40 B4 40-Gilberts Restaurant

No. 26: Grim’s Dyke Hotel-Gilberts Restaurant

The Grim's Dyke Hotel is a carefully restored country house renowned for its special musical events, and has been featured in many films over the years.

 

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Just 12 miles from the centre of London and within easy reach of Heathrow, the magnificent former country residence of Sir William Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan fame) is set in over 40 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands.

 

The 2 AA rosette restaurant prides itself on serving their own seasonal produce, and the Head Chef Daren Mason has a style of modern British food having trained under Gary Rhodes.

 

Our meal had been in the diary for a few weeks, as my wife & I wanted to take my Mum for a Sunday treat. Like many, I never get to see my Mum anywhere near as much as I would like. Everytime I do, it is always enjoyble and fun.

 

The Grim's Dyke Hotel is without doubt an impressive building and the welcome was warm and formal. In fact, the Gilberts Restaurant dining room was a bit of a throw back. The furniture was traditional, and the numerous waiting staff were all attired in formal black and white.

The menu looked spot on, and we went for a collection of Welsh Rarebit and Chicken Liver Parfait starters. The Welsh Rarebit was a surprise as it consisted of a brioche base, oyster mushroom and a small amount of melted cheese. Not as expected, but tasty never the less. The Chicken Liver Parfait was good.

 

We all went for the same main course, Rib of Beef with Roast Potatoes & Yorkshire Pudding. The beef looked great, and my wife loved it. Sadly, my Mum and I had asked for ‘medium to well done’, and either the waitress had not told the kitchen, or the chef had decided he knew what we wanted better than us! He was wrong. We watch a similar occurrence on to other tables, which seemed unnecessary and totally avoidable. When I asked for some more gravy the waitress was a bit lost, until she said; “Do you mean jus?”. I didn’t, but I couldn’t be bother to explain that they were the same, other than you get more when it is called gravy!

The sweets looked interesting, and I thought it was my lucky day when my wife had more or less had no option to have a sweet, due to it being a three course set lunch. However, my luck backfired, as even I could eat the duo of sweets. The Lavender & Almond Pannacotta was just totally wrong, and the Apple & Ginger Pudding with Ice Cream was sadly boring. Even I get to a stage where you consider the calorie intake not worth it. I am pleased to say my Mum’s Pistachio Creme Brulee was fine.

By reputation, and the full dining room, this was obviously a good place to eat. We had caught it on a poor day, and either the head chef was not in, or they trying just that little bit too hard.

Sitting in the lounge having a coffee, Mum asked us if ‘we watch Downton Abbey, we didn’t. “No, nor do I” she replied. Priceless!

As always, we thoroughly enjoyed our time together. I am sure everyone sees their Mum as special, but I am lucky to have one who has always been there for me and I love her to bits. If only I had more time.

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Grim’s Dyke Hotel | Gilberts Restaurant
Old Redding, Harrow, Middlesex, London

www.grimsdyke.com
www.grimsdyke-hotel-harrow.com

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

 

 

Cubs in the Community

Our village Milford on Sea and Keyhaven Cubs continue their good work in the community.

The Cub pack recently visited Hillyfield Rest Home in Barnes Lane, Milford on Sea to enjoy a games evening with the residents. You can imagine how everyone must have really enjoyed the visit.

This is the second time they have run this event and it has been a massive success in building close links in the community. The cubs also get involved in many other village events throughout the year, such carol singing, tree planting and litter picks.

Matthew Cobb, Cub Scout leader said; “We organise these events to teach Cubs about their village, and residents that the youth of the village are of some real worth. They are a credit to the village and often their hard work can get overlooked.”

Good work Matt and the boys! Keep it up, we love seeing and hearing about you caring about others.

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Hillyfield Rest Home appears a place that really cares about their residents. It is a small family-owned care home established 25 years ago by the Harmer family, who still personally manage the day-to-day running of the home. The family (Andrea, David and their daughters, Louise and Jane) firmly believe that, by running just one home and concentrating on providing care to 16 residents, they can achieve a more personal relationship, not only with the residents, but also with the dedicated staff team upon which so much depends.

I love the fact that they have a published 'Programme', regularly bringing in people of interest to their guests, and taking everyone on outings.  Even better than that, I spotted in their day's programme that they serve 'Evening drinks' at 8.30pm. Now that sounds my sort of place!

www.hillyfieldresthome.co.uk

 

Surprises at The Marine

I popped into The Marine the other day and we pleasantly surprised at the great value meals they are now serving in the café every day.

The restaurant has always had a great name for quality food and dining, and as a result the whole place had got a reputation for being expensive. If that was ever the case, it certainly isn’t now.

New head chef, Mark speller is obviously proud of serving homely home cooked food, and is providing food to the café which is a good as in the restaurant, but at a budget price. When a menu has things like Chicken and mushroom pie with seasonal vegetables, ‘Keyhaven’ Mutton stew with crusty bread for around £9 it has to be tempting. The Keyhaven lamb really caught my eye, and it is delicious on the plate, and their relatives also looked pretty good from the window!

 

I had great trouble choosing a dessert from between Chocolate Fondant with cherry ice cream or Treacle Tart with crème anglaise ice cream. However, at £5.50, it was easy to have both!

 

Reading the in-house promotional cards, I spotted a a two course meal for £14.50, and a selection of fun sounding Christmas events for groups of family and friends.  I will have a word with my wife, and with a bit of luck we will be back with friends before Father Christmas brings me the Aston Martin I have asked for!

www.themarinemos.co.uk

 

If you would rather go straight to the menu's click here: www.themarinemos.co.uk/eat-drink

It’s wrong, but impressive!

I came across this film on the web this week.

The guy on the bike obviously shouldn't be on pill box roof, nor jumping onto the path handrails.

But being wrong, and even dangerous, doesn't preclude it from being impressive.  The photography is sharp and the tricks neat, added to that I have to say, that with with the sights of Milford on Sea in the background it gets even better!

I even had to laugh when the guy walking along the seafront and minding his own business, turns around on seeing the bike, then just as quickly turns again deciding he is going for it anyway!  This is wrong on so many levels, but it made me smile.

click here to view video

 

Is it time for a New Village Memorial?

Royal Wootton Bassett War Memorial

We had a thought provoking, interesting, and as usual direct, e-mail from Mike Halliwell this week.  Many will know Mike, but for those that don't, he has been a prominent village resident for many years, and until handing over to The Raft early last year, he was running Bella Epoque in Milford on Sea High Street.

 

He is also an ardent support of the 'Help for Heroes' Charity.

 

This is what Mike had to say:

 

"I saw the film "War Horse" in the lovely new lottery funded community centre. (The new social heart of the village), last week. I was very moved.

 

Also last week I attended a couple of remembrance services. Milford on Sea had one at Keyhaven war memorial, appropriate and moving. The other was on the village green; with a 'temporary' memorial. Very sad.

 

I have been associated with the village for fifty years. It must be the largest village in the land without a "proper" war memorial.

 

After the film I pledged to my solicitor, Hugh Whitlock, and any one else who was listening, £5000 towards a new War Memorial in the village.

 

In 1920, £850 was raised to purchase the freehold of the old cottage hospital built in 1900 (now the telephone exchange!) Ten years later £7500 was raised to build a new hospital. The village needed a new hospital. It also still had no memorial to those eighty+ souls of the village who had given their lives for their country. I am aware that most of their names appear on the "shrine" seldom seen inside the new hospital, also now in jeopardy. This list includes All who served as well as those killed.

 

They are also remembered in All Saints' Church. Neither of these memorials excuse the village from its duty to erect, belatedly, a War Memorial in the centre of the village, where we will see it daily and remember those young men who gave their lives that we might live in peace.

 

I am well aware that many villages built war memorial halls, sports grounds, swimming pools, even bus shelters! but these were exceptions.

 

Ours could be of modern design. Think of Royal Wootton Bassett, they have a fine memorial on the edge of the town built after the first world war, but have also created a fine, modest memorial in the centre of town for today's heroes. What if, God forbid, a son or daughter of the village was killed tomorrow in Afghanistan, or in some future war?

 

Is it really too much to ask? I believe £25,000 is required.

 

My (£5000) pledge is for two years (2014) in the certain hope that our thriving village will easily rise to the challenge.

 

I hope that the public enthusiasm I found for such a project two years ago is still existant. I am seeking a small "working party"to include a lawyer ,banker, computer person, designer and accountant as well as like minded "volunteers".

 

if we cannot fund and create a suitable memorial in the next two years then it will never happen!

 

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If you have a view, or would like to join Mike's working party, please feel free to add a comment below, or contact Mike at mikehalliwell@aol.com

 

Salterns Raise £10k

Over 100 young sailors survive the Salterns Sail a Thon raising over £10,000 for Children In Need!

The intrepid young members aged from 6 – 15 years of age, kept at least one boat on the water at all times between 16h30 Friday 16th and 16h30 Saturday 17th November. Most did not sleep, sailed in cold, dark, windy conditions but they kept focused on the job in hand – raising money for far less fortunate children than themselves.

 

The Saturday morning saw sailors and visitors alike covered with wild water tattoos, red, white, blue, yellow and green hair complemented by some funky nails!

 

The raffle and silent auction raised in excess of £5,500 so a big thank you to all those who took part, baked cakes, gave your time and of course all our amazing sponsors. Without you all, the event would not have been possible. Over the last 14 years Salterns have raised over £92,000.

 

Salterns Sailing Club is a sailing club for children, where they can experience sailing in Optimists, Moths and Scows. The club is run entirely by volunteers.

 

www.salternssailingclub.co.uk

 

 

It is nice to support the League of Friends

The League of Hospital and Community Friends Advent Fair is to be held this Saturday 24th November at All Saints Church Hall at 10am to midday.

The Friends support the Medical Centre and the Community as well as the War Memorial Hospital as much as is possible but are always trying to raise more money to enable them to do this. What most people don’t realise is that some of the equipment used in the Medical Centre and on home visits has been provided by the League, and in fact recently items to the value of £5,500 has been purchased on various items for their use. 

Obviously more money needs to be raised in order to carry on with this so at the Advent Fair there will be a cake stall, tombola, raffle, plants, Christmas decorations and gifts, jewellery, toys, books and collectables which hopefully the proceeds from sales will enable the League to carry on with their good work.

www.friendsofmilfordhospital.org.uk

 

New Milton get into Xmas Spirit

New Milton Memorial Centre in Whitefield Road and the New Milton are holding the Town’s biggest ever Christmas Festival on Saturday 1st December from 11am until 5pm; says Alan Watson – Chair of the Festival Steering Group.

 

The Festival will kick off at 11am , after a brief introduction by the Mayor of New Milton, Councillor Neil Tungate, with The Military Wives Choir from Portsmouth. The Choir will sing tracks from the latest Album – “Military Wives – Stronger Together” as well as a number of well-known favourites.

 

Throughout the day there will be live entertainment from the Central Stage sponsored by Common Ground (New Forest Trust) and Balmer Lawn Motors Group as well as from a secondary Performance Area opposite Costa Coffee in Station Road, Amongst the performers will be the huge local Crescendi Choir, the New Forest Dixieland Band, the young Off-Beat Groove Choir, Soul Baby and Zaq Dixon – Beat Boxer with Steve Biddle and Groovemeister. Amongst the other performers will be the Friendly Dog Club Morris Dancers – a canine version!

 

One of the highlights of the day will be at 12 Noon, when we will see the return of a Christmas Festival Parade, which this year will have a central theme of the pantomime “Aladdin”. Sponsored by Comojo, the Gift Shop in Barton on Sea, the Parade will feature over 30 characters from the cast of Aladdin which is being performed in January at the Memorial Centre by The New Forest Players. The Parade will also feature the Ringwood Pipe Band, local Organisations and groups and we are informed that Father Christmas plans to try and join the Parade. Children in Fancy Dress with their parents are welcome to join the Parade, reporting to the Osborne Road Car Park at 11:45 am.

 

There will be a Christmas Gifts and Crafts Fair at The Memorial Centre with over 45 Stalls full of great ideas for Christmas presents. Some 40 groups who use the New Milton Community Association will feature in their Open Day from 10am until 4pm.

 

Station Road will be packed from end to end with more than 90 Stalls in a series of “Villages” – Crafts, Food & Drinks, Products & Services, Entertainment. The “Community Village” will feature more than 35 Stalls from local Community Organisations and groups, probably the largest gathering of such groups ever in New Milton. To inject a little Continental flavour there will also be a French Christmas Street Market to feast your eyes upon.

 

The event will culminate at 5pm with Groovemester performing on the Central Stage from 4:15 pm. Beforehand however at 4pm, we will see the Switch-On of the central part of New Milton’s Christmas Lighting by our very own singer, songwriter – Rumer. Rumer performed earlier this year at the Freshfield Festival on Fawcetts Field and now returns to her home town again to play a part in what the Organisers believe will be one of the biggest Christmas Festivals in the New Forest this year.

 

Visitors can keep up to date with all about the Festival including any changes in performance timings on the Web Site at:www.newmiltonchristmas.co.uk

 

 

Castle Calendars for 2013

Looking for Calendars for Christmas?

Look no further!

The Hurst Castle calendars are £6 each, or £7 posted. They can be bought from the Guard Room at the Castle (only open at weekends now) or ordered from the Hon. Treasurer by email - hurst@alk.org.uk - or telephone 01329 843883 and orders can be picked up from the Parish Council Office.

Sailing Club Goes Up!

clcik image to enlarge

If you have been to Keyhaven lately, you will have noticed that the rebuilding of Hurst Castle Sailing Club House is proceeding apace. So far everything has gone to plan.

 

The wooden structure, which was made off-site has been erected and it is expected that the roof will be completed by the end of the month if not before, with the re-opening around February time. 

 

It is also nice to see that the work is being carried out by our excellent village building company, Adcroft. 

 

With the height of the new building, there will be a splendid view from the new balcony all the way down Keyhaven river.  This is going to be a special place to be on glorious summer days.

www.hcsc.org.uk

www.adcroftbuild.co.uk



 

40 B4 40-Matahari

No. 25: Matahari, Guildford

click image to enlarge

My wife had a ‘girlie weekend’ in Milford on Sea last week, and apparently the three girls thought it was great fun doing nails, playing with hair and watching films. They even managed to squeeze in fish & chips from Mr Pink’s on Friday, Saturday lunch at La Perle, and Sunday lunch at The Marine.

I and the dogs, had in the meantime been banished to our place in Guildford, under instructions to 'behave like a grown up', and to eat a list of lovingly pre-prepared food.

 

Naturally, all of my wife’s instructions were forgotten as soon as she left, as I ordered a curry that lasted two days, left all the lights on, kept the toilet seat up and didn't put anything in the dishwasher.  On returning from seeing the new James Bond film with Matthew, my son, I proceeded to spend the Saturday evening running around in my pants, and jumping on the settee as I chased the dogs pretending they were the baddies.

 

When the girls returned from Milford, our mate also cadged a lift for a flying visit. For the purpose of this story, and anonymity from village friends of his pregnant wife, he will be known as ‘X’.

 

When they arrived early Sunday evening we had a couple of civilised beers whilst deciding where to eat for the evening. Having ‘X’ as our guest, the Matahari, our favourite Guildford restaurant was quickly decided upon. The Matahari's 'Fusion-Cuisine' is both unique and distinctive, with an emphasis on Malaysian cookery, beautifully blended with Thai, Chinese, Japanese sushi, and other exotic arrays of delicacies with South-East Asian influence.

 

Before going to eat, the three of us had another swift beer in Pews Bar, one the last remaining original public houses of Guildford. The old building has great bulging 17c walls, a narrow undulating staircase for the brave wanting to visit the toilet, and a cobbled alleyway leading to one of the many hidden courtyards in the town.

 

We were soon across the road in Matahari. Set in one of Guildford’s oldest buildings the two floor restaurant is quirky, with low beams, wavy wooden floors, and great charm. Our friendly waiter greeted me by name, which made my wife rightly suspicious that I visited even more times than she knew.

 

It did not take long to make our choices, and we were soon tucking into the Platter of Mixed Starters, accompanied with the first of a few bottles of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais. We had avoided the Japanese options, as cold fish and rice really isn’t what I consider a pleasure. The Onion Baby Ribs were simply outstanding, The Salt & Pepper Squid, and Chicken Satay mouthwatering, all enjoyed with Mini Vegetable 'Popiah' which added a bit of crunch and spice with the chilli dip.

 

As we gabbled on about seaside village life our banquet of main course arrived. Mongolian Chicken, tender chicken cooked in a very tasty & creamy slightly spicy black pepper peanut buttery sauce, Sizzling Vietnamese Sesame Pork, served sizzling hot, with a tantalizing Vietnamese sauce, topped with a dash of cream, Chef’s Special Claypot Coriander Beef Curry, tender beef slices marinated with spices & wrapped in lotus leave, served in a simmering claypot of creamy coconut & coriander flavoured curry, Fried Rice with Egg, and Spicy Vegetarian Rice Noodles, spicy rice noodles fried with beansprouts, Chinese leaves, pepper strips, mushrooms baby corns, eggs & onions, garnished with crispy shallots.

 

As we smiled and ate, ‘X’ overheard the next table talking about ‘vajazzle’s’.  Innocently he asked what they were, and quick as flash, my embarrassed wife changed the conversation. When ‘X’ asked the waiters they were niether able to understand or help him.

 

My wife had been in a playful mood all evening and was by now engaged in a text conversation on her mobile phone. Soon this became very surreal, as the mobile conversation became five way. We were communicating ridiculous one liners with an old friend, Dave, who was in The King’s Head having a friendly drink with Nikki, who had just returned from Milford with my wife. Dave had obviously enjoyed most of his day in the pub, having been left to fend for himself with his girlfriend in Turkey on business.

 

For sweet we ordered ‘Goreng Pisang’, deep-fried banana balls in batter, trickled with honey syrup, served with ice-cream. As she was not eating this, my wife was busy describing our pudding to Dave by text.   He in turn wanted some, and a rendezvous was agreed at The White House by the river Wey.   Sensibly, Nikki poured Dave in a taxi and went home.

 

At The White House, ‘X’ was still on a quest to find the meaning of his new word, which I have to say is not the best way to introduce yourself to the barman.  We were doing our best to ignore him.

 

Dave now with us, was devestated that the promised ‘Goreng Pisang’ was nowhere to be seen, it had been eaten by us instead.  In no time Dave was busy recalling his day's events, and 'X' was still slightly bemused and dazzled by the bright lights of the town.  The conversation turned to even more drivel as our table worked our way through a weird selection of mulled wine, Bailey’s and Guinness. 

 

In the cab home my wife for some inexplicable reason thought it was fun to pinch Dave’s bingo wings constantly, he of course screamed like a girl and shoot up his path when thankfully released from the dangerous& painful confines of the taxi.

 

Once back, the home bar was open, and a rather pleasant Janneau VSOP brandy was enjoyed with coffee before putting another fun night to bed.

 

Footnote: Breakfast next morning was enjoyed at Cote Bistro, Guildford. Amazingly, for a chain they offered a fabulous choice and the quality was unexpectedly high. So high in fact, it had to be one of the best Full English’s I can recall for quite a time. The daytime & evening menus are also full of a wide variety of French classics at pretty good prices. As they have many restaurants around the country, could be one worth trying out.

 

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www.matahariguildford.co.uk

www.cote-restaurants.co.uk/Cote_Guildford.html

If you are wondering what the 40 B4 40 Dining Challenge is all about, please click here and all will be explained.

 

Total Voice Wow West Quay!

click image to enlarge

Milford's very own Total Voice wow shoppers in West Quay!

Singers from Total Voice's Contemporary and Chamber Choirs joined together on Saturday 10th November to perform in West Quay Shopping Centre for the Southampton Hospital Charity, to raise further funds for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit following their concert in Milford last October.

 

This wonderful opportunity was embraced with great gusto by the choirs who thoroughly enjoyed singing songs including We Built This City, Paradise, Bridge Over troubled Water and Fields of Gold to all the Christmas Shoppers. Total Voice's directors' Christine Mulgrew and Victoria Hopkins also took the chance to try out the acoustics and sang a solo each, not wanting to pass up such an amazing opportunity!

 

The choirs went down extremely well and the hospital charity team were thrilled with their efforts and West Quay commented on the cheerful atmosphere created for shoppers.

 

It was a proud day for Total Voice in what has been an exciting year of performances.

If you would like to see more photo's. please click this link: http://bit.ly/TVLN4L

www.totalvoice.co.uk