This is a post I never expected to be writing. It seems that a quiet revolution has happened at my local pub of late. The food had been pretty average/inconsistent since the departure of their wonderful chef Jay a number of years back (I am somewhat biased as Jay is otherwise known as ‘him indoors’). In the years following this, there have been a number of people attempting to produce pub grub that did not stick around for long. Finally, the amazing Mark has taken over (he’s been there a good while now, forgive me but I can’t remember the exact date) and has got the menu spot on! Don’t get me wrong, it’s still classic pub grub, but pub grub done right! I popped in for breakfast one day (available Tuesday to Saturday between 10am-12pm) and asked for a “Standard Breakfast”. It was nothing but standard. I mean, just look at it. First thing to note, this plate is huge! But there is also a large version of this, which is insane. Another thing to mention is that breakfast also includes baked beans (never been a fan), so Mark added an extra cheeky hash brown for me. There is not an ounce of grease on the plate. The bacon is the right amount of cooked, not floppy and not burnt to a crisp. I’m also not a huge fan of sausages, as I’m generally fussy about the quality, but these ones are just fantastic. Normally I’d struggle to eat such a huge plate of food, I’m more of a nibbler. Please to say I polished this off with no hesitation. I’ve been trying out a few English breakfasts around town lately but I can say, without doubt, that this one is the best by a country mile. Having been back several times, just to check this wasn’t a fluke, I’ve been happy to recommend it to family and friends, all of whom have agreed with my opinion. They can’t quite get over the shock of the quality, considering the old reputation of the place. Last week, I popped back in with a friend for lunch. Since it was gone 2pm on a Tuesday, our options in town were few, so we thought we’d pop in to see if their lunch menu was up to muster (available Tuesday-Saturday from 12-5pm). Mark did not disappoint. I went for steak and chips which came with all the trimmings, including far too many onion rings. He came out of the kitchen to apologise that the piece of steak was on the small side (I can assure you, it was not!) and asked what I’d like to make up for it. A completely unnecessary but welcome gesture. I decided on extra mushrooms, as the breakfast ones are fab, so why not. I would loved to have shown you a picture at this point, but I practically inhaled it all the second it arrived. I never usually pick sirloin but the meat was of a great quality and I’d happily order it again. My friend asked for “the most English thing you have on the menu please”, as she was visiting from out of the country. Mark ended up giving her the Steak and Ale pie. Now remember the size of the breakfast plate? Imagine the pie portion covering well over a quarter of it. Huge! And very tasty indeed. I’ll have to order that next time. The pub are now starting to do special food events, including a Chinese night headed up by Stella, who recently returned to the UK after a decade in Hong Kong. They’ve done a few so far and it’s been consistently sold out, so if you want to go, make sure you book in advance! Don’t even get me started on the Sunday Roasts… You might have noticed that I have not mentioned the name of the pub in question. MAKE SURE YOU ARE SITTING DOWN FOR THIS. I’m being serious. If you’re a local, you might know it by its nickname “The Ugly Pub”. To the rest of the world it’s known as The Chequers (or Ye Olde Chequers Inn if you want the full thing). Didn’t see that coming did you! The kitchen of a nearby pub had to shut down one day recently (through no fault of their own), so its regulars all descended upon The Chequers in search of food. I could over hear a bunch of them expressing their dismay about not having tried the food there before and promising to dine in more often. As a result, I’d never seen it so busy. You might want to book in before everyone else finds out. Chequer the pub out (sorry I couldn’t resist) on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/yeoldechequersinn (they’ll have a proper website soon), or give them a call on 01732 358957 to book a table.
Tag: Tonbridge
The Heat is On
January 16th is International Hot and Spicy Day! International Hot and Spicy Day is a wonderful moment for those of us that have a constant hankering for the spicy tingle of chilli at the root of our tongue. If you’re feeling that way this year in Tonbridge, then we’ve got some good news: there are plenty of spots for you to get your craving satisfied! I’m going to mention a couple of spots that I love here. If you’ve got a personal favourite then don’t be afraid to comment below! I love hearing from you, especially about your favoured local spots. Gaab Kao Gaab Kao is one of the amazing eateries in Tonbridge, and after eating there I’m sure that you’ll see why. If you haven’t tried it out before, we have only one question: why not? The food is always served piping hot and in perfectly generous portions, spiced and seasoned to perfection, with perfectly sized and formed side dishes. On that note, I would certainly recommend the Pad Khing, stir-fried with ginger, onion, black bean and chillies, if you’re popping in on International Hot and Spicy Day – they’re a wonderfully balanced medium that I’m sure most people will enjoy. Gaab Kao serves Thai food to an exceptionally high standard. The food is amazing, as is the ambiance within the restaurant – impeccably clean and blessedly relaxed, it’s a wonderful place to enjoy some wonderful food. The International Shop The International Shop (41 High Street) is a wonderful place to head for if you’re looking to create your own hot feast on this year’s spiciest day. They boast wonderful ingredients for cuisines from all around the world, from Indian to Japanese, and every cuisine in between, with a few more to spare! I adore the fact that as well as international ingredients that you might struggle to get in the usual local supermarkets, they also stock wonderfully high-quality fresh fruit and veg. There’s something about fresh produce from a smaller supplier that’s simply wonderful, and I be first in line to commend this produce. This store has a number of dried and ground spices that have been imported from some of the best facilities in the world for you to use in your home cooking. As well as that, though, it also hosts simpler options, such as jarred sauces and meal kits, which might be perfect for someone who’s a little less confident in the kitchen. Turmeric Gold This incredible spot is just a short drive to Tudeley from the centre of town. We love everything on the menu, but we especially love how the chefs have made Indian cuisine into a fine art without being overly pretentious. Something which certainly stands out from the menu is the Tandoori Salmon Tikka. The entire menu is packed with dishes like this – classic favorites, with an interesting and wonderfully tasty twist. If you’re ever at a loss for where to eat around Tonbridge, this place should be at the top of your list – though you might need to book a table first! These are only a few of the amazing places you could eat on International Hot and Spicy Day in Tonbridge, though they’re certainly our favorites. Take a look online, and see if they can fit you in!
How low can you go?
Happy New Year to you all! I am grateful that we got to spend it out of the house this time around, even if half of people did have to cancel due to Covid-19 🙁 For those of us lucky enough to party the night away, how many of us said ‘I’m never drinking again!’ the following morning? I know a whole bunch off us fall into that category but rarely try and see it through. For a number of years now, I’ve taken part in Dry January. Getting though a full 31 days without wine is certainly a challenge but this time, I’ve managed to convince some friends to join me on the journey. Thankfully, the low and no-alcohol market has exploded in recent years but until recently it was hard to find these alternatives out and about in Tonbridge. Fear no more, Tonbridge has more alcohol-free options than you can shake a stick at! First up is the wonderful Beer Seller. They’re currently stocking: Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% – which also happens to be vegan for all of those doing Veganuary! Athletic Brewing Co Run Wild IPA 0% To make things even more exciting, they’re getting in a whole bunch of alcohol-free spirits in too, so watch this space. Now I don’t know about you, but most alcohol-free wines I’ve tried over the years have been, quite frankly, DISGUSTING! Thankfully this has now changed with the arrival of Lyre’s sparkling wine at Verdigris. It is Prosecco-style, genuinely delicious and restores my faith in humanity. Verdigris are well known for their cocktails too and currently have three beauties available on the menu including: Gin Faux – with Seedlip, lemon and soda Three Hayes Spritz – Three Spirit Livener, grapefruit and soda Driver – with Aecorn Aromatic, orange and vanilla Their menu is constantly in development, so who knows what might pop up next?! Now we all know that the Camra award winning Nelson Arms is famous for its beer. Surely they don’t have any decent low/no-alcohol options too? I am happy to be proved wrong. Their selection is being constantly updated, but here’s some of what’s available at time of writing: Warsteiner Fresh 0% Sussex Best Low Alcohol 0.5% Erdinger 0.4% They also have a selection of alcohol-free spirits available too. Unfortunately, due to that darn virus, some people are stuck indoors for a time. This doesn’t mean you need to miss out on some tasty beverages! Tonbridge’s own Master of Malt has a cracking selection that you can get right to your door. There are way too many to list here, so feel free to check our their selection here. So now the challenge is to go and try it all! See you out there fellow challengers.
The woman who ate nothing
I was so excited to take over EAT. I was brimming full of ideas, had invites to visit various places and then the unthinkable happened. I lost my appetite. It completely disappeared overnight. Those that know me know that I have never been a massive eater. I am certainly no Tarrare (aka – The Man Who Ate Everything). I prefer to try a bit of everything and savour the flavour, probably having leftovers over the next few days. That said, there are probably a few exceptions, especially in the case of BBQs where I could happily graze all day. But eating 3 regular courses in one sitting has always been hard for me. Please note, I do not have any kind of eating disorder. I know a number of people that have experienced these conditions and they have had to deal with them in a variety of ways. What I figured out in this time is that I had been experiencing a great deal of stress. I took on too much work, took on a lot of other people’s problems and left no time for myself. Rather than being a stress eater, I go completely the other way and cannot eat anything at all. It is as though my throat is completely blocked. What great timing for this to happen! As a result, I’ve spent the past few months dealing with/removing the various things that have been stressing me out. Thankfully, with the support of family and friends, things have become a lot easier and I am finally hungry again! In the past few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a cheese and wine night at The Beer Seller, try a few new seasonal dishes at Verdigris and even a trip out to The Old Auction House for some Raclette. As my stress subsides there is a lot more foodie fun to come, so please watch this space.
Your Local Delivered – an interview with founder, Charlotte Spencer
Coronavirus has closed down the world and had a devastating impact on so many people. Many businesses have had to adapt and some of us have changed our shopping habits, either through necessity or through a feeling of community and a desire to support others.
Tonbridge resident Charlotte Spencer is helping local businesses and consumers nationwide connect through her new business, Your Local Delivered. I interviewed Charlotte to learn more.
Kent Wine School, Tunbridge Wells, 12 March 2020
The evening before I visited Ferah for my Turkish lunch, I took a trip to Tunbridge Wells for some wine tasting. The lovely folks at Kent Wine School had invited me to a tasting and, as you might expect, I had jumped at the chance. As someone who’s partial to a glass or few of wine, I like to try to sound knowledgeable and so, pre-lockdown when the evenings were still dark, my trusty tasting companion, Cathy and I strayed from Tonbridge and popped along to the Hotel du Vin Tunbridge Wells to learn more.