were presented beautifully. The soup was hotter than expected, but not overpowering and all of the different flavours could be recognised. The pork was spiced well, resulting in a buzz of heat in the mouth but no discomfort in the throat.
The main courses followed and once again we were in awe of the spectacular arrangement of the brightly coloured food on the plates. The green curry was a perfect example of this popular Thai dish, it was fragrant and packed with moist slivers of chicken. The texture of the Jasmine rice complemented the coconut milky curry sauce. The glass noodles were deliciously aromatic and the number of prawns was generous. Our crisp beers were an ideal, neutral accompaniment to the many different taste sensations of the food.
The portions were right for us as we hate both waste and gluttony. If you come to Baan Thai really hungry, or skip the starter, you may wish to order a side dish to accompany your meal.
The service was friendly and efficient and we felt comfortable in this small, tastefully decorated restaurant. Traditional Thai music helps to set the scene. For those who detest to be "pestered" while eating with frequent questions from eager waiting staff, this is the perfect place. We did have to attract the waitress's attention deliberately on several occasions and then she came to our table instantly. The dishes are excellently prepared and presented and the laidback service showcases them deservedly. If you visit Baan Thai expect some great food, but be prepared to be left to your own devices.
Will we go back?
Yes, with our own hard-earned cash.
Sick
I have been suffering from a sore throat since Sunday evening when, right before bedtime, I felt a horrible sensation like a coating of concrete over the back of my throat. The pain has improved, but a repeatedly running nose, headache, dizziness and horrible high temperature have all taken its place. The bedroom is too hot and too noisy for resting during the day so I have spent most of the last three days listening to music on the computer and getting frustrated when singing along results in a painful coughing fit. In short I am feeling sorry for myself and the sticky, hot weather and terrible daytime television schedule have only made the situation worse.
I am dreading returning to work tomorrow. I know I will be unable to control my body temperature and will feel sweaty and uncomfortable within moments of entering the office regardless of what I wear. I will have to check whether anyone has helped out with any of my work and whether any new tasks have arisen since Monday - often extracting this kind of information from my colleagues can be like the proverbial letting of blood from a stone. I enjoy many aspects of my job and I do like my colleagues' company, but I loathe the office environment and the constrains of not, for example, being able to work naked, with music on or at the time of day that I choose. In future I hope that employers will take advantage of technological advances and enable staff to work from home more frequently, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of commuters.
At least it is lucky that my three days of illness have coincided with three out of very few netball-free days in the year. I haven't missed out on any training or games which is a relief.
SC
I am dreading returning to work tomorrow. I know I will be unable to control my body temperature and will feel sweaty and uncomfortable within moments of entering the office regardless of what I wear. I will have to check whether anyone has helped out with any of my work and whether any new tasks have arisen since Monday - often extracting this kind of information from my colleagues can be like the proverbial letting of blood from a stone. I enjoy many aspects of my job and I do like my colleagues' company, but I loathe the office environment and the constrains of not, for example, being able to work naked, with music on or at the time of day that I choose. In future I hope that employers will take advantage of technological advances and enable staff to work from home more frequently, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of commuters.
At least it is lucky that my three days of illness have coincided with three out of very few netball-free days in the year. I haven't missed out on any training or games which is a relief.
SC
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
