Posted by pop at Aug 9, 08 03:08 PM
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We have been waiting quite a long time for venue to pop-up in Dorking that would tick the boxes of:
a) not an old man's pub
b) not a young man's pub
c) preferably called a 'wine bar'
d) has good nibbles
e) isn't pretentious
Finally yesterday we managed to test out the new Wine Bar on South Street along with the in-laws. Though the bar has a light food menu, we concluded that we could always order in multiples to be sated.
Food
Between the four of us we ordered four 1-person sized platters, namely 'seafood' (smoked salmon, roe, prawn spring roll, mackerel) 'charcuterie' (ham, chorizo, salami, jambon iberico) 'hot and spicy' (spicy chicken, sausage, very powerful chilli sauce to dip into) and 'crumpini' (homemade crumpets topped with cheese, tomato salsa, scrambled egg and mushrooms) and some chips. The chips were good I might add.
It was all rather lush and made for a very social meal, not unlike tapas.
Wine:
Yummy Beaujolais, light on the head, warming to the heart. The wine list was comprehensive enough to keep us entertained for a long time..
Ambience:
Chilled, mix of older furniture with warm red wall and a funky red chandelier. We weren't totally convinced by the choice of music (cheesy 60s stuff) and would recommend some Northern Soul to cure that.
Staff
We were really well looked after and made to feel at home - no rushing and a little bit of background on the crumpini made by the owner's mother - she makes good crumpet :)
The Conversation
Waterboarding, execution, family gatherings...but not all in the same breath
We will be going again soon, but next time for some late afternoon scones and jam.
Go there/Don't go there??
Please do! But what is it called - does anyone know?
Posted by pop at Jul 9, 08 04:18 PM
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Scoop opened during Easter 2008. I love it!
What a great idea to have something like that near to Dorking Halls so you (or your little ones) can get an interesting ice-cream or pick-n-mix (don't worry its not like Woolworths). They serve Italian ice-cream (fruits of the forest, banana, mint icecream and apple, pear mango sorbet to name but a few) and make smoothies with fantastic names.
They also do hot food and drinks (paninis, coffee etc), which is probably estute for the autumn/winter months.
This is a really great addition to what was the 'duff' end of town, which is gradually moving in the right direction.
Grab yourself a cone (with free sprinkles) sometime!
Posted by pop at Nov 10, 07 01:50 PM
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The Brockham Bonfire is one of the largest in the country. Brockham itself is a gorgeous little village between Dorking and Reigate with the classic village green and is overlooked by the Surrey Hills. This annual event is a big deal here - they shut down the local roads and you have to walk a mile or so before you reach the village.
First-off was the parade...perhaps someone from Brockham could explain, but there was the 'Brockham Fire Engine' (a painted wooden cart) and lots of locals dressed-up in strange outfits (harlequin-like smocks) all carrying fire-sticks walking around the village. We joined the procession half-way around which was all very tribal (see pic below) though trusting teens (some intoxicated) with any sort of naked flame is risky. As the torches started to burn out and smoke profusely, we each inhaled our entire annual carbon footprint, until each torch-holder bashed their torch on the ground scattering large glowing cinders on the tarmac. These glowing embers attached themselves to shoes and trouser hems along the way. The only incidents we spotted was a yoof who somehow melted his headphones wire with is torch and got tangled up with it (but luckly for him they still worked, "even though they were melted - cool!" and a girl whose eyes were rolling around and pointing in the wrong direction as her friends helpfully propped her up and called other friends to tell them that they were waiting for an ambulance as "Vicky is totally wankered."
Then came the lighting of the bonfire. Procession goers placed their torches at the base of the biggest bonfire I have ever seen (check out Fink Angel's 'before' picture here). It must have been about 30 feet high and apparently took 6 weeks to build. A large Guy Fawkes was perched at the top full of fire crackers. It went up with a woof, and made me wish I had some moisturiser as I gently cooked in its radiant heat. Then there was a succession of announcements with a firework for each - a proposal (Wayne proposing to Jane) and endless others for lovers and the deceased. Finally the fireworks commenced with ferocity. Here's my best picture:
All in all plenty of walking involved and a very cute village atmosphere about it. I'd do it again, but not the procession - I walked with trepidious concern that my hair would catch on fire courtesy of one of the many young buffoons surrounding me.
Posted by pop at Nov 10, 07 01:30 PM
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I have always intended not to bring fish and chips home, and stink out the house, and Superdish in Dorking has a little cafe style restaurant next to it's fish bar.
Last weekend we went to Brockham Bonfire and Fireworks but needed some quick food to take with us. While waiting for my fish and chips, a man walks into Superdish and leans against the door to the counter and addresses a member of staff at the far end, saying:-
"Did you know that a diabetic nurse is coming in here for fish and chips tonight?"
The staff carry on serving and cooking. The man then decides to speak to the guy serving me, and said:
"Did you know that a diabetic nurse is coming in here for fish and chips tonight?"
"Did you know that a diabetic nurse is coming in here for fish and chips tonight?"
"Did you know that a diabetic nurse is coming in here for fish and chips tonight?"
The serving guy focusses very strongly on his customer care skills and completes my transaction in the face of the other man saying:-
"Did you know that a diabetic nurse is coming in here for fish and chips tonight?"
"Only joking"
I decided it was time to leave, before I went crazy and promptly left with out a couple of those little wooden fish and chip forks. Ooops.
At this point I should mention that the fish and chips were quite acceptable but not overwhelming in nature and that I like Superdish because they have a very old fashioned wall-mounted menu (I'll have to get a picture for you soon).
Posted by pop at Nov 8, 07 11:58 PM
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For a third anniversary celebration, we took ourselves to (Royal) Tunbridge Wells to check out what it had to offer. It has similarities with Guildford to some extent but the new (commercial) and old ('Pantiles') ends of town were very separate, different kettles of fish.
We pre-booked a table at Thackery's at 1.30pm so wandered around the new end of town for half an hour or so. Nothing jump-out and bite-you special, but I did over hear a conversation in the pet shop about how they'd like to make the punishment fit the crime and bring back stoning or something - very 'Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells' I thought!
Anyhow, Thackery's is a villa built c.1660 to serve the people using the spas in the town. Here's a pic:
Inside we are very well looked after and join a number of other diners (an old couple next too us blatently listening to our coversation and two old boys on the otherside talking about falling off step-ladders). Here's what we chose:-
Amuse Bouche
Amused we were, with a lovely pumpkin ravoili
Starters
Me: 'BALLOTINE' OF GRESINGHAM DUCK with Green Bean and Autumn Truffle Salad, Celeriac 'Remoulade' (rather subtle flavours (perhaps a little too much so) but just the right size for a starter, all served on a long rectangular glass plate
Husb: LAYERS OF 'OAK' SMOKED SALMON, YOUNG SPINACH AND LIME CRÈME FRÂICHE with Horseradish Cream, Deep Fried Breaded Oysters, Dill Toast (Husb was delighted with this - the layered salmon looked fantastic)
Mains
Me: BUTTER ROASTED "GNOCCHI" Sautéed Wild Mushrooms and Tarragon Roast Globe Artichokes, Parmesan Crisp ('hmm very novelle cuisine' as the woman on the next table said when our food was brought out)
Husb: Haddock (tbc)
Dessert
Me: Carrot and Macerated Raisin Cake with pumpkin parfait and carrot and orange sorbet (not overly sweet, but very interesting indeed)
Husb: Cheese board (with about 1000 crackers to choose from, but the waiter didn't tell him what the cheeses were)
Coffee & Petit Fours
This was great fun - a pretty little raspberry tart, a piece of nougat, a homemade chocolate and the pièce de résistance had to be two little chocolate balls on cocktail sticks resting in a shot glass full of what looked like sherbert. They turned out to contain ice-cream, though I have no idea how this is physically possible to achieve. We did have some debate about whether we were supposed to eat the 'sherbert', and after a quick dab it was found to be coloured sugar...which was a shame:)
We were incredibly well looked after, service was prompt, food presentation was excellent, and overall I would say the seafood lovers amongst you would be better served by Thackery's in terms of choice from their various menus, but nevertheless it was thoroughly enjoyable.
The bill came to c.£100 (without wine).
Posted by pop at Nov 8, 07 11:31 PM
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Husb decided we should take dinner at The Parrot after our trip to Horsham. The Parrot is part pub, part restaurant part farm-shop and ticks many boxes next to words such as snug and friendly.
Picture courtest of the Parrot website
We found a particularly nook to sit in, but realised there was a bit of a gale blowing down my neck which forced me to order a cup of tea, and another, and another. Fortunately when food was being served we managed to nab the table by the fire from a group of local business men (farmers?) who were just working through the last item on the agenda - at least one pint of ale. We began to warm up nicely. The shop section looked rather good, but was closed at that time of night. There were large blocks of homemade quince paste, freshly cooked muffins on wire racks and plenty of fantastic looking cheese and meats in a chiller.
Starter: pork terrine/pate with toast and salad leaves
Mains
Me: Pork Rib Eye, puy lentils, carrots and cabbage (meat rather dry but otherwise good and very filling)
Husb: Free Range Chicken breast with a mushroom risotto (lovely risotto, chicken tender)
Dessert
Me: Banoffee Pie with chocolate coated strawberries (in terms of proportions, in my opinion there was too much cream, not enough banana or toffee)
Husb: Sticky Toffee Pudding with Sticky Toffee Sauce (the pudding was more chewy and dry than sticky and would certainly get a thrashing from almost any other STP we've ever had)
Overheard Conversations
Mostly relating to farming equipment and tractors and a group of men raving about watching war documentaries
Overall I have to say we were a little let down by The Parrot - the concept is excellent, the building is gorgeous, but maybe someone had their eye off the game that night. Maybe next time?
Posted by pop at Nov 7, 07 01:10 AM
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I have never seen such a vast Steamer Trading in my life. Mostly this meant a huge variety of stock, but it also meant there was space to swing a cat, which is often what is missing in this chain.
I gawped at the Marimekko, the Norman of Copenhagen, the Alessi and Gaggia...but came away with a non-stick milk pan, a heartshaped cookie cutter and a non-stick tart thing. Oh well, next time maybe...
image courtesy of Steamer Trading, bless 'em
Posted by pop at Nov 7, 07 12:22 AM
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Today we decided to go to Horsham, as it is close, and we fancied a wander around. Parked in the Swan Lane carpark (shudder) and wandered through a lack luster shopping centre and onto the streets of Horsham.
During the drive from Dorking we predicted that it would be like a cross between Farnborough and Farnham, and I guess we weren't far off. Though nothing could prepare us for the most obscence piece of sculpture I have ever laid eyes on. Angela Conner's Shelley memorial, "Rising Universe" (as in the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley) consists of a giant metallic globe with a bronze shell as a water feature with four revolving baby globes surrounding it. To our horror it is capable of suddenly rising on a plinth and gushing water out of its undercarriage, like an incontinent horsechestnut. It makes Woking's Martian look positively adorable. I've read that it was before its time when installed in 1996, and now I'd say its had its time.
Anyhow, back to the food bit. We spotted the most adorable little shop called Town & Country Weigh, which was full of jars and bags of interesting bits and bobs - herbs, spices, jars of condiments, curry pastes, old fashioned sweets (do you remember 'winter mix'?). Here I found the best thing anyone could buy for £2.30 - a giant bottle (we are talking trade-size) of sweet chilli sauce...the evidence speaks for itself, next to a large pinneapple:-
Isn't it magnificent?
The place was run by an Italian guy who apologised for the creaky floor (the tradesmen hadn't put down underlay under the squeak).
Posted by pop at Nov 6, 07 11:51 PM
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Ok, we were invited there for a pre-gig dinner before heading over to the Royal Festival Hall for a spot of something musical (as in 'a band', not...'Annie'). This place does have the worst restaurant name I have ever heard ('Rolled Steel Joists' anyone?) and possibly the crummiest website I have seen in years (or at since about the time period when I thought AOL was the internet), but don't judge it on either of those things people, because you'll be making a mistake.
RSJ, so called because it is a coverted barn and the owners thought it would be amusing or whatever to name it that, is a fine specimen of a restaurant. As you can imagine the building inside is slightly odd - lots of steep stairs and alcoves and toilets deep in the basement. Just looking at their menu will give you an indication of what loveliness lies within. We were served by a very knowledgeable french lady, who I struggled to comprehend to some extent.
picture courtesy of the RSJ
This again will teach me not to leave blogging until at least a month after the event, as it seems that they change the menu and I fail to recall exactly what it was I had, though it may well have been risotto. Husb rather predictably went for some form of pesky poisson, as he is banned from cooking fish or dismantling crustacea in my home. He has rights, but I don't think that contravenes his human rights, so I'll stick with it.
Posted by pop at Nov 6, 07 11:39 PM
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I am very pleased to see that the Westerley has now won the excellence award from Rémy Martin in the
Harden’s UK Restaurant Guide 2008. Well done to them, and read the Times article
