Talk about culture shock. I have just returned from a marvellous four days in Dartmouth with Chili (see previous blog). Going from such a nice pleasent, CLEAN, tidy seaside town back to here is a bit like travelling from Venice and ending up in Catford, only with more junkies and tramps this end.
That is the main difference though, between the two places, no rehabs anywhere in Dartmouth. No alchies sat on benches quaffing Diamond White out of Pepsi bottles. No dirty looking skank women doddering along talking to themselves and very few undesirables at all.!
So what did we get up to (instead of punching addicts in the face with large spiky gloves), well I will tell you…
We had a lovely train ride down (with Chili telling me I was like a naughty child as I was all bouncy and would not shut the hell up, well it WAS a train, come on.!!). Then we were whisked from Totnes to Blackpool Sands beach where I dived about the place avoiding wasps and knocked back a nutty Cola and chips. Meeting with some friends we ended up at a marvellous old manor house with massive amounts of space playing table tennis and drinking tea like a Lord and Lady. Then we settled into our room for a bit at Chili’s relation’s house before enjoying a very nice meal at the Dolphin (red thai curry and rice, with a pint. Tasty).
Wednesday was shopping day with a few bits and bobs bought and a few DVDs to watch later on and Thursday was a day of rest before the big meal last night.
A quick drink at Brown’s Hotel (hotel, bar and tapas bar) friendly and well themed served as a nice start to the evening, and it was off to the Seahorse (co founded and run by Chili’s relatives)…
What a lovely place to eat. Yes it is pricey but that is certainly not something that should be putting anyone off. If you like good food then you would enjoy the Seahorse. Simple seafood cooked with loving attention to detail. Outside has no garish advertising, just a plain front with curtains half way up the window to add privacy. Reinforcing the “slightly hidden away feel” is a huge curtain as you walk through the solid wooden door over a brass step. You are greeted and taken to your table with soft lighting and aubergine and mustard leather seating. As we sat down we were given a selection of very fine olives and bread sticks to go with the glass of Prosecco whilst browsing the menu.
I started with the chicken livers wrapped in sage, served with a divinely seasoned mixed leaf salad. The livers were juicy and had none of the strange taste that usually puts me off eating it. A balsamic dressing added to the mix of flavours that were set off nicely by the glass of Prosecco I had to hand. Local artists had their work hanging on the walls by large bouquets of fresh flowers. Chili shared the same starter as I had for a main course, namely Plaice Goujons. The only thing holding the fish together was the coating of breadcrumbs, not a thick jacket, just a light layer which allowed the full flavour of the fish to show through. The interior just fell apart allowing the tartare sauce, home produced of course, to be allowed to fully accompany each goujon on it’s ultimate journey into my stomach.
Chili had chosen the beef rib for her second course which at £24 per person was certainly not cheap. I shared a little and having been handed the steak knife I was very pleased to find out I barely needed any knife, so tender was the meat. Topped with a fine pepper sauce and cooked in a charcoal grill (the Josper specially purchased by the owners) the juiciness of the beef, coupled with the gentle flavour of the pepper made me sit there and slowly chew, contemplating each delicious mouthful.
Dessert was a baked chocolate pudding, served hot with double cream and layered with mousse and chocolate sauce (that Chili wouldn’t allow me to try, hehe) and for me, a 1978 Almagnac, subtle but almost chocolatey in appearence. I was lucky enough to follow this with a sample of the £150 a bottle XO Cognac (a treat in itself) and Chili finished off with a couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio, a blush with subtle hints of vanilla and strawberries, her favourite tipple whilst browsing a warm wine list.
Overall.? Well to be honest, I couldn’t fault the food at all. Even without the knowledge it was someone we knew it who was serving us, the food spoke for itself. If you ever get the chance then go try the Seahorse… you will NOT be disappointed, but do remember, such fine eating does not come all that cheap.!
*smacks lips*