Playground creates a stir

The comments on the children’s playground have been coming in thick and fast, as you can read by clicking here. (Comments are at the bottom of the story.)

We have also heard from Keith, our Parish Clerk, and it looks like we are all on the same side.  Just need to find the money now!

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Dear David,

I thought that I would write to update you on the Play Park.On behalf of the Parish Council and our community, I have made a bid for funds through the Veolia Environmental Trust to resurface the whole of the sea front play park.  This bid goes through a rather lengthy process and we shall not know the outcome for another couple of months.  If we are successful, then we shall have the work undertaken sometime in the early summer.  If we are not successful, then I am afraid that it will be back to the drawing board!

If the funds were to come out of council tax monies through the precept, the £20k needed to undertake the work would represent about 20% of our parish annual budget.  With financial constraints as they are and have been for the past couple of years, the Council took the decision to try to secure the necessary funding via an alternative source.

When the Council took on the liabilities for maintaining the park, we had little idea how popular the park was going to be.  Had we anticipated its huge success, I am sure that we might well have left it in the hands of the District Council.  However, we are pleased that the park has proved so popular and will try to get it back into shape as quickly as funds permit.

For the past three seasons we have carried out annual remedial works, including building the surface back up and turfing it, putting children’s play sand in the deeper holes and also using rubber chips, all of which have lasted a few weeks at best!  This time we have decided that the only long-term resolution is to use what is called ‘wet-pour’, which is a rubber solution.  We have opted for the top surface to be finished in green rather than the often used black surface, which we believe would detract from the aesthetics of the surrounding grass area upon which the park is located.

We have approached local businesses about making a contribution towards the upkeep as obviously one or two benefit enormously by bringing custom to their facilities.  So far, we have had little success with sponsorship, but we remain optimistic.

Please feel free to use any of this communication to convey to your readers and if I can in future be of help in addressing concerns such as this, please feel free to ask, it’s why I am here!

Kind regards

Keith Metcalf

Parish Clerk

Kid’s Playground Fading

A concerned local resident, and holiday business owner, recently wrote to the Parish Council about the Children’s Play Area on Milford on Sea seafront, next to the Needles Eye Café.

She raised some relevant issues, such as:

• The surface is dangerous with large holes which are water filled and very muddy. 
• The equipment is very well worn and could do with being replaced or at least cleaned.
• The play area is generally dirty.
• The area needs landscaping.

Quite rightly, she point out that; "the current state of the playground is unacceptable. She also makes an extremely relevant point that; ‘the play area is of great benefit & pleasure not just local families, but also visitors to the area, who generate much needed revenue for village businesses and the council."

With the holiday season fast approaching, and the many ‘Milford on Sea events' drawing visitors from far & wide, the current playground is certainly not creating a great impression on anyone.

The Parish Council do their best to work in our interests, but of course they have limited funds and have to look to invest where is considered most necessary.  We understand that they are both aware and sympathetic to the problem, and are currently awaiting a response to a grant application. Attempts have been made to temporarily fill some holes with rubber chipping where equipment is heavily used, however this is Milford, and the wind has a great time taking the chippings away.  It is estimated that the necessary refurbishment would cost around £22k.

The ‘Great British Seaside’ is faded and tired in many places around the UK.  Here in Milford on Sea it is quite the opposite, however the Children’s Playground is currently a pretty poor reflection on our village as a whole.  It is unlikely in these economic times that new equipment would be feasible, but a spruce up of the equipment and play area would I am sure be appreciated by many.

Personally, I would also like to see a slide for the over 50's, but I think this is unlikely to gain the support it would require for council funding.

If the Parish Council’s grant is not forthcoming soon, does anyone has any bright ideas?  Please feel free to leave a comment below.

40 B4 40-The Old Vicarage

No. 4: Having been left alone to fend myself for a night, I was bravely facing the trauma of how to feed myself in the evening.

Feeling abandoned and lonely, it wasn’t long before I visited our friends C & T. Far from helping, they compounded my desertion anxiety when I discovered that they had plans to go out for dinner with friends Kate & David. This of course had not been priorly cleared with me, but I took the bad news well. I had sort of planned to dine on the fine fish and chips from Mr Pink’s this evening, I even had a ‘Billy no mates’ plate in mind. However, it then occurred to me that a pathetic face, and statements about my inner fear of starvation, might bag me a dinner invitation. - It did.

Being a Tuesday evening, most of the restaurants in Milford on Sea village are closed tonight, (La Perle was open, but we had only recently been there) so we were off on an ‘out of village adventure’. Soon we all arrived at The Old Vicarage in Hinton, Christchurch. This restaurant only opened in November last year and is family owned. Mum and Dad run front of house, with son Lewis as head chef. As we entered the gravel drive, The Old Vicarage looked charming and had the feel of visiting a country house. Sprawling over 10 acres of gardens and woodland, the hotel offers six individually designed bedrooms in addition to its restaurant.

Once inside you could see someone had style and inspiration, the ‘shabby chic’ decoration had an air of quality, and the welcome was warm and informal. I was very much reminded of the very successful ‘The Pig County House Hotel & Restaurant’ in Brockenhurst. At the bar I was soon enjoying a German wheat beer, which was rather tasty and quite effective on an empty stomach.

A hurdle had to be jumped when the menus arrive, as due to my wife’s absence, I did not have access to my glasses in her handbag. Unfortunately, my wife was staying about 70 miles away, and even I considered it unreasonable to ask her to bring them over. Fortunately, Trish soon rescued me, and I think I looked quite fetching in ladies specs.

As I had already fish & chips on my mind, I immediately honed in on the beer battered haddock with mushy peas, tartar sauce & hand-cut chips. (Unbelievable, they have a current offer of Fish & Chips for 2 at £9.50 on Tuesdays.) In spite of the temptation, I only ordered one portion though. My starter choice was mushroom soup with home-made bread, and as a sweet, the banana tatin, banoffee crumble with almond ice cream.

As the conversation flowed and I was enjoying everyones company, the meals arrived. Others had chosen dishes that included, Ham hock terrine, toasted focaccia with pineapple chutney, Sea bream pomme puree, creamed spinach, salsify and pesto, Chicken ballotine, mustard mash, mushroom and broad bean cream, Deconstructed sherry trifle and warm jelly, and Cheese and biscuits. Being experienced diners, we all enthusiastically agreed that the food was superb, and my banana dessert was simply ‘to die for’. My only disappointment was that everyone else ate all of their sweets and no-one needed my help to finish any.

Before leaving, head chef, Lewis came out for a chat. A charming and passionate young man, who’s age belied his obvious kitchen skills. Lewis trained at Gordon Ramsays' Tante Marie Culinary Academy, and has subsequently worked in the kitchens at Hotel Du Vin, Poole and Westbeach, Bournemouth. His pastry chef also has an impressive CV, including working on the starters at Heston Blumenthal’s ‘Fat Duck’.

Not only could the food be described as exceptional, with quality ingredients and an obvious passion in the cooking, the prices can also be described as good value, even under priced for the quality of dishes you receive.

This is certainly a restaurant we will be back to, and the afternoon Cream tea, clotted cream & home-made jam for just £6 looks particularly tempting.

Arriving back in Milford on Sea we enjoyed a coffee and nightcap at David’s bar. I then realised that I had forgotten to call my wife earlier in the evening, I had already forgotten to take my phone out with me, and I was then was so engrossed in the evening, that it was now gone 11pm. I faced this dilemma head on, and as we were still having a nightcap I decided I had enough Dutch courage to wish her goodnight. Borrowing Colin’s phone I dialled fearlessly. As a recognised the muffled and sleep induced voice I knew she was safe, so I put on a strange voice, pretended it was a wrong number and hung up.

Another quick drink and it was time to be chauffeured home for a good nights sleep.

www.vicaragecountryhouse.co.uk/

The Old Vicarage, Lyndhurst Road, Hinton, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 7DR

Tel: 01425 277006

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Note: Some may say that this dinner should not qualify for our 40 B4 40 challenge, as my wife was not there. However as with most rules in my life, I simply make it up as I go along!

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

More Free Programmes in Shops

Due to popular demand as they say, we have had to reprint the Free Milford on Sea Food Week Programme.  Replenished stocks are now in The Village News Newsagents, Hollands, The Co-op and most of the other village shops.

If you haven't already done so, please pick up a copy today.

The ticketed events are selling fast, if you don't want to miss out please buy your tickets now.  Selected events are on sale at Gwen's, and from the online ticket office. Please click here.

Only 28 Days To Go!!

PS: If you are a shopkeeper and need some more programmes, please pick them up from Mark in The Village News.

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

40 B4 40-Jamie's Italian

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No. 3:  When we set this somewhat nonsensical challenge I had assumed that we would be dining together on 40 occasions, however, as with most assumptions that involve my wife, I was wrong.

To explain, my wife was going on a ‘girls night out’ and insisted it qualified for our ‘40  B4 40 Challenge’.  I tried to get myself an invite, but in spite of shaving my legs and wearing a rather fetching frock, I was still not invited.  So, merrily the seven girls trotted off to Jamie’s Italian in Guildford, leaving a forlorn looking figure in a dress on the doorstep.

Fortunately, we have eaten there together before, so I knew the quirky Italian menu was well worth the visit.  The restaurant is set in an iconic circular building in the heart of Guildford, and is one of a chain of restaurants run by Jamie Oliver.  Normally we are not fans of ‘chain restaurants’, but this one is of sufficient quality, with good service, an unusual menu and a different kind of place to eat.

Before leaving, I had been given strict instructions that my ‘healthy eating’ dinner was in the fridge and that the dogs every whim must be attended to.  As always I nodded, not really hearing what had been said.

As the door closed, I immediately went to the drawer for the menu of the Purbani, which after much research involving many takeaway restaurants and many years, I had crowned as ‘Guildford’s Best Indian Takeaway’.  As they answered the phone, I asked; “Do you have a table for two by the window please”.  Being purely a takeaway, I find this joke very funny.  However, as the guy on the phone had heard me do this many times before, he simply said “Ah, good evening Mr Long, you funny man”.  I suspect he did not mean ‘funny’ in the humorous sense.

The usual forty five minutes later my meal arrived, and I was soon tucking into a pile of papadoms with chutney, a chicken dhansak, pilau rice, onion bhaji and peshwari naan bread, all washed down with a pleasant French red wine from when we had emigrated to France. 

The dogs meanwhile were eating a rather nice ‘heathly eating meal’ from the fridge.

Before settling down to the TV, I destroyed the evidence by disposing of all the cartons in the outside dustbin.

On her arrival home, I forgot to ask what my wife had eaten, however it soon became clear that whatever it was, it had a lot of garlic!

Jamie’s Italian: www.jamieoliver.com/italian/guildford

Purbani Indian Takeaway: click here

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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.

Food Week Raffle Captain Needed

The raffle ticket sales at Milford on Sea Food Week are an important fund raiser in covering the cost of marketing and promoting Food Week.

In previous years we have been very fortunate to have had the raffle ticket team extremely well organised and co-ordinated, however this year our Raffle Team Captain is taking a well-earned break. Indeed, based on the fantastic sum raised in the past two years, a a bit of time off is very well deserved!

We are therefore looking for a ‘Raffle Team Captain’, or indeed a couple of willing ‘Raffle Captains’!   The role involves co-ordinating the raffle tickets rota, to ensure we have regular sellers across the village and at all of the larger events. We also need someone to make sure all sold raffle tickets stubs are collected and returned for the winners draw at the Food Market on Sunday 15^th April.  Fortunately, we have a very enthusiastic raffle ticket seller team already, so you will not have to find the people to sell the tickets.

As always, we will also need more enthusiastic raffle ticket sellers from across the village. Joining the team is always fun and a great way to meet new people.

If you fancy being our ‘Raffle Captain’ (with or without a friend), or just as importantly, wish to be one of the raffle team sellers, please just drop me an email to let me know on the e-mail link below:

david@milfordonsea.org

www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Discovering inside Shorefield

Many of us will know of Shorefield Country Park, but how many of us have been there to explore.  A quick look on Google Maps shows the impressive size of the site.  (click here)   When venturing inside you discover a self-contained community and an impressive array of facilities.  Simon Pollock (MD & Chairman) and his team are generous sponsors and supporters of Milford on Food Week and see themselves very much as part of Milford on Sea village. 

We approached Simon to discover more about Shorefield’s history and life today.  So, here you go, The History of Shorefield’s:

Shorefield Holidays Limited has been welcoming guests and visitors to its parks for over 50 years.  Shorefield was formed on the 4th July 1958 by the late Dr Robert Pollock, when he was unable to find a touring pitch for the family’s annual holiday. He was thus inspired to purchase a worked out gravel pit at Milford on Sea and so the company was born. Dr Pollock ran Shorefield Country Park for 18 years as well as working as a doctor in General Practice in Bedford. When he retired in 1976, he moved to Milford and spent many years talking and listening to the staff and customers while mowing the grass or walking Troy, his Great Dane.

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The company has gone from strength to strength and now consists of six parks all situated along the beautiful south coast. Lytton Lawn Touring Park was purchased in 1988 and eight years later Oakdene Forest Park was acquired. Forest Edge Holiday Park was bought in 2001 and in 2005 Priestway Holiday Park, later renamed as Swanage Coastal Park was purchased. Merley Court Holiday Park is the latest acquisition bought in 2006.

The family has watched the company grow and develop from those very early days to the prestigious award-winning company that it is today. “It has been lots of fun, lots of hard work and a fabulous journey” says Lesley Lawrence, Marketing Director, who joined the company in 1977. “I think we are successful because we listen to our customers and we encourage feedback good and bad and this makes us aware of what is wanted by all our customers, 50% of whom each year are return holiday makers. On the marketing front we often lead the way in our industry being the first to use video and dvd for holiday home sales and one of the first to have a website and introduce online bookings”.

Simon Pollock (Robert's son), joined the company in 1974, and is Managing Director and Chairman at Shorefield, says: “We are fortunate by the location we are in. Location, location, location is the watchword used by many tourism gurus. I also think that having a board of three working directors with a wealth of different experience, has managed to create a family business quite unique from others. We were one of the first in the industry to embrace short break holidays, to make up beds in letting accommodation, to invest in sustainable tourism and to create a day spa experience”.

Today Shorefield operate six holiday and leisure parks in the UK, each based in an enviable location on the stunning South Coast. Shorefield provides high quality holiday accommodation in fully equipped chalets, caravans, holiday lodges and touring and camping pitches. Their parks offer our clients an extensive range of leisure facilities and activities not to mention a huge variety of restaurants, bars and retail outlets plus the superb Reflections Elemis Day Spa.

Sara Bertin, Financial Director, joined the Board in 1980 and says: “I think the secret of our success is the varied expertise that each of the directors brings to the boardroom table and the team of managers that we have. The business is always changing so it’s never dull. Our hands on approach to the business and our personal involvement on a day to day basis mean that we know what is working and what isn’t working. We passionately believe in the safety and enjoyment of our customers and this is supported by a high level of staff training.

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Shorefield Country Park is situated on the outskirts of Milford on Sea and is a fabulous 5 Star rated holiday park set in 100 acres of delightful landscaped parkland. The perfect setting to relax in, or explore the rural surroundings. Shorefield Holidays Limited prides itself on its 50 years’ experience and has achieved the David Bellamy Gold Award for Conservation and the ETC, 'England for Excellence' Award and the prestigious Rose Award for very high levels of quality and cleanliness.

The leisure facilities at Shorefield Country Park can only be described as excellent, providing activities for all the family. The club house features bars, eateries and regular entertainment for the whole family. Leisure activities include: A small stocked lake for fishing (rod license required), nature activities in the nature centre, superb leisure club featuring heated indoor pool, sauna, steam room and spa bath. There is also a state of the art fully equipped gymnasium and the Reflections Elemis Day Spa.

Shorefield Country Park also offers a wide range of function rooms and spaces that are perfect for your next special event. These are also available for hire by people from Milford on Sea.  Whether you’re thinking intimate or grand, a casual buffet or a formal sit down dinner, whatever the occasion, their dedicated events team with their wealth of experience will ensure that your every expectation is met and your every need accommodated.

The site also consists of: Large club with ballroom & entertainment, Indoor & outdoor swimming pools, Sauna, steam room & spa bath, Cheers Bar & Carvery, Bistro, & Country Pumpkin pub, Children’s party venue, ‘Reflections’ Beauty & Day Spa, Outdoor tennis court & five a side football court, Crazy Golf, Supermarket with off-license, Launderette, Small fishing lake, Wi-Fi in club area, Fully equipped gym and fitness studio.

Shorefield Holidays Limited is one of the area’s leading employers and is proud to hold the Investors in people award, offering a diverse range of jobs across six holiday parks. They believe that central to their continued success is the training and development of their employees. This not only helps them to achieve their potential, but also improves the experience guests receive. The benefits they offer employees include leisure membership to the facilities on our parks. They are also proud to say that over half of Shorefield Holidays Limited permanent employees have been with them for over 5 years and a quarter have been with them for over 10 years.

Shorefield have certainly come a long way since Dr Robert Pollock's, intial inspiration in 1958!

Discover more about Shorefields at www.shorefield.co.uk

Top chefs go head to head

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This year’s Milford on Sea Food Week features the appearance of top chefs from across the New Forest.  The BIG Cook Off will bring some counties best culinary talents together, as the chefs’ battle in a fun competition to see who can cook and present the best courses.

Chefs will be appearing from Chewton Glen, Lime Wood, The Jetty and recently opened The Pig in Brockenhurst.  Each has a reputation for fine food and a passionate about using the finest local ingredients.

Milford on Sea will be represented by top village chefs from La Perle, The Marine, Westover Hall and Verveine Fishmarket Restaurant (‘Hampshire Restaurant of the Year’ and ‘Hampshire Chef of the Year’)

The two BIG Cook Off shows will be compered by renowned New Forest chef, Alex Aitken.  Each show will feature two chefs from ‘The Big Boys’ and ‘The Village Boys’, and each of the four chefs will cook an individual course in the professional demonstration kitchen.  As the cooking takes place, Alex will casually chat with the chefs and explains the process and dishes, whilst Alan Holmes, Chef Sommelier from Chewton Glen, will also be on hand to explain the best wines to go with each course.

A lucky member of audience will be selected to eat each course, alongside wines selected by Alan, before a fun vote by the audience decides the winning team.

The BIG Cook Off has two separate shows, one on the afternoon of Wednesday 11th April, with another show featuring different chefs on Thursday afternoon on the 12th April.  Tickets are now on sale for each of The BIG Cook Off shows in Gwen’s in Milford on Sea, High Street, or from the Milford on Sea Food Week online ticket office.  Click here to buy tickets now.

Milford on Sea is fast become a ‘Foodie Destination’ and now boasts around 20 different places to eat in the village.  Locals and visitors alike can enjoy anything from the delightful tearooms to the top quality dining restaurants.  In recognition of this ‘Foodie Heaven by the Sea!’, Milford on Sea Food Week is now in its third year and celebrates all that is great about local food.

Milford on Sea Food Week has all corners of the community taking part, and the event has over 100 varied activities for everyone to get involved and have fun.  The event will also create long-term sustainability for the village centre shops and its restaurants, for the benefit of local residents and visitors alike.

From Easter Bank Holiday Monday, Milford on Sea Food Week will run for an entire seven days.  Everyone at every age is welcome, to come and enjoy the Themed Dining Evenings, Professional Cookery Theatre, Celebrity Shows, Cooking Demonstrations, Educational Talks, Film Shows, Cookery Competitions, Wine Tastings, Dining Offers, Kid's Events & a large Sunday Food Market on the final day.  All events are organised by local organisations, clubs, businesses and individuals. 

The complete list of events can be viewed on the website and Free Programmes detailing all of the events will be in the village shops from the end of March.  Plus of course, you can buy tickets on online now from the Ticket Office below.

Milford on Sea Food Week Ticket Office:

www.ticketsource.co.uk/milfordonseafoodweek

To find out more please visit: www.milfordonseafoodweek.org

Boat needed for Carnival

The Seahorses Playgroup have been persuaded to join the Carnival procession this year but there's some little legs (and some bigger ones)  that can't walk too far – so they are hoping to enter as the Milford on Sea Sailing team (incorporating Pirates, Mermaids, Seahorses and all other marine related characters). 

However, they need to borrow a boat.  Just a small one, tender sized, and preferably on a trailer as it will be parent-powered rather than towed by a vehicle. 

Could any of our readers help?  They fully insured and won't be taking it to sea!

If you can lend a boat, please contact: Jan Rook: 07801 624324 – seahorses@btinternet.com (Seahorses Community Baby & Toddler Group)

40 B4 40-The Savoy Grill

No. 2: Right we are off on our next 40 B4 40 Challenge!  First stop is The Savoy Grill in London’s historic Savoy Hotel for our company’s Christmas do.  Yes, I do realise it is March, but some years ago we cancelled Christmas for two reasons.  One; a member of our team did not celebrate Christmas or attend 'Christmas Do’s’ for religious reasons, so we decided we would have a ‘Company Do’ early in the year instead.  Secondly; Christmas Parties involve inedible food, silly hats and overpriced everything!  Our party plan is to take the team somewhere special and to have a great experience that doesn’t involve pulling crackers and being treated like cattle.

In past years we have dined at some fine London restaurants like Gordon Ramsey’s Boxwood Café, The OXO Tower, Brasserie Roux in Pall Mall (now The Balcon) and Cambio at the Castle in Guildford.  This year we were off to Gordon Ramsey’s Savoy Grill in London's Savoy Hotel. 

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The ten 'party people' met for pre-lunch drinks at 12 noon at The Porterhouse in London’s Covent Garden.  Everyone was in high spirits and ready to party!  Sadly, two of the team couldn't make it, but I think it being your 'hen weekend' is a fitting reason to miss out. 

The ‘industrial chic’ bar served many beers from its own brewery in Dublin and most of the guys went for the award winning Porter Stout.  The girls tried a variety of Belgian fruit beers with flavours such as cherry, mango, honey and passion fruit.  The party was soon getting warmed up!

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Arriving at The Savoy, the air of grandeur since the complete rebuild had not been lost.  The spectacular entrance, grand marble reception and Thames Foyer were as impressive as ever, with chandeliers, bronzes, fine decor and exotic flower displays. The Savoy Grill dining room was just as imposing with tortoise shell wall panelling and a host of friendly staff to greet us. 

We were soon seated and supping the good vouvray and soft pinot noir wine, as we chose our meals from the extensive menu.  As the waiter arrived to reveal the succulent sirloin on the silver salver trolley, you could almost hear the licking of lips.  Lots of boisterous conversation accompanied our various chosen starters, which included Chicken liver and foie gras parfait with apple chutney, Devilled lamb kidney on toast, Beetroot tart with salt and vinegar caramel and goats curd, and Butternut squash soup with confit duck and sautéed mushroom. 

Although this was a Gordon Ramsey restaurant, I don’t think he was cooking, as we could here no swearing from the kitchen. The service was continually attentive and our main courses soon arrived.  Between us we devoured; Hot smoked salmon with choucroute and beurre noisette sauce, Grilled hanger steak with pomme mousseline and pepper sauce, Steamed Scottish mussels and fries, Potato & bacon pie, plus of course some had the Sirloin beef with Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and vegetables.

On return from the various trips to the loos people had varying opinions, some liked the way an attendant turned on the tap and handed you a towel, others were a bit spooked!  Having used the bottles of aftershave, I came back smelling like I had fallen into a vat of perfume.

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Plenty of conversation and silliness later, we moved onto our sweets, the wine was still flowing copiously and any diets forgotten.  Steamed cinnamon pudding with custard was most popular, followed by Burnt English cream with redcurrant sorbet and one warm poached pear with vanilla ice cream.

Very full, we still managed to enjoy our coffee's and petit fours.

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Never knowing when we have had enough, we moved on to the minimalist and somewhat strange St Martins Hotel.  Soon we were in The Light Bar for early evening cocktails.  Strange 'face murals' stared from the ceiling as we tried our various concoctions.

For a night cap, we then moved on to The Salisbury, an old traditional Victorian London pub, with normal drinks and a less odd ceiling. After another drink, we were all beginning to wilt.  So, after having had a fantastic day together we all started to make our way home, very full and not in a particularly straight line.

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www.porterhousebrewco.com/bars-london-coventgarden.php

21-22 Maiden Lane, London, WC2E 7NA

www.gordonramsay.com/thesavoygrill
Strand, London WC2R 0EU

Light Bar Website
St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martins Lane, London, WC2N 4HX

The Salisbury Website
90 St. Martins Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4AP

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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.

40 B4 40-The Drummond

No. 1:  This was not supposed to be the first meal in our culinary 40 B4 40 challenge, we has simply gone for a belated 40^th birthday drink with my brother in law. 

Arriving at The Drummond in Guildford at 5pm were around ten mutual friends, and the beers soon started flowing.

As the evening drew on, a traditional Friday night curry was looking on the cards.  But then, to my utter surprise, someone suggested we eat in the pub.  The menu was quite a surprise and the choice extensive.  We all placed our orders, and a lot of the guys went for deep fried whitebait with tartare sauce & lemon, followed by minute steak, garnish and fries.  My wife and I plumped for a quesadilla (Mexican flour tortilla folded and filled with a savoury mixture containing cheese, red onion, peppers & tomato with a delicious spicy cheese dipping sauce), followed homemade breaded hake fish fingers, crushed minted peas & fries.  The quality was great and everyone happy with their choices, at £8.50 for two courses the value was both a surprise and excellent.

During the meal my brother in law continued to insist that his girlfriend (who none of us had met) was coming to join us, however she had been delayed doing something called ‘work’ in London.  7pm came, then 8pm, with various reasons being given for the extending time of the impending arrival.  Being a sensitive group it did not take long for us to mercifully rib him about his ‘imaginary girlfriend’.  As the drinking continued, a phone call arrived saying she was arriving at Guildford station.  Having had more pints than is good for us, we decided on a nightcap at a bar called Tickled Ivory.

My brother in law went on first to meet ‘his girlfriend’.  We followed, about a pint later.  On arriving at the bar we found him talking to a nice looking lady.  As we all got the drinks in, my wife ordered her favourite ‘squashed frog’ shot (Advocaat, Midori melon liqueur & Grenadine).  The place was buzzing, and so were my ear drums.  The music was loud, very loud, but my wife was soon chatting away, I was convinced neither of them could hear each other.  Soon I was introduced, and I asked if she actually knew my brother in law, or was she just chatting to him out of sympathy?  I could not hear her replies, all I could see was her mouth moving and a strange look on her face like ‘who is this weirdo’.  So, it still remains to be seen whether I have actually met his girlfriend, or whether it was a random good Samaritan digging him out of an ‘imaginary girlfriend’ hole.

www.thedrummondguildford.co.uk
www.tickledivory.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.

40 B4 40-Dining Challenge

My brother in law has shocked his entire family by doing something interesting.  To explain, he is an IT geek, which normally means an active brain full of numbers and a limp body due to no creative bones.  Strangely though, he is prone to occasional bouts of fine humour.

Anyway, he has just turned 40 and decided to take on 40 challenges in his 40^th year. 

His list includes; Take part in an Adventure Race, Milk a cow/goat, Do a winter sport, Shoot a real gun, Walk coast-to-coast, Get a spray tan, Climb a mountain, Lose 1/2 stone, Run a 5k race, Get a tattoo etc. 

As you may expect few of these appeal to me, and I have already done the last one.

This got me thinking.  It is far too late for me to do the same age related challenge, also doing ‘55 things at 55’, sounds like far too many things to do!  However I have had an idea.  My wife is 40 in the middle of next year, so we are going to do a ‘40 B4 40’ Challenge.  As with most of my ideas she is not keen, however I plan to drag her along to see if she eventually enjoys it.  When considering what 40 challenges we would do, I soon dismissed anything that involved adrenaline or effort. 

The answer soon became clear.  Our ‘40 B4 40 Challenge’ will be: To dine in 40 restaurants before my wife is 40!  The gloves are now off, and knife and fork in hand!

It is going to be tough, and many will admire how we are facing such adversity, but hey, life is all about meeting challenges.  Fortunately Food Week should help notch a number off of the list.  As you may expect, as we eat our way through our challenge you will be able to follow our culinary adventure on these pages!

PS: I will let you know when my wife hits 14 stone!

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For the record:

 

FAVOURITE 15 RESTAURANTS VISITED BEFORE THE '40 B4 40 DINING CHALLENGE’.

*In no particular order, and excluding Milford on Sea eateries, they would of course all be in the list!

Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, London (3 Michelin Star) - www.alainducasse-dorchester.com

Pied a Terre, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.pied-a-terre.co.uk

Georges V, Paris (2 Michelin Star) - www.fourseasons.com/paris

 

Café Veneto, Rome

 

Rules, London – www.rules.co.uk

 

Langans, London – www.langansrestaurants.co.uk

 

Verveine, Milford on Sea - www.verveine.co.uk 

 

The Jetty, Mudeford - www.thejetty.co.uk

 

The Montague Arms, Beaulieu (1 Michelin Star) - www.montaguarmshotel.co.uk/terrace_restaurant.html

 

Lime Wood, Lyndhurst - www.limewoodhotel.co.uk

 

The RAC Club, Pall Mall, London - www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk

 

Chutney Mary, London - www.chutneymary.com

 

Boxwood Café (Gordon Ramsey), London - www.gordonramsey.com/boxwoodcafe

 

The Criterion, London - www.criterionrestaurant.com

 

The Ivy, London - www.the-ivy.co.uk

 

Veeraswamy, London - www.veeraswamy.com

 

The OXO Tower, London - www.harveynicols.com/oxo-tower-london

 

Brasserie Roux, London

 

Simpsons in The Strand, London - www.simpsonsinthestrand.co.uk

 

La Flambée' , Deauville - www.laflambee-deauville.com

 

Café de la Mairie, Deauville

Whoops, couldn’t keep list to 15!

 

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 WISH LIST: ……One day!

 

Fat Duck, Bray (3 Michelin Star) - www.thefatduck.co.uk

 

The Waterside, Bray (3 Michelin Star) – www.waterside-inn.co.uk

  

La Gavrouche, London (2 Michelin Star) - www.le-gavroche.co.uk

 

Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison, Oxford (2 Michelin Star) - www.manoir.com

 

Petrus, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.gordonramsay.com/petrus

 

Dinner, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.dinnerbyheston.com

 

Pollen Street Social, London (1 Michelin Star) - www.pollenstreetsocial.com

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To read my brother in law’s ‘40 at 40’ blog - please click here