EATING OUT: The Bay Restaurant, Penzance, Cornwall

When my annual summer hols came around this year, me and the man decided instead of living off a daily diet of pasties and cream teas, we would opt for a touch of sophistication and spend an evening wining and dining ourselves at a local eaterie.

Staying in the centre of Penzance in a quaint cottage, we chose to dine at a restaurant recommended by the company we booked our holiday abode with, and it most certainly did not disappoint. The Bay Restaurant in Penzance welcomed me and my partner with open arms to a modern gallery setting, with fantastic views overlooking the bay of Penzance and landmark St Michael's Mount. On a warm June afternoon the location and views proved in a word, stunning.

We were instantly greeted by a welcoming member of staff, who seated us in a lounge area just outside the restaurant and promptly brought us our drink orders, which we happily drank, admiring the local art displayed around us.

After five minutes enjoying our drinks and the beautiful surroundings, we were presented with the menus by the restaurant manager, who again was nothing but polite and helpful and took our orders, listening attentively to both our starter and main course choices. We were the seated to our table for the evening, again with fantastic service; our drinks carried for us by staff.

The fantastic service continued, and we were greeted again by a well presented and polite female member of the waiting team, who presented us with two choices of fresh bread, Onion or Pumpkin. Both of us plummed for Onion, and the fresh bread was moist and packed with flavour. My one reservation? A bigger slice would have been nice but that's only down to my sheer gluttony and love of food! My partner had spent a while musing over his starter and main, but eventually chose for Brocolli and Blue Cheese soup to start. After a few enthusiastic noises he assured me his soup was in two words "sooooooooooooo good" and devoured the bowl.

I opted for a light salad of Duck breast, accompanied by a salad of peach and strawberry with a honey mustard dressing. I am, in some situations, mildly fearful of fruit in salads not intended for dessert purposes, but this was a true delight.

Duck Breast with a salad of peach and strawberry in a honey and mustard dressing

This dish was nothing but sublime. I have to give top marks to the creator and chef of this dish, who used on trend shoots and leaves to create this salad. The warm duck breast was a treat, perfectly cooked and full of flavour. The texture of the peach complimented the delicate shoots and the light drizzle of dressing, which boosted not drowned the salad. A top choice on my part. I would have happily eaten seconds.

Moving onto mains, my boyfriend assured me that he wanted a filling and hearty main, and stuck with Honey roasted chump of lamb, caraway savoy cabbage and and apple fondant. He devoured the plate and had ample mashed potato left over; complimenting the chef on the large side vegetable portions. I, chose to experience something different, and due to the fact I would have loved to have sample a piece of each of the main courses on the menu, chose to eat the Vegetarian assiette; stuffed vine leaves, vegetable filo parcel, squash puree, pickled wild mushrooms with spinach, tempura aubergine with aioli [v].

Vegetarian assiette; stuffed vine leaves, vegetable filo parcel, squash puree, pickled wild mushrooms with spinach, tempura aubergine with aioli [v]

This was a true delight from start to finish. Admittedly it wasn't as hearty as my boyfriend's main but it tickled my tastebuds and delighted my culinary senses. The tempura aubergine had the perfect crisp outer coating and the pickled mushrooms where a real treat. Although a little small, each piece of this dish was well constructed and cleverly presented, more importantly extremely tasty. The presentation of the plate needs to be commended because if it went on looks alone this dish would already have been a winner.

With plenty of room left for dessert and the desperate need to indulge, (when on hols, of course!) we both finished our evening with a tasty chocolate fondant.

Chocolate Fondant with Liquer Reduction

The fondant can prove to be the bain of many chefs kitchens, but this one was worth the 15 minute wait as stated in the menu (time to freshly cook don't you know!) The outer was crisp and broke into the lovely chocolatey oozey centre any foodie looks for in the perfect fondant! The size was perfect to follow the two courses before and rounded off a perfect meal at a lovely restaurant.

All in all, what a night. The service was first class and faultless. The staff were polite, enthusiastic and knowledgable whilst maintaining high standards at all times. The food was contemporary, full of flavour and perfectly timed so we could thoroughly enjoy the beautiful surroundings and modern artworks around us. If you are visiting the West Country, be sure to visit this Cornish delight. 

9/10

The Bay Restaurant

Britons Hill

Penzance, Cornwall 

TR18 3AE

Get Directions

Telephone: 01736 366 890

Website: www.bay-penzance.co.uk

Open:

Gallery 7 days in summer 11.30 to 5pm
Restaurant Sunday to Friday all year  12 to 1.30 Lunch, 2.30 to 5 cream teas, and 7 nights 6pm to 9.30 [last orders] Dinner

MADE IT: Jamie Oliver's Crunchy Salad - Jamie Does...

There is something about Jamie Oliver's cooking which makes me physically want to devour every cookbook before I've even attempted cooking anything from them. The food is simple, it's modern and is achievable! Hoorah a realistic cooking companion!

I was very lucky to celebrate mine and my boyfriend's anniversary this month, and being the fabulous individual he is, he treated me to Jamie's new release 'Jamie Does..' and believe you me this book DOES NOT (pun...yet again I am sorry) disappoint!

This new release from everyone's favourite Essex boy, sees Jamie journey around some of Europe's favourite destinations, stopping off to create some culinary delights on the way. For a flover, (food lover, new lingo, get in the know ;o) this book pretty much delivers on every level.

You've got the variation of the more adventurous recipes such as Confit Duck or Beetroot Gravadlax (drool) to the more easy simple snacks of topped bruschettas to speedy salads like this little number I tried out, Jamie's Simple Crunchy Salad!

 Jamie's salad came up trumps and was probably one of the easiest and quickest tasty salads that I've done for some time. Ok, so my fridge was pretty bare to say the least when I assembled this salad, but that's the beauty of Jamie's cooking; it's so easy even a cooking novice could create some of these dishes, and like me adapt to what you want in them. Definite winner!

NEW FOOD BUY: Cheese Cheese and Chilli Popcorn

I really can't resist treating myself to something foodie when I'm out. Whilst most 21 year olds would be spending any spare dosh on booze, I'm in my local garden centre's farm shop stocking up on tasty goodies!

My lastest bought on a whim produce consisted of the following: Y Fenni Cheese - a cheddar flavoured with grain mustard and real ale (drool), Chilli Red Leicester, Pain is Good Jalepeno Popcorn and a bulb of smoked garlic. An odd combo I'll give you that but I had to resist the urge to buy for the sake of my credit card's wellbeing.

L-R Y Fenni Cheese, Chilli Cheese, Pain is Good Jalepeno Popcorn and Smoked Garlic

I have to admit the thought of Jalapeno popcorn filled me with joy, but on this occasion I felt slightly let down. I left it for a few days resisting the urge to shovel down a whole packet. When I did eventually decide to open the pack and whack it in the microwave me and the boyfriend were looking forward to a bowl of spicy delights to munch on whislt watching a film.

  Tasty Treats!

Alas, all that greeted us was the faint taste of authentic chilli flavouring and an overwhelming smell of pungent cheese. Shame really was looking forward to this for a while. All in all a fairly good buy. Must stay out of local farm shop more often to avoid food related bankrupcy!

NEW FOOD LOVE: Whoopies

How do you feel about making Whoopie? No, not that kind! Whoopies are the latest food craze to hit the sweet market, soon overtaking the ever loved cupcake. Can it be so I hear you cry? Whoopie pies are a long standing Amish tradition originating from Maine and Pennslyvania, and a staple in any Amish lunchbox. So what's the deal? The 'pies' are created from two rounds of cakey substance, in the case of the traditional Amish pies, chocolate, and sandwiched together with a luciously rich chocolate butter icing. Sounds like sweet treat heaven.

As the Whoopie craze is relatively new over here in the UK, I was suprised to visit my local Marks and Spencer and see they were already bang on the food trend wagon and were stocking three varieties of the pies! In the interests of Gusto and Glee (naturally) I simply had to sample some of the latest IT cakes for myself. But what was my verdict?

The Marks and Spencer offerings came in at a reasonable £1.99. For the more adventurous of you, why not try investing in Sarah Billingsley's aptly titled 'Whoopie Pies' and making them for yourself?

 The pies were to me, what seemed a perfect size, but alas proved hugely sickly. It's probably just my British sensibility but a cup of tea is definitely needed to wash these bad boys down. If you like your cakey treats sweet and rich then these are for you. 

The sponge was light and almost resembled the great sim plicity of a child's chocolate chip  sponge fairycake; leading me to slightly reminisce about the good ol' cakes. As deceptively small as these pies look they pack a sugary punch, perhaps with a little too much rich chocolate buttercream icing. I know, it almost pains me to write that; that I'm professing to the world that an inch thick of milk chocolate buttercream icing is bad....

If you are tiring of over decorated cupcakes and meringuey macaroons aren't floating your teatime treat boat then make whoopie and get your hand on some pies!

WATCH IT: Julie and Julia

When it comes to cooking sometimes a tv programme just doesn't cut the mustard (sorry, pun intended!) I've been a Nora Ephron addict for years, and Julie and Julia is no exception. Based on two true stories this film is centred around two women and their two loves of all things food.

Centred on Julie Powell, a woman disgruntled with her day to day depressing job whose brainchild (sorry again, intended pun) is to create a blog, recording her plight cooking all 524 recipes from renowned chef Julia Child's cookbook in a single year.

Everything about this film is joyous. Whether you are watching Julia Child and her husband Paul eat their way around France or Julie Powell struggling with the Lobster Thermidor you can't help but fall in love with their stories and their united passion for cooking.

The story follows two stories, flicking from Julia's muched loved days in Paris, learnt cooking and creating her cookbooks, and Julie's desperation to find a purpose in life and her career, by doing the only thing she knows best, to cook.  It's hard not find a soft foodie spot in your heart for the characters portrayed by Amy Adams and the irrepressible Meryl Streep, who as Child is nothing but faultless. You'll find yourself in utter buttery coated food heaven with this ones my friends!

The best part of this update? I picked up a copy of the DVD with Julia Child cookbook for the bargainous price of £7 in Tesco. A steal. Not only do I own a heartwarming story that tantalises my tastebuds and makes me, let's face it, downright ravenous, I now am the proud owner of 30 of Julia's best recipes from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. (available in full hardback version, see right) Hoorah! Now I get my chance to perfect the art of Boeuf Bourguignon et La Tarte des Demoiselles Tatin. Bliss!

If you're like me and you love your grub and nothing more than a film with a happy ending then this will be right up your cooking street. If you want to find out more about the film then check out the trailer below. Guaranteed winner!!

WATCH IT: Cook Yourself Thin

Hoorah! Now we can have our cake and eat it courteousy of Gizzi Erskine! Cook Yourself Thin returns for a new series this coming Monday on Channel 4 at 2.55pm and I personally can't wait. Sure dieting is trying but not trying to be tasty enough. The solution?? Gizzi and her tasty recipes. Cakes on a diet? Yes you can my friend!

Gizzi is best known for her role as one of the presenters on the original CYT series for Channel 4, and a prominent face on Sky One's Taste. She takes the reigns on her own for the new series to bring us the latest way to diet. We can't wait to sample some of the tasty treats promised for us in this new series.

Chicken Tikka? Skinny Chow Mein and Sticky Toffee pudding? Gizzi is bang on the money with this one. What's better is some of the recipes are available now at Channel 4 so why not get a head start with your guilt free cooking?

If you're from the rare breed of individual who can munch without guilt, then why not treat yourself to Gizzi's Kitchen Magic, (right) a book of pure delight from the kitchen's most glamorous cook!

EATING OUT: Banana Wharf, Ocean Village, Southampton

 A glorious summer evening, eating fine food and glugging fine wine and gin and tonics by the marina. Surely a recipe for dining heaven? This month's latest eating out experience was provided by Banana Wharf in Ocean Village Southampton. For those of you who have not visited the South of England's most famous port, have missed the beautiful scenery that the lucrative Ocean Village has to boost, not to mention numerous boats, luxury yachts and to-die-for penthouse apartments (I can dream)

For a special treat, me and the man decided to head out for a meal; him paying, I am the luckiest girl alive :) Just to play on the safe side, we booked a table for the two of us on Bank Holiday Monday and planned an early eat out at 6.30pm to take our time and appreciate the lovely sunset and take in the scenery.

On arrival we were greeted fairly quickly. It seemed pretty promising and we were escorted to a TFT (table for two) We walked past numerous tables all enticing, but where ushered to a table shoved against a window next to a middle of the dining area till point; instead of sitting opposite to each other and gazing lovingly into each others eyes, I sat facing forward and my boyfriend to my immediate right hand side of a square table. Loss in brownie points front of house. 

I had lived under the assumption that due to the prices of Banana Wharf that it was a high end fine eating establishment but in reality it lends its cuisine to just good pub food. We plummed to order a starter and selected the Banana Wharf combo (£15.95)

Selection of chicken wings, crispy calamari, whitebait,breaded mushrooms & tandoori chicken skewers, Served with a selection of dips

I was a tad disappointed at not being told what the two dips actually were by waiting staff  (probably just my picky tendancies however it is rather nice when waiting staff know their stuff), but the order arrived at almost record speeds of about ten minutes, commendable as we were both starving. The whitebait was crisp as were the mushrooms which without the usually associated garlic mushroom flavouring were compensated by a tasty garlic mayo and raita. The chicken skewers delivered generously on portion size but seemed to hint more to an Asian five spice flavouring rather than true tandoori. As a non-lover of any seafood accompanied by suckers, I stuck to eating the calamari rings which were complimented by the dips with my boyfriend assuring me that the baby squid were very nice. After a few pickings and plate clearings we easily polished off the sharing platter easily, and overall yeah pretty enjoyable, but how can you get deep fried veggies and seafood with mayo based dips wrong?

We ordered our mains in simultaneous time to our starters but were still overwhelmed to have our mains delivered only eight minutes or so after our starter. My man opted for a Green Thai curry described as a spicy curry sauce made with green chillis, coriander, coconut milk & Asian style vegetables and served with coconut rice. He chose to have added chicken breast, which came at a cost, bumping the price to £11.50 from £8.95. He had been anticipating its arrival since ordering but felt like he was left wanting more and failed to finish his dish. I however being the true glutton that I am, settled for Surf & Turf. Adding to the fillet steak were 4 King prawns in garlic butter (at a premium!! of £8.95 extra)

8oz chargrilled fillet steak £20.95, Served with chunky chips, grilled beef,
tomato & mushrooms

How can the above not be delicious. I must take a moment now to publicly declare my undying love and devotion to my boyfriend for being so kind hearted and loving into treating me to such a massive (in all terms of the word) dinner!! Luckily we had a Delicious Dining voucher (if you live in Hampshire it's well worth giving them a look here for discounts at local eateries) giving us an ample amount off our bill  but even so boyfriend brownie points fully deserved!

Sad thing was I was still full from my starter and the little time I was given to digest the first course that I didn't nay, physically couldn't finish all this food. CRYING SHAME. Due to the sheer cost and fullness we opted to skip dessert and head home. All in all our whole eating experience with Banana Wharf was so unbelievably quick we were out of the restaurant bill paid less than an hour of being there; almost giving a whole new definition to fast food.

Overall an enjoyable yet highly expensive treat, but the rushed nature of our visit meant that we weren't given the time to admire the beautiful marina setting whilst thoroughly enjoying our meal at the relaxed pace you expect when eating a fine meal. Although polite and efficient, I felt something was missing from the dining experience which could have been provided by the staff if their service had just eeked out a little further than just a polite hello and taking an order. A mild level of interest in what we have ordered or a small amount of interaction with the customer would bring the service to a top level.

7/10

Banana Wharf Ocean Village
Ocean Village,
Southampton  

SO14 3JF

Telephone: (0)23 8033 8866
E-mail: oceanvillage@bananawharf.co.uk

Opening Hours
Monday to Sunday: 0830 - Close