Houghton Lodge Gardens' Apple Rooms in the Test Valley

'When the situation gets tough, the tough go fishing'. Mid-summer, I started to feel overwhelmed by the amount of work I was facing: 111 Places in the Lake District You Shouldn't Miss. So, when the opportunity to take a couple of days off arose, I jumped at it. Packed a few things, took Him by the hand and we were soon warmly welcomed at Houghton Lodge Gardens.

Houghton Lodge Gardens in the lovely Test Valley renowned for its fishing. It is only an hour and a half from Central London, the local towns are Winchester and Andover.

The House, home to the Busk family for more than a century, is set in 14 acres of gardens. What was once a barn is now a collection of six individual rooms, each beautifully designed and named after an apple.

The Apple rooms calming pale greens and soft reds furnished with antique pieces, most being more than 300 years, offer a sense of well-being as soon as one steps in. That doesn't mean that modernity has been ignored. Each room has a state of the art bathroom. The Cox's room has a bath in the bedroom. All have a kitchenette, some with a microwave, and to top it all each room in fronted by own terrace facing the lawn where the sunshine or a simple picnic/meal can be enjoyed.

Needless to say that this is the perfect setting to recharge batteries, and I am not referring to any tech. It is not surprising that this place is a favourite for weddings either.

The accommodation is tastefully done, private but convivial, the grade II listed Houghton Lodge self and its gardens are stunning.

Benefiting from a century or so of clever gardening, there is a display all year round. The walled garden offers one the longest espalier fruit trees in the country and 32 different varieties of apple trees.

It is an inspiration for gardeners. I would well recommend visiting if you were starting a vegetable garden as the raised beds and their flowers-companion planting are second-to-none.

If this was not enough, the Test Valley is famous for its fishing and the Houghton Lodge Gardens offers the opportunity to tickle trouts, grayling and pike. Having not fished for too many years, there was great anticipation when our fishing guide from Simon Fishing Breaks came to pick us up. Half a day of fun and discovery ensued.

I caught a trout in the first five minutes, to the cheers of 'Beginners Luck' but the giggly fishermen were soon proven wrong as two other wiggly fish were rapidly hooked in succession.

I hasten to add that they were promptly returned to the waters. We were shown how to use flies and our instructor let us use all the equipment necessary.

 We learnt how the River Test gave its name to the valley and we visited the eel traps with their walkway and fishermen thatched huts. A landscape to remind us of a lost way of life when the traditional British Jellied Eels and Pie & Mash were Cockneys' staple diet and dishes. Eels and eels liquor on pies were social levellers enjoyed by the richest and the poorest. They have long disappeared from the menus along with tripes and offals, though Pebble Soup HQ is joining modern chefs in their campaign for the revival of meat by-products. It's about time we stop wasting food, start using whole animals and vegetables and make the most of what is on offer. But this is another story..........

Disclaimer: We enjoyed two nights at the Houghton Lodge Gardens and half a day with Simon Fishing Break and would like to thank everyone involved. There

Facts Box

Houghton Lodge Gardens
Stockbridge
Hampshire
SO20 6LQ
07973 215407 
email: applerooms@houghtonlodge.co.uk

Garden Admissions- Visit and information 01264 810502
Adults - £6.50
Children -3 years plus- £3.00

Simon Fishing Breaks

Simon Cooper - Founder & Managing Director

simon@fishingbreaks.co.uk  

The Mill, Heathman Street, Nether Wallop,

Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 8EW

01264 781988.

Confession of a saucepan abuser - Stellar Saucepan Review

Regular Pebble Soup readers may recall that I have had a lot of trouble with pots and pans. After being accused by Berndes to be a saucepan abuser (read the story here). I found it very difficult to trust manufacturers especially since  a lifetime guarantee didn't seem to mean very much.

No utensils seemed to last long enough for me to write about. The latest frying pan is only two years old, and has long lost its shape. But, my faith in pots and pans might just have been restored, and I find myself living in hope, once more. Would I have found the perfect saucepan and a good frying pan?

Stellar stainless steel “Stay Cool” pans offer safe efficient cooking. The pan's handle stays cool while the body get all the heat. After so much trial and error, I became a little bit of an expert as to how the heat is conveyed. The principle seems simple, if there is only one layer such as in cast iron or stainless steel the heat circulate uniformly.

The saucepan glass lead with its silicone edge is a new one on me and I can confirm that it offers easy draining. 

I liked my old copper-pan but sadly it doesn't go in the dishwasher so, it was important that these new pans clean well and easily which they do.

The price which is an important factor, this is a middle of the road range here are some examples

18cm draining saucepan 2L  cost £47.99 on Amazon

Stellar Stay Cool Stainless Steel Insulated Handle Non-Stick 20cm Induction Frying Pan £36.50

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post which contains an affiliate link which means that if a click converts to a sale, I get a small percentage which helps me maintain this blog. thanks

St Bees Station House : Review

Be aware, be very aware, when taking your children on holidays, it might start the beginnings of an adventure larger than intended. When Joan's parents took the kids on holidays in the Lake District like many families did in the sixties, they travelled by train to St Bees beach.

Now Joan is a grandmother but her childhood memories kept bringing her back to St Bees. So when the station house went on sale, she had to buy it.

So there you have it, the Victorian waiting room converted to a home in the thirties is now her holiday cottage and it is part of the rather special Host Unusual collection. 

Perfectly situated, 10 minutes away from the beach and its RSPB reserve, not far from pubs and even closer to the medieval priory. It's a 15 minutes drive away from the shops at Whitehaven, sadly St Bees doesn't have any food store worth mentioning.

Let me take you on a tour of the cottage:

The first thing you notice is the attention to details and the quirky little reminders that this was once..... a waiting room. The shape of the house: long and low. A lounge at one end and the main bedroom at the other. There are plenty of sweet little touches dotted here and there.

My favourite room was the kitchen. No surprise there. Situated just off an out-a-room where it's possible to leave umbrellas and shoes. It's fully equipped and very functional.

                                                                                           picture courtesy of station house

There are two lounges and a terrace, so plenty of room for a family. Being the start of April and still chilly, there was no opportunity to use the patio. Both bedrooms are warm and comfortable.

Readers of Pebble Soup will know that I love new experiences but I would add a word of caution.

The Station House is off a platform. This is a working station with its, unique in the country, control room. This implies that trains will stop, people will alight and sometimes trains can stay stationary, engine running for up to 10 minutes and if that will warm the heart of train enthusiasts it might be disturbing at 6.45am.

On the other hand, the line connects with the lovely heritage steam train of Ravenglass and Esdale, and you would have to have a heart of stone not to fall for the miniature steam locomotives.

Fact Files:
Address: St Bees, CA27 0DN, United Kingdom

Tip: Ravenglass 'n Eskdale Steam Railway, Wasdale, Muncaster Castle, Buttermere and Wastwater are situated less than 15 miles away
Price varies expect to pay from £105/night with a minimum of two or three nights depending on the time of the year.

Disclaimer: Words are my own, I stayed 2 nights at discounted press-price. My thanks to the owners for their care and attention.

The Alexandra Hotel in Lyme Regis : Review

To drive from London to sea-side town of Lyme Regis, on the Devon-Dorset border, under torrential rain is certainly not ideal but at least it's an excellent introduction to the dramatic scenery ahead. Though I have to confess when we turned into the small cobbled yard once stabling four horses now the Alexandra hotel's car park, I had had more than my fill of emotions and the only thing I wished for, was to close my eyes and sleep for a million years.

Picking on our mood the calm and friendly receptionist took us for a soothing tour of what was once the semi-retirement residence of the 1st Earl and Countess Poulett and in doing so, she made us step into another world. One that mixes Georgian elegance and style with the informality and brilliance of modern designs.

The original buildings date from 1735. In 1982 David and Nina Haskins, hotelier from Somerset bought the Alexandra, it remained in the same family ever since. The hotel gardens which procure the backdrop for the conservatory dinning room and the large breakfast room, gently slop down to Lyme Bay and the famous Cobb. There is nothing to disturb

the views between the hotel lawn and the bay with its Jurassic coast cliffs. The spectacle is simply stunning. No wonder why so many special occasions are celebrated here.

This was an occasion for us too, our booking coincided with partner's birthday who is young or old enough to recall vividly moments of his childhood, a trilobite found while on a family holidays "somewhere along the coast". As luck would have it, part of England’s first natural UNESCO World Heritage Site, the beaches around Lyme Regis are among the best on the ‘Jurassic Coast’ to begin a hunt for fossils or as a member of staff remarked if the weather didn't ease, the town fossils shops are well stocked and definitely worth a visit.

In term of exploration, right then, inside was taking priority. Up a flight of stairs, on the landing from the corner of my eye I spotted a period armchair restored with impeccable taste in modern material. On reflexion what might attracted my attention may not have been the chair but a laptop set there for the clientèle to use, though rooms are equipped with free and fast internet.

The hotel rabbit warren of corridors in most circumstances would have been annoying but like in every other areas, here too attention has been paid to details, to make every stay as comfortable and relaxing as possible. Sensors lit the corridors when movement is detected a neat and ecological trick which is going to appear on the top of my wish list next time I book anywhere.

Our pink bedroom one of the Hinton's with sea view and a cosy corner was not large however the  clever use of colours, the abundance of natural light and lots of personal touch gave it a palatial and airy feel. The impression was greatly helped by the stupendous panoramic views over the harbour all the way to the cliffs. The chocolate fossils acted as magic wands helping to  dissipate the last trace of the  car journey.

Bathroom are equipped with a large shampoo and conditioner gel, only the rest being miniatures, taking waste into account just as it should be but not omitting comfort and practical aspect, bathrobe, hair-dryer were at hand. The professionalism of the staff and the high quality of service doesn't stop at reception, the room hot drinks and biscuits are replaced without having to ask, in the evening the beds are turned down and next day's forecast left on the bedside table.

After a visit to the local fossil shop and its museum to learn about Mary Anning, her significant finds including Ichthyosaur and many other dinosaurs specimen whose names are too impossible to recall. We took a brisk walk on the Cobb soaking in, and often by, the sea air while taking in the spots made famous by fictional characters. The French Lieutenant Woman and Louisa Musgrove heroine of Jane Austen's Persuasion lived through their dramas on these very stones. It was time for dinner.

Dinner at the Alexandra is a rather formal affair, a three course meal preceded by cocktails. The cocktail menu is worth the detour. Even if the budget doesn't stretch to dinner, a drink in the old fashion bar is a must. The cocktails list is long and enchanting, there is a selection of Gin and Tonic which shows eccentricity and class and would have made Bertie Wooster proud.

The award winning restaurant is in the conservatory, each table dressed with white table cloth faces the garden and its views. On that night some of the staff seemed to be in training, there was flying spoons and knives which would have made for a rather good circus act.

All the products are sourced locally, their provenance as detailed in the documentation with a synopsis for each type of food from fish or chutney. Ian Grant, Head Chef previously worked at London's Park Lane Sheraton. There is something about his food that screams "The kitchen is Chef's kingdom" the dishes may not be all bells and whistles, there is no mucking around to show how clever he is, but all the products sing in harmony through their unadulterated  taste.

Slightly surprisingly fish and seafood share the menu equally with meat and vegetarian dishes. Though the lemon sole was the most popular that night, I opted for the Seared Bay Scallops for starter and a Duo of Local fish as a main and local cheeses plateau thanks to  its simplicity and the perfection in the cooking, it was all very enjoyable. After dinner, guests are invited to move to the garden or the bar for coffee.

The next day started with haddock  poached egg, a buffet of pastries and fruits jams. An identical philosophy applies here, though very busy, the staff takes the morning opportunity to chat with the guests. Our waitress took the time to collect the granola recipe from the kitchen for my benefit. No wonder some people return year in, year out and include The Alexandra in the family calendar for special celebrations.

When guests step in The Alexandra at Lyme Regis, they step in a different world, one of  timeless luxury and class, one that gets the little things right and is difficult to leave behind. Though the hotel provides all the mod-coms it is unlikely that extensive use of the internet will be made during the stay. This is a place to relax, enjoy the scenery, the local products, the fossil hunts, the door to the "real world" will fling open soon enough.

Contact details

Alexandra Hotel

Pound St,

Lyme Regis, Dorset

DT7 3HZ

01297 442010

Doubles from £115, including breakfast. Four-course set dinner £36 not including drinks. Weekend Rate: only  Half Board tariff is available with a minimum stay of 2 nights at peak times

DISCLOSURE: I visited the Alexandra Hotel as part of a self-drive trip both  meal and accommodation were paid for by the Hotel. I received no remuneration other than food and accommodation and all opinions are my own. first published in 17 May 2013

Good Bye 2017

2017 has overall been a good year. Not prone to make and/or tell the world about my resolutions, I never the less decided to take a leaf out of my mate Chris Osburn's book. 2017 was going to be the year when I was going to hone my writing. And, so I did with surprisingly outstanding results as in December I signed a book deal for a guidebook of the Lake District in the 111 Places series so expect a few blogposts about the Lakes' culinary delights, in the months to come.

In November, the world of food lost a legend, Antonio Carluccio. I had met him the year before at a Cirio launch. I'm sure at times, he was grumpy and difficult, he reminded me of my dad, part dinosaur with a big heart part grand-father everybody would have like in their family, he looked like him too. Hopefully, his business which he launched the year I arrived in London and, sold recently, will carry on. I was sent a Carluccio large panettone for Christmas. I can't really tell you what it tasted like, my mum ate it almost overnight, it looked good though 

In the summer, I spent some time working in the Queen's garden in Greenwich Park, Allotment week was a highlight as it became more and more difficult to fit vegetables growing or any kind of exercise in my schedule so guess what 2018 resolution.

Spring saw Him turn ....well, let's just say he had a significant birthday. Falmouth was voted the best town to live in so we decided to give it a go, not live there you understand, just have a look around to see what the fuss was about. We met some brilliant people. You should have a wonder there sometime, it's nice but avoid Rick Stein restaurant which is not so nice.

Pebble Soup curious ingredient showed up early in the year: Yuzu, loved it.

Thank you for dropping by this year and I hope to see you in 2018 .

Happy New Year

My Last Minute Christmas Gifts Guide

On the grounds of making Pebble Soup Christmas Guide personal. Here is a list of a few gift which will go under the tree at midnight on Christmas-eve.

Baby Lou, whose arrival early on this year, made our world a better place. With her big dark blue eye, olive skin and spontaneous fits of giggles, will get an Harpe Pepe. The perfect all round toy that  will help her to walk. I like the fact that Hape toys are made with sustainable materials and non-toxic paints, with a strong eco ethos. RRP 18.00 from Argos

As a thank you to my friend who will be cooking Christmas dinner

For the past 20 years, Xmas meant the gift of a Smoked House Salmon but this year from a well known smokery but, we broke with the tradition and turned to Quinlan's ( available in good independent stores). Sorry Scotland but I find Irish smoked salmon far tastier and meatier. Quilan's is a family business based on the South West coast of Ireland UK customers can purchase from the Quinlan’s Kerry Fish online shop and receive their orders fresh and chilled within 24 hours - RRP  125g, £12.50

To me, earlier this year, I wrote to Santa. In essence the letter said "Santa, I can explain..." and this is what I got in return.

Landon Tyler's new bathing sets comes in three colours Pink Cashmere, Golden Amber and green country meadow. 

The addition of a candle and a diffuser to the set is more than welcome. There is something comforting about the whole bathroom being in unison with your own fragrance. You know, a little like when you bake and, you yourself ends up smelling like a little hot bread. RRP £15.00

These were my last tips before the big day. Have a merry festive season. 

Christmas Meal in Kit from Hello Fresh

HelloFresh has cunning plan for Christmas dinner and I am here to tell you all about it. But first,

What's Hello Fresh?

It's a cross between a meal delivery company and a weekly food box, it's a cooking subscription box. Imagine somebody does the shopping, sort the ingredients for each meal, writes down the recipe instructions and delivers it to your door, all you need to do is ...cook. Sound stress free doesn't it?

HelloFresh Christmas Dinner guide

So now imagine that the same somebody creates a guide to Christmas dinner with a brilliant timing sheet. A guide which includes all the preparation jobs starting on Christmas eve and ends with the moment you pull the crackers. It explains all the when and how. Want to try it, head on over to Christmas Dinner Cheat Sheet right now.

My own experience             

As it was little early for Christmas dinner, I opted for a classic box for three. I was given a time when the delivery would arrive and was kept informed by email, so far so good.

When the box arrived, the first thing I noticed was the attention to packaging, everything is recycled, every ingredient is measured for the number of people and the recipe sheets are extremely precise. They even tell you how many of your five a day there is in each dish.

My box was representative of typical meals on offer: Sausage Chilli with Homemade Tortilla Chips, Beef Kofta Curry with Sag Aloo, Creamy Linguine with King Prawns and Serrano Ham.

Verdict on the Beef Kofta Curry with Sag Aloo- 45 minutes - 1.5 of your 5 a day the step- 

Remember all the ingredients are measure out for you. The amount of ingredients was generous and though it ended up being a very westernised curry it was nevertheless rather good. It was nice to have a curry with a side dish which wasn't rice.

The quality of the ingredients was excellent. The meat seemed fresher than in the supermarket and as far as I could see all the ingredients originated from the UK. HelloFresh promises organic and seasonal ingredients.

It would take me a little while to get use to such a regimented way a cooking and I struggled with the step by step, I made a few annoying mistakes but looking at the instructions again, it is fool-proof.

And that is a good way to cook a Christmas dinner.

Pebble Soup makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are my own. This was a sponsored post on behalf of Hello Fresh

Pebble Soup Award Nominee

Pebble Soup has been nominated in the Foodie category of MyProtein Fitness Blogger Awards 2017

The extraordinary thing is that I knew nothing about it until the email arrived. And, even better it's a people vote which means that there are potentially 3 million+ people out there who voted for thousands of blogs and Pebble Soup made the shortlist of 10. Wow. 

So what happens next: 

We all cross fingers and make a wish because the decision is the hands of a panel of judges. But, I have got a cunning plan to seduce them. So look forward to:

• Meal planning and what it means for a fitness plan
• Matcha swirl shortbread biscuits
• Goodbye Antonio Carluccio and my favourite Italian recipe.

So thanks to everyone out there that continues to read my blog. And on the 18th December, I'll tell you the results.