Sun Shines on the GREAT DINING BUS

The first in a regular monthly programme of the Milford on Sea Great Dining Bus Tours was sold out and took place on Saturday lunchtime on 8th June 2013.

As the twelve diners arrived at The Marine for a welcome drink and canapés, the sun shone and everyone enjoyed the breathtaking panoramic views from The Marine Roof Terrace.

After boarding the Great Dining Bus, the guests then visited Verveine, The Raft and La Perle, where they enjoyed a different course in each restaurant, which showcased each of the individual restaurants' style and menus.

Most diners did not know each other on arrival, but by the end of the afternoon they had enjoyed the informal and friendly company of their fellow diners. The last diners left the final lunch venue just before 5pm, so it seems everyone had a good time!

One of the diners, Mark Clayson said: “We love the Great Dining Bus concept and you will not be surprised to hear that we really enjoyed our long lunch yesterday. The afternoon was relaxed and very well spent with friends new and old! The Dining Bus gave us of several delicious courses, and a glimpse of what the excellent Milford on Sea restaurants have to offer, … we will be back to enjoy them even more!”

The next Dining Tour takes place on Saturday 29th June 2013

Future Great Dining Bus tickets can be purchased in two ways:

Online at:

www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - or - In Cash from: The Community Centre Box Office, Sea Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0PH or from: The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH.

Jump on board, this really is a trip worth taking!

To find out more, or to see the upcoming tour dates and details, please visit:

www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus.co.uk

Dining Gift Vouchers can also be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

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About the Great Dining Bus

The Great Dining Bus first ran very successfully at Milford on Sea Food Week in 2012 is believed to be the first regular bus dining event in the UK.

The Food Week team launched the Great Dining Bus as a regular and permanent event in the Milford on Sea village calendar in June 2013, and around 16 Dining Tours run every year.

The Great Dining Bus takes locals, holidaymakers and visitors on Dining Tours of the restaurants in Milford on Sea, with each tasty course being served in a different village restaurant.

Milford on Sea has become a 'foodie heaven', and when people see the dining options available, it is easy to see why the village is fast being recognised as the 'south coast destination for great dining'.f you love food and great company, a lunch on the Great Dining Bus in Milford on Sea is for you. Simply book and ‘Jump On’ to enjoy each course in a different village restaurant.

Each Dining Tour gives people a great opportunity to experience fresh local ingredients and tasty creative dishes as the Milford on Sea village restaurants showcase their food offering and service. The village has a multi-award winning fish restaurant, French restaurant, cosmopolitan bistro, seafront British restaurant, and you can even enjoy authentic regional Indian & Thai food.The Great Dining Bus is perfect as a treat, for spending time with friends, special celebrations, anniversaries, birthdays, or just a great excuse to enjoy a unique dining experience whilst savouring great food in excellent restaurants.

In addition to the Great Dining Bus (37.50pp), there is also a Strolling Dining Tour (£32pp), and a Spice Tour (£24pp). These other two tours give people the choice to walk the short distances between courses, for a different type of dining experience. The village is fortunate to have many of the restaurants close to the village green which enables people to take a leisurely stroll between courses.

Milford on Sea also has much more to offer; being blessed with a spectacular coastline, quaint seaside village & great places to stay, eat & shop. To go with our excellent restaurants, pubs & cafés, the village also has B&B's, hotels, self-catering, caravans & camping, in fact something to suit every taste and budget.

The Great Dining Bus is also encouraging people to come and ‘Stay & Dine’, making Milford on Sea a ‘destination for foodies’.The Dining Tours run on a regular basis throughout the year, and dates are already available from June 2013 through to April 2014. (See Tour Dates here) The courses each restaurant serves changes each time.

Dining Vouchers are also available. They make a great gift with difference, and would be excellent for birthdays, celebrations, or just a great way to say thank you. After all, who doesn't love a great meal and company!

The Great Dining Bus team will be promoting the tours locally and also looking for national exposure, as the concept is so unique.

On the Great Dining Bus, diners will enjoy a different course in a selection of Milford on Sea restaurants, where each restaurant will delight in showcasing a taste of their food offering and service.

If you have any queries at all, please contact: info@greatdiningbus.co.uk

To find out more, or to see the upcoming tour dates and details, please visit:

www.greatdiningbus.co.uk - www.ticketsource.co.uk/greatdiningbus.co.uk

Dining Gift Vouchers can also be found on the Great Dining Bus website.

Milford on Sea Food Week: www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Local Cheese & a Little Port

As I popped to the village to grab something for our lunch, I was soon drooling at the delicatessen counter in Hollands of Milford.

My eyes soon spotted a rather tasty looking new cheese which I hadn't seen before. It turned out to be locally made by Fernhill Cheese Company, an Artisan Cheese maker based on a farm in Sway. The makers, I discovered are Clare Elizabeth Holmes and Sara Jordan, and the cheese is a Brie type made from organic pasteurised cows milk. A wedge of the French style classic was first in to the basket for my lunch quest. 

This was soon followed by a freshly baked stick of French baguette. I then decided to add a jar of Pretty Pickle made by Claire at Spice & Easy in Milford on Sea.

My impromptu plan for our French lunch had suddenly taken shape. I am not sure the girls behind the counter had not realised my shopping adventure had turned French, and they looked suitably bemused as I chatted away in French and asked them if they took Euros.

Arriving home, my wife was slightly nervous of what was going to be revealed from my shopping trip, particularly as I have returned in the past having totally forgotten to buy the lunch I had been sent out for. However, she was pleasantly surprised when I showed her the cross-channel lunch theme contained in the bag.

She was somewhat less impressed with my rendition of 'Alouette'. As I reached the verse with 'Je te plumerai la têt, Je te plumerai la tête' for the ninth time, she emerged from the kitchen brandishing a knife, advising me if I wanted to keep my head I should refrain from singing any more. I mumbled; 'You don't scare me' in French and under my breath, thankful she did not hear me.

Lunch was soon served, and it seem appropriate to have an accompanying glass of port, or two.... My wife declined a glass, but I am not sure if she understood my invitation in Gallic.

As we ate lunch, my wife shared her wisdom; - 'You know what happens when you drink at lunchtime; you will be asleep in half an hour'.  'Not me' I insisted as I poured another glass, 'Being almost French, I am genetically built for a continental lunch'.

The cheese was excellent, creamy & flavoursome, the bread fresh, soft and full of memories of our past emigration to Deauville. The chutney added another dimension and the port felt like liquid sunshine lighting up the orchestra of flavours.

An hour or so later I awoke on the sofa with the verses of 'Alouette' still ringing in my head. A note was on my chest. 'Gone to see Stacey. Told you it would put you to sleep'. Don't you just hate it when you wife is always right!

Hollands of Milford

www.hollandsmilford.co.uk

Fernhill Cheese Company
www.facebook.com/pages/Fernhill-cheese-company/627959613897422

Milford to Andalucia

Casa Girasol

Milford on Sea contains many people who have relocated to be by the sea, with familes spread far and wide, so connections to Milford on Sea are not surprisingly spread across the globe.

When travelling, the mention of Milford on Sea, either prompts a vacant blank look, or a response like; "Oh, do you know so & so".

One such couple is Nigel & Wendy Swann, who's eldest daughter, Debbie, is now settled in Spain.

Nigel & Wendy's eldest daughter, Debbie, has recently featured in a couple of UK publications about life in Spain, and the casita she has renovated with her partner, Jay.

In addition to running an adjoining small self-catering apartment, Debbie also runs small classes teaching English to the Spanish, which could be a useful addition to my excellent version of French.

Casa Girasol is situated in breath-taking olive groves in the heart of rural Andalucia between the ancient and historic cities of Granada and Cordoba at the gateway to the Subbetica National Park.

Debbie and Jay offer you a casa-rural teaming with rustic charm married to breath-taking vistas and old fashioned comfort. Having renovated their 'forever' home and attached guest casita on the edge of the friendly Spanish village of Las Navas they are proud of every stone and paint-stroke.

Untouched by time, Andalucia still offers goats with bells, hand made cheeses, free tapas with your rioja, paellas big enough to feed the village, fiestas, siestas and a chance to sample the real Spain.

I hear that the local wine and cava is extremely inexpensive, which is another good reason to visit in itself.

If it sounds the sort of place for you, you can find Debbie & Jay at:

Casa Girasol (Sunflower House)

Las Navas 78, Priego de Cordoba, Cordoba, 14800, Spain

www.casagirasol.co.uk

Handy Lionel

If you have ever needed anything for a DIY project, or any general household hardware or car accessory item, it is quite likely that you have visited 'Hardware @ Milford' in Keyhaven Road.

The store is a surprising Aladdin's Cave, with everything you may need for your home, garden or car, and plenty you wouldn't have expected to be available in Milford on Sea. You can even get a new key cut and fun stuff for the beach.

Lionel Illgner, the stores owner, is now providing even more services through Lionel's Home Maintenance. He is now offering general domestic home repairs, tiling, assembly of furniture, bathroom & kitchen fitting, painting, decorating, fencing, plus a gardening service for lawn mowing, strimming and hedge cutting.

No job is too small, so I am about to give hom a call to sort out the bathroom light bulb that needs changing!

If you have anything that needs doing, it sounds like it is worth having a chat with Lionel.

Hardware @ Milford
20 Keyhaven Road, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QY
01590 641684 | 07814 456963
www.hardwareatmilford.co.uk


Opening HoursMonday to Friday: 9.30am - 5pm
Saturday: 8.30am - 5pm

See the Methodist Makeover

The refurbishment of the Milford on Sea Methodist Church is now completed and the team are holding an Open Morning to show everyone the new facilities.

The Open Morning will take place on Saturday 6th July from 10am to 12 noon. The church's website also show all the refurbished work that has been completed. This includes a hearing loop system in the Santuary which is a system that links any hearing appliance to the broadcast sound system for discrete hearing support.

There is also a video projector, full central heating. Behind the main worship area there is a medium sized meeting room which can be hired by any club, organisation or group by contacting Sheila Hall. As can the good size and well equipped kitchen. The toilets have also been upodated and now separate gents & ladies, and a toilet for the disabled in the entrance lobby, which also has baby changing facilities.

The Methodist Church in Milford on Sea is situated in the heart of the community it serves. They try to meet the needs of their own members as well as those of others who live in the village along with the many holiday makers that are attracted to the area. The church are now hoping to get planning permission sometime in the future to modernise the front of the church. A key mission is to extend the hand of fellowship to all in the community.

MoS Methodist Church, 108 High Street, Milford on Sea,SO41 0QE
www.milfordmethodist.org

Sheila Hall: bookings@milfordmethodist.org

40 B4 40-East (Ventura at Sea)

No. 34: East (Ventura at Sea)

Three generations were off on a three night P&O cruise and life could hardly feel better. A short drive to Southampton, and then straight through the port gates to the drop off area. A quick check in, and our cases were taken from the boot next to be seen in our cabins, as our car keys were handed over for valet parking. The welcome from everyone was friendly and smiling, and these seemed people who actually enjoyed their job and were genuinely happy to help. A simple 20 yard walk into the terminal, up the escalator, through security and we were onboard Ventura. This is how simple cruising from Southampton is.

First stop, of course, was The Beach House Restaurant, - and the holiday had started!

My Wife, my Mum, my Son Matthew, and his lovely fiancée, Kayleigh, were soon surveying the tempting delights on offer, as we watched the tiny outlines of people below boarding and preparing the ship for our voyage.

As Matt & Kayleigh were tucking into lunch, they were still trying to comprehend the size and grandeur of the ship. Mum has cruised before, so she was concentrating on her prawns.

click image to enlarge

Over the next 3 days we would explore a number of the various restaurants for breakfast, mid-morning snacks, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and even a midnight buffet. (But not all, as we ran out of time and stomach capacity!) Room service was also available, but we never got that peckish!

My wife even seemed to like me, with no imminent threat of her wanting to push me overboard, so things were going pretty well.

I could write about so much; the great live entertainment, the quaint beauty of Bruges, the pleasure of sitting around the pool drinking Pina Colada’s in the sunshine overlooking St Peters Port Guernsey, the efficient and friendly crew, the fabulous food that is available 24 hours a day, the swanky bars, the laughter and great moments, and the warm glow of spending relaxed quality time with people you love. However, I am going to stick to one special meal that stood out amongst all others.

Throughout the ship, the quality of dining and snacks were of a high order everywhere, and a highlight were the curries served in the self-service restaurants. They had a real authentic feel, which was likely to be a reflection of the Indian members of the kitchen team. My wife could not comprehend how I could eat a curry, then pickings of various other personal favourites, and then finally a treacle sponge. But I guess she is the one missing out on the celestial delight of culinary grazing.

The ship had two fine dining restaurants for a small supplement; The White Room with a menu by Marco Pierre White, and East with the dishes created by Atul Kochhar.

Atul was the first Indian chef to be awarded a coveted Michelin star in Britain. He made his name, and was awarded his first Michelin star, in 2001 at London's acclaimed Tamarind restaurant. In 2007 he founded Benares, where he earned his second Michelin star in his own flagship fine dining Indian restaurant in Mayfair, London.

The White Room menu did not really excite us, but the menu at East certainly did. So, on the formal black tie evening, we booked a table and were greeted by a charming waitress with a warm personality and great sense of service and fun.

Some dishes on the menu looked familiar, but we were to discover that each had a twist and flavours that delighted the taste buds and mind. Top chef’s that put their names to restaurants are often a disappointment, this was not one of those occasions.

East is an Asian Fusion restaurant that features various dishes with Chinese, Japanese and Thai influences, and all recipes are created by master chef Atul Kochhar. The deep red and dark wood interior give it a distinctive Oriental feel and an intimate atmosphere. Quite an experience to feel like you are in Mayfair, yet actually cruising in the middle of the English Channel.

click image to enlarge

Our meal started with an unexpected complimentary Prawn Spring Roll, as we enjoyed explosive Singapore Sling and Rose Petal Martini cocktails.

The price of all drinks onboard was very reasonable, with cocktails at around £5 and a bottle of decent wine from about £15.

As you may expect, we were more than happy, so we ordered a bottle of light and cheeky Beaujolais wine to go with our starter course of Chiang Mai Pork (Braised Ribs marinated in Candied Ginger, Garlic and Chilli) and Thai Fish Cakes. The ribs simply jumped from the bone as the fork approached, and the tender meat was infused with a myriad of exotic spices.

For our main courses we had chosen the 24 Hour Slow Cooked Lamb Rendang, and Atul’s Signature Plate (Khmer King Prawns, Thai Green Chicken Curry & Lamb Korma), - nothing was as expected, as an explosion of contrasting flavours just kept revealing themselves, - pure delight!

To complete our meal we had the guilty pleasure of Deep Fried Banana with Vanilla Ice Cream and Warm Chocolate Fondue, and Sweet Rice Pudding with Mango. The meal and experience was a triumph at every level.

Our adventure on the seven seas was over far to quickly, and you know you have had a great holiday when you are a little sad to leave the place and people you have been spending precious time with.

We were a little sad, but extremely happy to have shared great memories on a wonderful cruise.

About Ventura
Ventura was launched in 2007 and is one of the largest cruise ships in the P&O Cruises fleet. It features 14 passenger decks, carries up to 3574 Passengers and has 1220 Crew.

She has a large choice of facilities with 7 bars, 11 restaurants/diners, casino, 4 swimming pools, a sports court, spa and theatre. For entertainment the ship has a theatre with full production shows, a cinema, two lounges for cabaret, comedy and dancing and even Metropolis, an atmospheric bar with a panoramic video wall brought to life by a different city skyline each evening.

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P&O Ventura

East - Atul Kochhar Restaurant
www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/ventura/ship-overview

Benares
12a Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, W1J 6BS
www.benaresrestaurant.com

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

Squirell's Home

After last week's story about a missing family cat, Squirell, we are pleased to let you know that he is now home safe and well.

 

Clare Johnston wrote to us to say: "I’m very happy and relieved to be able to let you and your readers know that Squirrel returned home early this morning. He was very hungry and tired but otherwise seems none the worse for his adventure.

 

She also said: "I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all our kind neighbours who checked their sheds/garages, kept a lookout for him and phoned us with sightings. Everyone we spoke to during our search was so sympathetic and concerned for him. It has just confirmed to us that moving to Milford is one of our best decisions in life (not that we ever had any doubts). There is a real sense of community and looking out for each other. We kept saying to each other 'you wouldn't get this in London'. "

Jamming Sessions at The Gun

The Gun Inn in Keyhaven have launched regular Jamming Sessions on every other Thursday evening.

All are invited to come to enjoy the music, or to rock up and play a song or two at the live music night. Everyone is welcome from the ages of 18 to 80+.

The evenings are all acoustic, and a lot of Milford on Sea’s musical talent is anticipated to come along.

The Gun Inn is run by Paul, Jackie & Nathan Hill and is well-known for their extraordinary whisky selection and local crab sandwiches & dishes. Over 240 malt whisky’s are on offer, each with their own tasting notes. Could be quite hobby to work your way through the entire list!

Since being built in the 1700’s The gun Inn has had a number of incarnations, including being a mortuary and bakers.

The next Jamming Session at The Gun is next Thursday 6th June, and then every other Thursday from then onwards. Entry is free, so why not pop along and check it out!

The Gun Inn
Saltgrass Lane, Keyhaven, Lymington, SO41 0TP
01590 642391
www.theguninn.com

Check out event dates in: www.milfordonseacalendar.org

 

Milford Businesses Come Together

If you run any type of small home-based business, or retail shop operation in the village, you may find this of particular interest.

Local village businessman, Paul French, is forming the Milford Business Forum. Having had a successful career, Paul is looking to give something back, by bringing together our local village business owners.

The primary purpose of the Milford Business Forum is to provide a relaxed, friendly, supportive network where local new or long established businesses can meet people, make contacts, exchange ideas and develop their business. The feeling of isolation is a problem for many business owners, especially small business owner-operators who sit, alone, in front of a computer all day or those with few staff members to bounce ideas off and look to for guidance when issues arise.

The Milford Business Forum meetings will be relax, as business issues are discussed over a coffee. The forum is also completely independent and non-profit making.  

The business topics to be discussed will be wide and varied, and indeed tailored to fit the requirements of the group. Subjects such as; Business Planning, Financial Management, E-mail Marketing, Google, Networking Skills are all possible, as are many others that people may wish to include.

The Milford Business Forum is normally free to attend for all businesses in the village, with regular meetings every Friday morning in the Milford Community Centre between 10:30 and 12:00am. There will be occasional workshops or meetings at other times at other locations as shown on the local event diary which may incur a small cost.

Paul still runs his own video Production company, and is also a Micro-Business Mentor working with Job Centre Plus ‘New Enterprise Allowance’ project, where he is appointed by JCP to assist persons develop their Business Plans etc. He was also a past chairman of both the New Forest branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, and the New Forest Business Partnership. 

Paul would love people to come along experience the concept. Everything is very informal, and there is no commitment, simply come again if you can see a benefit for your own development or benefits for your business.

The first meeting of the Milford Business Forum will be 10:30am of Friday 7th June in the Committee Room of the Milford Community Centre. 

For more details, or to register your attendance please contact:

Milford Business Forum
Paul French MIOEE
Direct Line: 01590 645578 | 07525 405999 | paul@vidibiz.co.uk
12 Greenways, Milford on Sea, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 0RU

 

Music on a Lazy Sunday

Local singer, Hannah Evans, will be performing live during ‘Lazy Sunday’ at The Cave in Milford on Sea this coming Sunday afternoon (2nd June). Then, there is more live music on Fathers Day afternoon with a trio named ‘Captain Crash and the Magic Hats'. They will be playing bass guitar, acoustic guitar and single drum. (Fathers Day is 16th June, for anyone who has forgotten!)

Hannah will be accompanied on guitar by Josh Lines, whose parents, Paul & June were landlords of the Red Lion until earlier this year, after which Stuart & Jayne Grieves took over. (The Red Lion is of course another place who hold regular live music worth listening to.)

Hannah is an accomplished and keen singer, and she has previously appeared on stage at the Milford Arts & Music Festival.

In April 2004, when just 13 years old, Hannah appeared on national TV in the ‘Stars in their Eyes Kids show’. TV audiences saw her battle it out with five other contestants, as she was transformed for the broadcast into US singer Vanessa Carlton. After undergoing a full makeover and sporting a brown wig, Hannah sang one of her favourite tracks by the American artist, A Thousand Miles.

Despite not reaching the glittering finals, Hannah was delighted to get as far as the hotly contested heats, beating off competition from thousands of other hopefuls. But in the end, it was 14-year-old Kenny Davies from Leeds who wowed the audience with his performance as Bobby Darin singing jazz classic Mack the Knife.

 

Hannah and Josh will be playing numbers to suit the mood of a relaxed Sunday afternoon, whilst further entertainment can be had in The Cave, with a Beer Tasting by Hunters Brewery from Newton Abbott in Devon.

 

The cave will also be serving their full wine list and nibbles as usual.

Lazy Sunday: 2pm to 5pm | Free Entry | Live Music & Beer Tasting

The Cave, 2 Church Hill, Milford on Sea, SO41 0QH

 

Find out more at: www.thecavemos.co.uk

 

Anyone Seen Squirrel?

A well loved family pet has gone missing, and we have been asked to see if anyone can help please.

He is called Squirrel and has been missing from Pless Road since Monday evening (27th May). He is 16 years old and is wearing a red collar with id tags (unless he’s lost it). Picture attached.

If anyone has found him or seen him, it would be great if you could please contact: Clare or Peter Johnston via this sites contact details.

They would be very grateful, and no doubt relieved.

The Tudors are Coming!

A friendly invasion is on its way to Milford on Sea, as Tudor and Stuart History Comes Alive at Hurst Castle.

Pop along between 10.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd June 2013, to see the Tudor and Stuart re-enactors at Henry VIII's original castle, with authentic costumes, demonstrations of crafts and skills (including net-making, a barber surgeon and lace making) and a special focus on dining, food and etiquette.

 

 There will also be lots of opportunities to interact with period soldiers and learn about their weapons or the games they used to pass the time, and even serve as a juror on a court leet.

We have heard that there will be things to see and do all day, with special events timetabled throughout, so plently to interest the whole family.

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The event jointly mounted by: St. Barbe Museum & Art Gallery and Hurst Castle

Castle Admission: £4.50 adult - £4.00 senior - £2.50 child

Return Ferry from Keyhaven: £5.50 adult - £3.30 child

For more information contact: Hurst Castle | T: 01590 642344

www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/hurst-castle