Eating Out in August

August was a month of anniversary celebrations, The Great British Menu, holidays and, you guessed it, food… lots of food.

Lord Crewe Arms
Mr F did a grand job of finding this gem of a place for a weekend away. Sitting right in the centre of the historic village of Blanchland, not far from Hexham, the Lord Crewe Arms is steeped in history. Our room was part of the old Abbey, and the original stained glass and window seat provided the perfect place to watch the world go by.
We primarily stayed for some time out and a chance to walk but the Lord Crewe provided a simple menu focusing on local ingredients that were executed well. The fish and the flat iron steak dishes were particularly flavoursome and cooked well. Other dishes didn’t quite hit the mark but overall we enjoyed the food as part of a wonderful place to stay and relax.

Oshibi
This place has been on my list for some time and it didn’t disappoint. You have to be prepared for anything. Even if you have booked a table it doesn’t necessarily mean there is a table for you but it’s the worth the roulette! Oshibi has a feel of eating in someone’s home about it; the sense of welcome suggesting you are friends going round for dinner. The menu says that Korean dining is informal. Yes, yes it is and I loved it. Before we had even decided what to eat we were gifted a soju shot. I’m not sure what it was but the evening brightened up after drinking it. We opted for the Korean table grill. There was a sense of fun in cooking our own strips of meat and enjoying the range of kimchis and dips that went alongside it, these were a real highlight of the meal. The lightly picked garlic was bursting with flavour and the kimchis brought the dish alive.
We also ordered some yachae mandu (vegetable dumplings) which I’d definitely order again. Oshibi is definitely somewhere to go again and again. It’s quirky and chaotic at times but the food holds its own and there is nowhere else quite like it. That is what makes it somewhere special.

A Great British Menu evening at the House of Tides
I have York on a Fork to thank for ensuring we didn’t miss out on this incredible evening. There are not many opportunities to have your evening planned and cooked for you by three outstanding chefs. The different styles and influences of each chef complimented each other throughout the menu beautifully with no sense of competition. A series of snacks were a fitting start to an evening that felt celebratory. The pork and smoked eel bonbon was an absolute triumph and the carrot and fennel pollen macaron so delicate yet full of flavour. Following the snacks we got into the main dishes from each chef starting with Josh Overington’s strawberry and nasturtium dish. This one messed with my head, the balance of flavours and temperatures making you really think about what you were eating and the granola adding a wonderful texture. It was a stunning dish and one of my favourites of the night. Next up was Danny Parker’s salad twenty two. The complex flavours were balanced so beautifully and I found myself wanted to pay attention to every mouthful and really appreciate each distinct ingredient. Next we had the fish course that got Tommy Banks to the GBM banquet: Turbot, strawberries and cream. At the time I watched this on TV I remember thinking Tommy had gone quite quite mad but oh my was I proved wrong. It was a stunning dish. Even more pleasing for me was that the strawberries come from my local farm shop. This was another of my favourites of the night. The colour, flavours and textures were a marriage made in heaven. Next up was the Gloucester old spot, pineapple and onion by Danny Parker. I love pineapple and it was a real hit in this dish. We then moved on to desserts and the first by Josh Overington completed my top three of the evening. A wild herb pannacotta with the wonderful flavour and fragrance of woodruff making it an absolute delight to eat. Last but not least was Tommy Banks hay time dessert that was an adaptation from the original to include a little ice cream slider. I enjoyed the dish but it didn’t have the same strength of flavour to sit alongside the rest of the menu. We finished the evening off with some stunning chocolates and coffee before heading back on the train. The skill and passion for food that these chefs brought to the table will last long in my memory, what a spectacular evening.

A trip home to Northern Ireland:

Ocho Tapas
I’ve heard a lot about Ocho Tapas and we finally got the chance to book a table. Our timing wasn’t brilliant as half the world was in Portrush for a band championship but we successfully parked the car and recovered with a glass of wine while perusing the menu. This isn’t a typical tapas place, the dishes are tapas in style in that they are a series of small plates but this is ‘small’ Northern Irish style so expect to eat rather a lot! The highlights were lamb with cauliflower and the goats cheese croquettes with beetroot pannacotta. Both very different, the lamb dish rustic, robust and packing a punch, the goats cheese and beetroot refined, delicate and light. In many ways these sum up Ocho Tapas. It’s eclectic but there are little delights along the way and I’d recommend you go visit.

Harry’s Shack
I cannot go home without a visit to Harry’s Shack. It is completely my kind of place with a focus on local fish and seafood cooked to perfection. August visits always mean lobster. I mean, why wouldn’t you….

Ursa Minor Bakehouse
A trip home also also means bread and cakes at Ursa Minor and this time we got to visit their new, bigger, Bakehouse and cafe in Ballycastle. It is a fantastic place to spend a morning. The new cafe is beautifully designed and the ability to go downstairs and see the Bakehouse just adds to the enjoyment.

Pizza nights at Lost and Found
The new Friday night opening at L&F provided the perfect excuse to catch up with friends and enjoy great food. The pizza menu is small but perfectly formed. Be warned though it gets very busy so make sure you get there early!

Babushka
You’ve probably worked out already that we spend a LOT of time here. The coffee is perfect, the food a joy to eat, the people a joy to know and the view: nowhere else on earth like it. That’s all I need to say.

Harry’s Derry
A first visit to the new restaurant in the Craft Village. Full review here: https://www.frivolitea.co.uk/2017/09/01/harrys-craft-village-derry/

Eating out in July

July was another great month of eating with friends, inspiring young chefs and a weekend by the sea.

Riley’s Fish Shack

There is nothing better than local fish and seafood cooked simply and you can’t get any better than Riley’s Fish Shack.  A wooden shack nestled in St Edward’s Bay in Tynemouth using a wood fired oven to do most of the cooking – it’s perfect.  The food is sensational and tasting the sea air as you eat it is a little slice of heaven.  Be prepared to queue. Trust me it is worth the wait and you might want to get an extra portion of the potatoes, one portion isn’t enough.

The Chefs of Tomorrow Project at Le Cochon Aveugle

We are great fans of Dan Doherty and have been following this project for a while. We were delighted that the project decided to move out of London and come to York, allowing young chefs in our area to showcase their talent.  This was an evening I won’t forget in a hurry and makes me very excited about the future of food in our region.  The young chefs from Arras, Home, The Black Swan at Oldstead and Le Cochon Aveugle showed such skill and talent in a rather daunting setting. The starter of eel ramen created by Luke from Arras was up there with the best.

Lunch at Skosh

Yes I know, we went again but the food is incredible and exceptionally good value.  The pineapple, rum and smoke cocktail was mind blowing and I partularly loved the new smoked trout dish.

 

York on a Fork’s first Streetfood Sunday

Streetfood Sunday at the Fulford Arms is the brilliant idea of York on a Fork.  A selection of streetfood (this month by Street Cleaver and Ruby’s Kitchen) great beer and sitting in the sun with friends; there is no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Follow York on a Fork on Twitter or Facebook to find out about dates and go along if you can.

A weekend in Scarborough

I will find any excuse to escape to the sea.  I love the summer months when we can escape in the van and enjoy local food.  This is the first time we tried The Plough at Scalby and we were impressed.  The local lobster was a big hit and they had a great selection of local beers and gins.  We will definitely go back.

No trip to Scarborough is complete with a trip to Cowshed. A particular favourite of ours and the sweet potato fries are amazing.  Make sure you book as it gets really busy.

A weekend in Edinburgh: Norn

I was rather excited to book Norn.  It’s been on the list ever since I read Marina O’Louglin’s review in the Guardian.  This place is incredible. It uses lots of techniques to preserve native ingredients and takes even the humble carrot and makes it the most flavoursome thing you’ve ever eaten. The natural wines list is also rather spectacular.  I loved the blurred lines between the kitchen and front of house as chefs brought out the dishes to the table and I would fight people for that bread and butter. Oh my it’s delicious.

If you are looking for somewhere relaxed to enjoy wine, charcuterie and cheese in Edinburgh then look no further than Smith and  Gertrude.  I love this place and go every time I’m in Edinburgh. The staff are great, the ever changing wine selection always has something exciting on it and the food just right to while away a few hours on an evening.

Eating Out in June

As June started we were still in the Lakes, it was another exciting month of food, kickstarters and learning about food.

Gilpin Spice

This place is just wonderful.  The decor and the food is vibrant and exciting.  The joy of small plates also means you can try lots of things and a seat (well more a sofa) at the bar meant we saw everything. The pork belly – sublime!

A Kickstarter Lunch at Norse

It was great to see Norse in its new home and enjoy the lunch we’d bought as part of the Kickstarter.  Norse feels much more grown up in its own venue. The decor is beautiful and the food refined.

 

A lesson in Italian cookery with Sara Danesin and a BBQ afternoon at Cave du Cochon

I love my husband’s family. They organised for me to have a lesson in Italian cookery with Sara and what an afternoon it was.  I was so grateful to Sara who planned a menu for me to work on that also focussed on some core skills and flavours.  It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

After the lesson I had a great afternoon in the sun with friends. Those of you who follow me on Instagram will know that Cave du Cochon is a favourite place of mine.  Mr F and I enjoy nothing more than an evening with a glass of wine or two sat at the bar.  It was great to enjoy a sunny afternoon with friends and Josh Overington cooking chicken on the BBQ.

The Pig and Whistle

I’d been following the lead up to the Pig and Whistle’s opening on twitter with great anticipation and was eager to see what James Allcock would bring to Beverley.  We were not disappointed! The menu is a great mix of charcuterie, cheeses and small plates.  I was particularly pleased to see Young Buck cheese on the menu ( I’m fiercely loyal to my homeland and home town and I LOVE cheese as you know) Mr F woke up the next morning and his first words to me were ‘ that tartfilette was amazing!’

Blanchette Brick Lane

A work trip to London allowed for a visit to the newer branch of Blanchette on Brick Lane.  Just as fantastic as their Soho restaurant. Wonderfully flavoured small plates that bring a smile to my face.

 

Eating out in May

So it turns out May was a pretty spectacular food month!

The Man Behind The Curtain

I have to admit I wasn’t sure what to expect or whether Michael O’Hare’s food would be my thing but I could not fault the creative flare or skill that went in to this meal. It was extraordinary and well worth a visit.

 

A return to Northern Ireland: Brunch at Haptik

Newtownards is definitely a much more interesting place now that Haptik is in town.  Rachel and Jonathan McBride have created a fantastic place for enjoying coffee and simple but high quality brunches and lunches.  Just look at those Baghdad eggs!

Lunch at Bull and Ram

What a place! Opened in an old butchers shop in the centre of Ballynahinch is one of the best places I’ve been in Northern Ireland for food.  Serving Meat Merchant ( JIm and Peter Hannan) Himalayan salt chamber aged beef amongst other local produce to the highest quality.  The day before we went Xanthe Clay had visited and had the finest looking langoustines I’ve ever seen (the power of twitter intelligence!) when I looked on the menu they weren’t there. I was devastated, but I asked and 5 minutes later I have my very own langoustines starter. Now that’s what I call service!! Perfectly cooked steak for main, bread and Abernethy butter on the side and the most wonderful pannacotta for pudding. Made my year!

Sara Danesin’s supper club

Mr F’s family love any excuse to go to Sara’s supper club.  I’ll never complain about that as it is always a fantastic evening of the most wonderful Italian food and great company.  Sara’s passion for food shines through in everything on the plate.

A trip to the lakes: many visits to Homeground Cafe

This place ticks all of the boxes. Great cofffee, great cake, great food and the best hash browns ever known to exist.

A 19 course lunch at L’enclume

Mr F and I love Simon Rogan’s food and we were lost for words on this visit. The food is absolutely sensational. It just gets better and better. The Herdwick lamb over charcoal was a particularly stunning dish.

 

Eating out in April

I’ve had a bit of a hiatus from blog writing over the last few months but that doesn’t mean I have stopped enjoying food and eating out, far from it. I thought in preparation for getting back into writing I’d create a month by month summary of where I’ve been.  Turns out April this year was busy!

An Italian Night at Mannions in York

Mannions is one of my favourite places to go for lunch in York. Great ingredients and great flavours in a relaxed setting.   (they also have a rather fabulous spanish sauvignon blanc on their wine list, you can thank me later) They occasionally do themed nights and it is definitely worth booking in.  The salt cod and mutton ragu dishes were particular favourites of mine.  Everything was executed beautifully and there was a fantastic buzz throughout the evening.

Our Annual Pilgrimage to Northumberland

I love the sea and find every opportunity I can to be near it.  A highlight of our year is our stay up near Craster.  Every visit includes a walk to the The Ship Inn at Low Newton by the Sea for a crab stottie and a pint.  In a departure from tradition Mr F had lamb koftas and crushed new potatoes which was also really tasty.

After a successful visit to the Old Boat House in Amble last year we visited their new addition to the harbour side, The Fish Shack.  We were not disappointed.  A quirky set up with the focus on simple, superbly cooked fish and seafood and a rather stunning chocolate cake with caramel sauce for pudding.

Birthday Dinner at Le Cochon Aveugle

Josh Overington’s food just gets better and better.  I always leave Le Cochon feeling challenged and excited by the combinations of food I have just experienced.  The black pudding macaron was out of this world!

Birthday Dinner at Skosh

Yeah I know, two birthday dinners in one week, but why not when we are spoilt in York with fantastic independent restaurants.  Skosh is my favourite place to eat; It never ever disappoints.  The combination of ingredients and spices used work perfectly and always leave me wanting more.

Fish Night at The Bridge Bistro Sandsend

My favourite thing to eat is fish and seafood, so the discovery that the Bridge Bistro did a Friday night fish and seafood tasting menu was rather exciting.  It’s a tiny place with big ambition, I’d highly reccomend trying it out.

The Barn Bistro at Burniston (again!) 

I’ve written about the Barn before and how much I like it.  This time we decided to go for breakfast before a long walk along the Cleveland Way. We were not disappointed!  I had Hartlepool smoked haddock with poached eggs, hollaindaise sauce and fried sliced potatoes. The haddock was really superb and the hollandaise sauce really well made.


Mr Frivolitea had omelette Arnold Bennett with Hartlepool smoked haddock. Really  light and really tasty.


I can’t stay away from great food so we also headed back the next day for Sunday lunch before heading home. The Barn provides such high quality and exciting food for such great value.   Just £20.95 for three courses.

This time we both had the Thai crab and prawn cake, prank hen’s egg and tempura green beans for starter (absolutely delicious) 

For main course Mr Frivolitea had the roast beef and I had pan fried wild sea trout with king prawns and garlic and herb butter

As on previous visits a highlight is the side dishes that come with the main course.  This time we had roast potatoes, celeriac gratin, sweetcorn with Swiss rainbow chard, leeks and streaky bacon and a roasted squash, tomatoes and peppers with feta.  I have not visited anywhere else that puts as much love and attention into the side dishes as to the main event.  It’s one reason why we keep going back. 

Lunch at Outlaw’s Seafood and Grill, Rock

We visited on 31st May 2013.  This was somewhere that had been on my list for a some time because of my love of seafood. What made this visit extra special was the weather. The sun shone and we were able to sit out on the terrace overlooking the estuary and enjoying some rather nice wine.  I’d love to revisit Nathan Outlaw’s restaurant, now relocated to Port Issac, and sample more of his creations.  


Cod cakes with herb mayonnaise  


Doom bar bread ( made from local beer) and Cornish flatbread with rosemary and davidstow cheddar 


Hand dived scallops, olives and tomatoes, dill sauce


Cornish squid (marinaded for 12 hours in gremolata sauce, lemon zest, garlic, thyme, , parsley, rapeseed oil) on a bed of fennel and radish 


Seabass, bulgar wheat and chilli, red pepper shellfish sauce


Ling, spring vegetable nage, paprika oil


Chocolate fondant tart, pistachio ice-cream cocoa syrup


Rhubarb jelly, vanilla cream, rhubarb sorbet 

Paul Ainsworth at No6 Padstow

Visited 29 May 2013

Olive bread, onion sourdough, smoked cods roe topped with pork crackling, whipped Cornish butter 


Sharpham dart valley reserve 2010 


Cornish duck ( breast legs gizzards and heart) served with herb pasta smoked almonds and fine fettle cheese 


Cornish mackerel that was torched, cucumber, Parma ham, celeriac remoulade 


Sea bream with sage and onion, crispy chicken skin, brown shrimps and cucumber  


Hogget, beetroots, salsa verde and ragstone cheese  


Taste of the fairground (as featured on Great British Menu). Popping candy, honeycomb, peanut butter parfait, doughnuts, raspberry sorbet, marshmallow and toffee apple 

L’Enclume photo blog

I love Simon Rogan’s food. Our first experience of it was at L’Enclume in 2012.  We have since visited The French a couple of times and Fera and always come away excited and amazed at the creative way he uses ingredients and especially those foraged and lesser known. Here is an outline of that meal on 28th October 2012. I still remember key elements of the meal like it were yesterday. A memorable meal!

Oyster pebbles


Cockles and cucumber


Smoked eel with ham fat (no photograph but I can still remember the taste! Amazing!)

Squid and chicken


Crispy potato and coddled eggs 


Cod ‘yolk’ , sage cream, radish, salt and vinegar (Cod made into a mousse and set like a yolk. Salt and vinegar through the puffed rice)

Westcombe dumplings, beetroots and watercress
Valley venison, charcoal oil, mustard and fennel 


Jerusalem artichoke, lovage, English truffles, ragstone 


Sea scallop with sweet corn, buckwheat and meadowsweet 


Heritage tomatoes in rosehip, smoked narrow and borage 

Turbot with sea asters, mussels and onions 

Cumbrian Galloway beef and grilled carrots with brassicas and Cowmire cider 


Chestnut cream, apple, woodruff 


Cumbrian slate, quince, lemon verbena, and hazelnut (‘slate’ made from sloes)


Blackberry with plum, malt and stout 


Pear, sweet cheese and apple marigold cones (cones made from elderberry)


Petit fours of Kendal mint cake aerated ice cream and chocolate 

Sara Danesin supper club photo blog

We visited Sara’s supper club for the first time in 2012. It’s a fantastic experience eating great Italian food with a small number of people you have never met before and be able to watch Sara work and explain her food with such passion. 

15th September 2012 (not the best photos)

Amuse Bouche of quail egg on rye with truffle butter 

Starter of red pepper and parma ham bake with a warm pearl barley salad 


Main course of confit aromatic belly pork, lentils, micro-apples and vanilla mash 


Pudding of butternut squash bavorois, bitter chocolate sorbet, hazelnut praline, fig caramel