Category Archives: restaurant review

When I visit a restaurant, I will make some comments about the place.

Misogyny abounds in Weathersfield

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Managed to get to work today in a few minutes flat. No stupid routes around Glastonbury. Another hot and dry day, thank goodness for air conditioning, and a company that dresses down, so jeans and t-shirts are in order.

Dinner today in a lively bar called the Tilted Kilt. Sat at the bar drinking what looked like real pints. Drank some Sam Smiths from Boston, and then another pint which was an American Ho Garden beer. They seemed to have several different cloudy beers on tap, obviously trendy.

No pictures today, forgot to take the camera, will have to go back. I am afraid this bar can only employ flat stomached females with large perky busts and artistic tats. At least they had some good themed channel on the TV which was not American football, but extreme sports, which vied for attention.

Food other then liquid, a large burger.

Glastonbury arrival, Ginza and Chipotle

Blasdale Home Posted on by

My drive to Wethersfield was a doddle. So armed with my trusty printed out Google turn maps I drove to Glastonbury and the offices where I am to work for the next few days. Suffice to say the time taken for this 3-mile drive would have got me 60% of the way back to Boston. Somewhere I went wrong and drove up and down every road in Glastonbury, Connecticut. Yes, I was forced eventually to ask someone for directions. I blame Google, they made me drive some circuitous route, so I did not have to turn left over traffic lanes. When I got to where I was driving there were no such restrictions, even had traffic lights and signs telling me to turn left.

So, I am in these big offices with no one there. They all work from home. First job was coffee. Do you know, they actually have Starbucks in America. Would you believe it? Back to work, and then lunch. Chipotle a fast-food Mexican. Not too bad, I knew of the chain from the podcast program TWIG (This week in Google).

Back to the hotel, shower to remove all the leaky biro that somehow has destroyed my pants (ok, trousers, but I am in America), stained my new, white Samsung Galaxy 3 S (you should have heard Rosemary laugh when I showed her the phone on FaceTime), and marked my legs with a blue smear.

Out to supper at the Ginza, a 3-minute walk. Pissed off all the drivers as I turned the lights red on the multi lane highway. Ginza is a Japanese Sashimi and Sushi place. Yes, I am looking forward to the results of the raw fish in a couple of days’ time. Quite expensive, well over budget, so tomorrow it’s going to be the Red Lobster. It was the cute Chinese girl who on commission got me to have the special starter. I was not going to have a starter, and no way one that cost as much as the main meal. It though was the best part of the meal. Crab on raw tuna. The Sushi main course was a bit ordinary.

On the way back popped into a liquor store. My God, the number of bottles. I have never ever seen anything quite so large and well stocked with such a huge variety of drinks. I came out with a bottle of Makers Mark which I am quietly shipping while writing this blog entry.

Wethersfield Connecticut

Blasdale Home Posted on by

You have this firm conviction you will never visit a country again. Suddenly you make two trips on the same airline in the same year.

The first time, you think, why bother to sign up for frequent flyer, you are hardly ever to fly with the same company again. Then a few months later you have another trip, and again think you will never fly with them again. Looks like I may be making a third trip this year. Better sign up to frequent flyer, that will guarantee never coming to the USA again. Well at least until the points expire.

So I flew to the USA, staying in Wethersfield Connecticut. Flew in to Boston on Tuesday, 30 years and 5 months since my last visit. Picked up a hire car and drove 2 hours to my hotel in Wethersfield. Hoped it would be an all daylight drive, again 30 years since I last drove in the US, but alas heavy rain in old blighty had delayed my flight by 2 hours. Come on Dave, stop chillaxing and axe a few houses and build 2 more runways at Heathrow. You cannot seriously run an airport at 99% capacity.

Well I arrived at the Comfort hotel. Well with a name like that, you know you won’t be getting the best service. Things looked up, at check in I was asked if I had a reservation, “Yes” I said. “Welcome Steve”, came the reply. “I’m famous” I said. “No” she said, “just the last to check in”.

Well the room is big, the bed is big, its free wifi, what more can a man want?

Breakfast you might say. Well breakfast was available, toast, bagels, cold hard boiled eggs, de-caffeinated coffee, all served on expanded polystyrene plates. Yes, not the best hotel, and I believe the guys I am working with are somewhat surprised at where I am staying.

Guernsey pictures are available

Blasdale Home Posted on by

We arrived back in England on Saturday.  Last undocumented days included a cliff walk, lunch at a restaurant on the South coast at La Gouffre called Cafe D’Escalier.  This used be called the Hollows and then served Greek food.  Now it served an adventurous Fest menu.  Some of the items were good, and the others were so so.  Choose well and you will be rewarded.  After lunch we walker back to Vazon Bay arriving just as it was getting dark.

Saturday a walk to Cobo bay, and then a final lunch at La Grande Mare.

Guernsey Holiday 2011

Pictures are available for viewing here.  https://www.blasdale.com/blog/picture-albums/2011-blasdale-picture-album/2011-guernsey-holiday-at-vazon-bay/

 

 

Wednesday dinner

Blasdale Home Posted on by

After arriving back in the flat, and a few G&Ts later, decided to eat in the hotel restaurant. Steve decided maybe that we should book, so over to the hotel and booked for supper. No room available until 8.30. Seems the Tenner Fest at La Grande Mare is pretty popular. I think they are the only restaurant doing the festival for a Tenner. This is a three course meal and in the evening. De Nellos in St Peter Port charge £17.50 for a three course evening meal. De Nellos feel they have to charge this amount, otherwise the food quality will be low. The meal La Grande Mare presented for £10.00 was excellent for quality, taste, presentation and value. There were quite a few options available on the menu I would be happy to eat. Maybe will have to go back again. Quantities were good, we left feeling satiated. Coffee was extra, but worth the cost, they do a good Cappuccino .

For the record

  • R had Chicken Tikka, followed by a vegetarian Wellington stuffed with Feta cheese and peppers. I tried a piece and it was yummy. She ended with ice cream.
  • S started with baked Cammenburt cheese, lamb on a potato champ and sauce, and finished with a apple crumble and ice cream.

Today worried by the rain, and no plan we headed to St. Peter Port and stopped in the ever growing number of Costa coffee shops which seem to have grown up. As usual I presented my Costa card to gain points, and as usual my Costa card was rejected. Why oh why have a loyalty card and find that it is not taken in that particular branch. I am getting hacked off with Costa and their owner Whitbread. Never have this problem of rejected loyalty card at Cafe Nero who, incidentally produce a better and stronger tasting cup of coffee.

We left and walked up through the town heading back to Vazon bay. We must have been lucky, despite the ominous clouds we arrived home dry. The ground at Vazon was soaking wet, luckily no rain fell on the just.

Wednesday New York weather

Blasdale Home Posted on by

The depression which caused havoc in New York and the East coast arrived here today. It though did not bring the snow which so damaged trees in Central Park. Instead grey and damp miserable weather arrived. Ventured out to stock up with T for the G&Ts which we had allowed to get perilously low.

Guernsey North island walk

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Fry up breakfast, including black pudding. Then the bus to Port Soif and walk to Saint Sampsons. Weather was warm and sunny, but a few spots of rain early on. Hopefully have a picture of a rainbow. Not many caffs open at this time of year, but had an ice cream at La Garenne. In total we walked I the region of 7.8 miles

Some pictures of LBJs, Kestral, Oyster Catchers and Curlew.

Back home on the 7A from the bridge in Saint Sampsons,G&Ts and then another M&S dine in for £10.00

Guernsey

Blasdale Home Posted on by

Well we are in Guernsey. Flew here on Saturday, been shopping and I now proudly sport a new fat face top. Yes there is a small saving on the price from a reduction in the tax. Last night we had a lazy Marks and Spencer dine in for £10.00 meal. It was a vegetarian mozzarella dish and microwaved peas and beans. After supper watched the waves breaking over the sea wall, attempted some photographs. In the morning there were many patches of sea weed and rocks on the coast road. After the night time sea viewing, we took to the golf course to track down a few ducks and geese on the ponds. Rosemary only took to a bunker once on the walk.

Today we bussed over to Fermain bay and took a short walk to the Auberge restaurant for luncheon. On the walk we met another English couple who regularly come to the Island, we are not the only ones. They come this time of year to eat at the Fest restaurants.

Our Auberge meal, excellent as usual. I started with Warm Toulouse sausage salad, while Rosemary ate Smoked Salmon with a caper sauce. Both of us ate fish for the main course, mine was Brill on mashed potato with Scallops and a corral roe sauce. Rosemary opted for Sea Bass on a mixture of noodles, carrot noodles and courgette noodles. I was surprised she ate her fish skin. I think it was a first for her and she now realises the delicacy missed all these years.

The finals were an Autumn Mess a mixture of berries in an Ice cream, much like an Eaton Mess. I was going to have that, but was beaten to the choice by Rosemary. The Panacotta and berry sauce, my second choice was delicious.

The eye candy served during the meal was delightful.

Returned to the flat, shopping at the local CO-OP and then back for G&Ts. The Grande Mare car park was heaving. Not sure if this a result of their 3 course Fest menu for £10.00 Shall be trying that tomorrow lunch time.

Crazy Bear Hotel

Blasdale Home Posted on by

I was away in Aberdeen when it was Rosemary’s birthday.  Quick call on the Monday to tell her where her birthday present was hidden.

Back from Aberdeen, we went out for lunch at a restaurant in Stadhampton.  It is a hotel, pub, and restaurant.  Two restaurants, one English and the other Thai.  They also do Thai massage there.  Yes it was a pub, there were people drinking there, and it is called the Crazy Bear Hotel.

Rosemary and I opted for the English meal, and the express lunch from the menu.  The price of the fixed menu was very reasonable.

The decor of the place was eccentric. The bar had a huge stuffed bear, odd tables and stools, chandeliers.  The restaurant was all padded leather and looked a bit like a cross between a padded cell and a tart’s boudoir.  I should have asked if the Thai massage came with happy endings. There were pictures of the bedrooms in the advertising pack, again eccentrically furnished and decorated, but lovely touches such as being able to slide from the bed into a large tub like bath.  Definitely a place to go for an illicit or romantic liaison.

The food was good, I started with salmon pickled with beetroot and Rosemary had a goat’s cheese tart.  Main course was pork belly, yes a proper Gloucestershire Old Spots rare breed animal grown slowly unlike the Large White factory breeds.  The farm is part of the Crazy Bear group.

I  get the feeling this is how the previous landlord of our local pub, the Plough and Anchor, had wanted it to become.  The place decorated how he wanted it, in his case with pictures, and lots of nice nick nacks. Good food, good beer, good wine, a destination pub, and small hotel for guests to stay in.  Sad it never quite happened.

Since visiting the restaurant, I have heard of rumours of two show girls,, hired by the owner, writhing around in baked beans.   I can’t though see any reference to this on the internet.