When you wish upon a star.............

I've never eaten in a Michelin starred restaurant before, so imagine how excited I was to be going here:

http://www.pipeandglass.co.uk/home.php

In fact, not just going to eat, but staying here for 2 nights. It was our 5th Wedding Anniversary on July 1st, so we decided to treat ourselves with a weekend away at the Pipe and Glass. Just over an hour's drive from home, meaning that we could spend most of Friday and Sunday there, too - rather than most of the day driving.

We arrived around 1pm on Friday. Our room (Thyme) was ready so we checked in and got unpacked. Gorgeous room - very stylish, and the finish/quality was superb. We were booked for lunch at 1.30pm so went more or less straight round after we'd unpacked. The weather was gorgeous but we ate inside - starting with a cold beer at the bar. We also ordered a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc to drink with lunch. The plan had been to save some for later on that day but that didn't quite happen! We shared a starter of "A little jar of ‘Gloucester Old Spot' potted pork, sticky apple and crackling salad, warm spelt toast". Very good. The sticky apple was really good. Then I had a salad of 3 tomato, lovage pesto, mozzarella, avocado salad. The cheese was beautiful. Actually, all of it was. Roy had a roasted beetroot, goats cheese and leek tart, with roasted beetroot and pearl onions. We shared the main courses, along with a seasonal salad sprinkled with sweet potato crisps. It was all so good! Then we finished by sharing a bakewell tart with spiced fruit compote and raspberry ripple ice cream - such a generous portion we were glad we hadn't ordered a pudding each!

Back in our room, and unused to lunchtime drinking, we dozed for an hour! Got up at about 4 and had a coffee and sat on the lovely patio before getting ready for an evening at Beverley Races.
http://www.beverley-racecourse.co.uk/

We'd booked a taxi to take us and pick us up. What a stunning evening it was - so hot and sunny. Perfect. We didn't win money, but we didn't lose either so that was good! Back at the Pipe & Glass by about 10, we ordered a cheese plate to share, with a large glass of red wine each. That was also very good. I'm surprised we didn't have nightmares all evening after all that cheese! But we slept well, in a huge, comfy, super king sized sleigh bed. I want one!

Ice Cream update

Since buying le Glacier at New Year I've had two subsequent ice cream making attempts. After the success of the Margarita Ice Cream I decided to try plain Vanilla.

Worked a treat, got rave reviews from Roy, Mum, Mum and Dad-in-Law. As is my usual method, instead of just going to one of the many cookbooks in the kitchen, picking a recipe and using it, I spent ages trawling the net for Vanilla ice cream recipes. I printed three and then picked one to use (Mark Hix, I think). Anyway, it worked, tasted great. Served it with Nigella's chocolate brownies. Big hit.

Next time out (last weekend) I tried a coffee ice cream, also to serve with brownies - this time, flourless milk and dark choc brownies. I was trying to recreate the fabulous Honeybuns milk choc brownie and had looked at the ingredients then found the closest recipe I could get online.
http://www.honeybuns.co.uk/
These honeybuns are my absolute favourite brownies - next to Millie's Muffins, the best naughty treat one can buy for a long train journey!

The ice cream (picked the best of three recipes I printed) was excellent. Actually, I could have just eaten the warm and then cold custard mix, it was gorgeous! The brownies were ok - but I went a bit off track by making them early and then re-heating them later. The texture seemed to change - I think the almonds gave up more oil and the overall effect for me was to take away the "lightness" they had when first out of the oven, and replace it with a slightly stodgy greasy feel. Guests (BIL and SIL) seemed to enjoy them though. And the freezer is now full of leftovers....................