The English Paysanne

For a holiday treat last week we had lunch at the 2*Michelin restaurant at Gidleigh Park hotel on Dartmoor. Tucked well away down small country lanes it's quiet an impressive location. Being a hot day we had an aperitif on the veranda. We've eaten at a few 1* but never a 2 so was interested in seeing the difference. Taking the seven course taster menu we started with a mise en bouche then eel (above photo), cheese with a quails egg, carrot (textures of carrot), hake, ox heart (very tiny cubes of meat) followed by lamb loin, pre dessert of strawberries and dessert of 'snickers' (above photo) which tasted just like a snickers ice cream. Each dish was presented beautifully, very small portions but then it was a taster menu! We cheekily asked for an extra slice of bread to mop up our sauces as they were very tasty. Now the food was very nice but we decided the extra star probably goes on the service and surroundings offered - hand made pottery plates, tw...

Its been a bit wet here this week, showers and cloudy with just a little bit of sunshine has meant everywhere is looking very green. The veggies are growing well (apart from the brassicas which have been severely nibbled by the pesky rabbits) which also means the weeds are coming along nicely as well. Today is suppose to be the last day of rain for a while which will be good news for our gite guests. The first big bunch of beetroot was pulled up. This year I have managed to grow white and yellow as well as purple (last year pulled up the yellow thinking they were weeds) Mabel and Maude seem to think their role at La Singlarie is watch ducks. At last they are coming outside on their own, jumping up on the wall where they spend their time surveying the chickens and pigs. If only they could do something about those rabbits ....    Gorgon and the girls were getting a bit over whelmed with their task of keeping the grass eaten so farmer J put the giro ...

                                               The new piglets are settling in well. Sandy's piglets are growing well and nearly ready to leave her, especially as they are now after her food. The weather has turned the first frost arrived this week with chillier mornings and evenings means it is time for the wood burner to be lit. Rain has made for muddy pig pens and slippery feeding time. Vanille has broken yet another head bridal. She May be wishing for a purple one next. Time has been spent in the butchery processing a pig. Sausages made and bacon curing. I have started to knit this  in a colour different from what I normally would choose, must be the autumnal colour influence. And continued to knit my Spana  animals                           ...

If you should happen to find yourself in Villefranche de Rouergue at lunchtime then try  this   Restaurant for a wonderful meal.