Thursday 24 October 2013

Eurostar - Premium Economy

Premium Economy. Sounds a bit like Scented Turd, doesn't it. A great excuse to charge an additional hundred quid for better seats and a decent snack. Well, I was tempted to pony up and I was glad I did. Travelling to Brussels has limited options and after several internet based comparisons, the Eurostar came out tops and I even managed to persuade the boss to spring for Not-quite-business class-but-a-bit-better-than-standard class.

While breakfast didn't get a picture as I wasn't really compos mentis until 8am, the evening snack got caught as below.



All in all, it wouldn't be anything to write home (or blog?) about, was it not for the contrast with non-scented turd, or the alternative; Easyjet, class. As it is though, the snack is adequate in size and contains some lovely details; the chocolate malteezer thing, the choice of beer (and) or wine, a little pud as well as an additional bread roll (with the choice of seeded or non, no less). The quality of the food is OK if not significantly better than UK public transportation standards and I shall look forward to measuring it up against any other examples I come across.

TCR Bar and Restaurant - London

On the look out for good places to eat as I all too often am, sometimes means that I become a little too indecisive when it comes to choosing a restaurant of an evening. Such it was recently when I had an over night stop in London before an early morning Eurostar train (perhaps the subject of the next post). Wandering down Tottenham Court Road on the search for some spare pants (I had forgotten to pack any for my trip the following day), I was gripped by the desire to find a bar wherein I could order a cold pint of European lager and read a newspaper without being bothered by loud music or the public at large.

A tragic error followed this decision because while incensed with the fervour I describe, I walked past several fabulous looking fronts and wandered, like any fool who doesn't have the advice of his wife on hand to stop him, into T&C's Bar and Restaurant. Seduced as I was with the promise of a nice cold pint of San Miguel, I looked at the menu only after informing the waitress in a strong and confident tone: 'can I open a tab please? I'm ordering food as well.'

A silly error. A silly schoolboy error. A silly schoolboy error compounded by the fact that Mrs. P wasn't there to tell me what a silly schoolboy error it was.

I was committed then as only an Englishman who has said something they regret but cannot possibly be seen to change his mind can be committed. The waitress asked what I wanted to eat and I paused to read the menu again but it was no use; I tried the only option I had left; 'I can't decide, what's good here?' She looked at me blankly as well she might, the menu had clearly indicated that nothing was good here. She glanced around, perhaps hoping to gain inspiration from any nearby diners to convince me of an apparently popular dish. But alas, all other diners were clearly too savvy to order food and they had all stuck solidly to simply drinking their troubles into oblivion.

'The burgers are Ok.' She ventured, 'You should try one of the specials.' The poor girl indicated to the two options in the burger section that were their alledged 'premium' offer. One had the addition of a fried egg, the other bacon. I panicked. 'I'll just have the meaty nachos please.' Why did I say that? WHY? I could have simply made my excuses and left. I could have made no excuses and still left, but instead I ordered nachos. A sharing platter of nachos. For two people. Two. People.

I sat there hating myself until the nachos arrived, then I smiled and thanked the waitress politely before turning with an all consuming bitterness to the manifestation of my English stereotype. They were everything I had dreaded them to be; not enough cheese, not enough chilli beef, not enough jalapeƱos, not enough guacamole, not enough bloody nachos. This was supposed to be for two people goddammit!! I ate, paid and left quickly in order to be alone with my disappointment. I had filled my belly, but couldn't satify my soul.

If you find yourself in London and the mood takes you, please take this review as a ringing indorsement to visit T&C's, but only for a drink. Unless you fancy some self-flagellation, in which case order the nachos.


www.bartcr.com

Wednesday 9 October 2013

The Castle Hotel - Taunton

Remember this?

Well, I finally did it. I broke free of the shackles of late arrival and the cut loose from the ties of apathy. I went out for dinner. Admitedly, I did have a considerable motivation; I had picked up a colleague from the airport before travelling down and quite frankly couldn't suffer apologising for two nights in the hotel bar because I am usually too lazy to drive 20 minutes.

So, this time I did my research, I booked ahead and my foreign companion and I found ourselves wandering into The Castle Hotel on a very barmy late Summer evening. The restaurant in The Castle is called BRAZZ (please note the capitals which sounds like they are trying a little too hard if you ask me) and we were suprised when after walking through the lovely Norman Castle frontage, we entered a very modern, stark, dinning hall complete with fish wall at one end and wierd paintings-that-are-really-just-splodges, which every modernist affectionardo must 'absolutely love dhaaarling'.

As the small talk continued, I kept a wary eye on the menu, it seemed suspiciously tasty and nothing like the previous night. As you know, I try to keep well clear of chips when out on business as too much deep frying is bad for the marriage. However, on this occasion  I decided that if I played safe with my first course I could indulge on the second. Therefore a tomato and basil soup was served up to me with haste. I have to say, this was delicious, deep tomato flavour was drizzled with the perfect basil oil accompaniment. A great success.





It was with a light heart then that I received the board which carried a whole grouse for my main course. I love game, and I don't just mean in the American street sense. Word.



Look at it. I'm remembering eating it right now. The grouse was lovely; strong with game flavour and with plenty of meat on the bird. I suspect it was deep fried, or roasted in lots of terribly unhealthy fat at the very least and the chips were crispy, salted and quite delicious. The toasty bit to the right was like a sloppy pate, I'm sure there is a proper name for it but I just know it as quite nice. The salad was, well, a salad. A salad that was thankfully totally unlike this salad.

So, a solid recommendation for BRAZZ, despite the over-enthusastic capitalisation. If you are in the area, there will be plenty for you to enjoy; the good food, the Norman Castle, the modernist decoration within the Norman Castle (if that's your thing) and the unexpectedly naked ladies in the first floor mens toilet. As I said, plenty to enjoy. 

http://www.the-castle-hotel.com/brazz.php