Thought I would just quickly post up this collage from when we recently went to the Roots Restaurant over at the other end near Southbourne Crossroads.
We want to go back another time and try out their tasting menu. The food looks fantastic and tasted great.
I spent an enjoyable cheeky little midweek rum tasting session up in the Library of Liquor, hosted by Peter and Pauline Holland from The Floating Rum Shack. This is going to be a regular Bournemouth Rum Club event.
An absolute bargain at £10 for 6 tasting measures and 90 minutes of good insight into the world of rums, beyond that major brand that you mix coke with. Peter is very knowledgeable and this wasn't some brand manager pushing product so it was very laid back.
We got this picture from our friends for Christmas. It is from a local, well local to Dorset, artist called Richard Watkin who has been doing these stylised artworks from the local area. We love Southbourne, not sure you can tell, as it is very groovy.
Website: Watkin Art
It's all about the bavette steak at the moment. I had previously heard how it was a specialist French cut that was flavoursome but not as tender as other traditional British cuts. I guess that sometimes you just have to work a bit harder to reap the rewards.
I first really only tried bavette a few weeks back when I stayed at the Hotel du Vin in Poole. Even when I ordered it, the head waiter went to a great effort to discuss it, to explain that it was a different cut that might be a bit tougher. He was French and he sounded very apologetic and asked if I have had it before. I said it was fine and I was willing to accept it and that I like trying new things.
It’s been a busy year. I’ve already been to one Whisky showcase event at the Larder House this year, along with a Gin night, pig butchery night and a seafood feast night. This whiskey night was going to venture further away from the glens of Scotland to different and hotter climates around the world, with explanations on how that can affect the ageing process.
This time it would be Jon Lister and Stephanie Holt from Speciality Brands to compere and guide us through the evening.
I've already written pieces on this year's other whisky night and the gin night so you can read up on how far James and the Larder House team really push things. It's not just a night of sitting down to great food and drink, it is a full on theatrical evening with audience participation.
On entering the restaurant we found that the tables had been moved out, which is not unusual but found the room all decorated in a Japanese style with white fabric screening, a huge tree branch stretching across the room and deftly folded origami swans hanging off the tree all made by Megan's own hands.
I had a sneaky preview of a brilliant new creation made for the weekend but will leave that for a second.
Gordon and Angela Fong - living in Southbourne, working hard, enjoying life, travelling the world, eating great food and drinking some nice tipple along the way.
Give us a wave.
