Ashfields Restaurant

June, for me, is one of those months where anyone and everyone seems to have a birthday! So with several reasons to celebrate, my family and I headed out to ‘Ashfields Restaurant’ in Earl Shilton for what we hoped to be a special birthday dinner.

Ashfields is a restaurant (not a pub or even a gastro pub) which serves ‘classic yet innovative English food with a notably European twist’. It claims to use seasonal ingredients, local meats and fresh seafoods to create ‘superior food’. 

I have dined at Ashfields once before but when I was much younger. The only thing I can really remember was the very formal and somewhat ‘stuffy’ dining room. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that since my last visit, Ashfields had undergone a makeover. Now with its soft greens walls, light wooden furniture and stripy carpet, Ashfields has become a modern, bright, spacious restaurant with a much more informal, relaxing dining environment.

The area known as ‘The Bar’ also helped to contribute to the improved atmosphere.  This is the place where you can order your drinks, but is also the area where you are encouraged to relax, away from your table while viewing the menus and the daily specials on the blackboard. Staff take your order while you're still seated in ‘The Bar’ so it’s not until your starters are almost ready do you get called through to the restaurant. For me this is a welcomed addition to the eating out experience, allowing you time to unwind and talk with your fellow diners while creating a greater sense of occasion when it comes to main event – the meal.

So while busy relaxing in ‘The Bar’, I began to contemplate my food selection from what I considered to be, a well thought out menu. By allowing some of the starters to be served as mains (and with the additional dishes on the specials board) the menu becomes quite large and varied. As a result, choosing what to eat became a difficult and lengthy experience so I think we were all grateful for the added comfort provided by ‘The Bar’.  In the end I opted for the ‘Deep fried whole Capricorn goats cheese in almond crumb with beetroot chutney, honey & mustard dressing’ followed by the ‘Slow cooked confit of duck leg & breast with roasted pineapple and a pink peppercorn sauce’. Both dishes were very good. The size of the goat’s cheese was enormous. Too much cheese for me in one sitting but better too much than too little? Despite being deep fried, it wasn’t greasy at all. In fact, strangely, the almond crumb was almost a little dry and so needed the beetroot chutney and dressing to moisten the dish. My fellow diners enjoyed a quality Italian meat platter (for two) as their starter. Even though it was shared by 3 (and me) the generous portion size meant we couldn’t quite manage it all and there was even some left over!

My duck was perfectly cooked. The breast was pink and bouncy with a crispy skin and the meat off the leg fell with ease from the bone. The pink peppercorns gave the dish an extra dimension and added spice, a contrasting texture and a sort of floral flavour.  The duck and pineapple chunks together with the large bowl of hot vegetables and potatoes served with all the mains, resulted in a very satisfying plate of food, representing good value for money at £16.95.  My only criticism of the whole meal would be the way the potatoes were cooked. They were not deep fried so were not chips but they hadn’t seen an oven either, so were not roasted. They were a bit like the ‘roast potatoes’ I remember being served at school. Small, a bit greasy and kind of soggy. There were however, some fried onions scattered amongst the ‘side with no name’ so that did help improve the potato situation slightly.

Given the generous portion size of all the dishes (and the fact we scoffed the bread that comes with the starters too) none of us could quite manage a dessert. But going back to the well thought out menu, there was the option of a cream filled brandy snap, served with fresh fruit for only £1.25.  Nice to be able to end the meal on something sweet that doesn’t break the budget (other desserts priced at £5.50) or the top button of your jeans!

So all in all, Ashfields Restaurant proved to be a most suitable birthday celebration location. All four of us enjoyed the tasty, well cooked, nicely presented, hearty meals which were made with care and quality ingredients.  I would definitely recommend Ashfields to anyone looking for a friendly, British restaurant, serving simple but satisfying food.

Restaurant              4/5

Food                         4/5
Service                     4/5
Value for money    4/5

Total 16/20

Thai Legend

After a particularly long and unsuccessful shopping trip in Leicester, I couldn’t bring myself to cook dinner. I contemplated some takeaway stodge but instead found myself craving something ‘healthy’ and something…. out of town. So after a quick conflab, my friend and I jumped in the car and headed out to Quorn in search of something…Asian.

 Along the high street we came across Thai Legend. I wasn’t quite sure I wanted to eat there at first. The outside looked a bit scruffy and I couldn’t really see inside the restaurant to suss it out properly. However, while my brain was busy trying to sort out this most challenging of foodie dilemmas, my legs (probably under the influence of my stomach) took control of the situation and guided me into the restaurant and towards my table.

Once inside, I felt reassured ‘my legs’ had made a good choice. The restaurant was busy and the red and white décor was clean and modern. At our table I was delighted to find a basket of Chinese and Thai prawn crackers already there waiting for us (free food always a good way to start a meal). The menu was vast and included a wide range of starters, soups, salads, curries, stir fry’s, rice and noodle dishes as well as ‘Chef Recommends’ dishes.

It took some time to decide on what we wanted to eat, two baskets of prawn crackers in fact. However we eventually agreed on a Som Tam, Knao Niew and Pla Nung Si-Ew (which is salad, sticky rice and fish to you and I).

The waitress was particularly helpful when it came to ordering our food. With Thai food, choosing the right combination of dishes is important so I was eager to run our selection past her first. She was very accommodating, agreeing with our choice of dishes (and giving reasons why) and suggesting some starters which would go with the main course (on our request). Having already consumed a significant amount of prawn crackers we stuck with ordering main courses only but with the option of ordering extra (if we felt we didn’t have enough) once our food arrived.

There was no need to order extra. Despite my uncontrollable urge to eat everything on the menu, the food that was served was more than adequate in size. It was more than adequate in just about everything actually. The dishes were colourful, vibrant, fragrant and inviting. The flavours were fresh, exotic, new and interesting.  The Sea Bass (served in a delicate oyster sauce, with slices of pepper, mushroom, chilli and ginger) was tasty, light, and perfectly cooked. The salad of shredded vegetables, tomatoes, garlic (lots of), crunchy nuts and chilli (which punched you in the face with every spoonful but in the nicest possible way) was dressed in a perfectly balanced hot, sweet and sour vinegarette. Divine.

Not only was the food and the service exceptional, the meal was also excellent value. Our dinner, including two bottles of ice cold Thai lager cost less than £15 per person. Not bad for an authentic Thai meal, made to order, using fresh and exotic ingredients, servicd by friendly, informative, attentive staff and all enjoyed in a sophisticated and yet soothing environment.

Definitely one to recommend.

Restaurant                           4/5

Food                                      5/5
Service                                  5/5
Value for money                 5/5

Total                                      19/20

The Gate Bistro

The sunny spell we experienced in May had distracted me (ever so slightly) from my eating out duties. However, as the clouds began to gather on a Wednesday evening I made it my mission to get back out onto the streets of Leicester and sample its restaurant wares. So last week I visited ‘The Gate Bistro’ on Braunstone Gate, Leicester.

To be honest, I was a little sceptical about going to ‘The Gate Bistro’ at first. It is a relatively new restaurant so I had no prior knowledge of what it might be like. When I have peered through the window in the past, the modern interior (to me) is cold and uninviting and there never seemed to be anyone eating there. However, armed with a 10% discount voucher I thought I would give it a try.

When I entered the restaurant my first impressions were mixed. There was no-one to meet us at the door, despite the large reception area.  This meant we were left to wander in, a little lost, hoping we would stumble across a member of staff who could assist us. We found one at the bar and was eventually led to a table.  Inevitably, the table we selected was the ‘wobbly’ table which consequently had a folded up flyer wedged underneath it. It was also dirty with a layer of dust resting on the surface so not an ideal start. However, despite dining relatively early (7.30 p.m) and it being a Wednesday night, there were already a number of people eating in the restaurant, creating a better ambience than I had expected.

My enjoyment of ‘The Gate Bistro’ experience began to gain momentum as I perused the menu. I love the idea of sharing food so the Grazing Boards appealed instantly. The main menu was typically bistro with a mix of British classics like steak and ‘posh’ fish and chips combined with some more Mediterranean inspired dished such as Pumpkin, Spinach and Goat’s cheese lasagne. There was also a Specials Board which featured some tempting seasonal fish dishes. My kind of menu, so I was spoilt for choice which is always a nice position to be in.

We opted for the Seafood Grazing Board to start, the Handmade burger and 28-day Hereford rump steak as mains. The jury is still out on the Seafood Grazing Board. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice. Four different types of fish (including smoked salmon, curried squid, filo wrapped prawns and mango and chilli dressed crayfish) cooked and presented very differently and all very pleasing on the palate. But I still can’t work out if it represented good value for money. If they had perhaps added a few more salad leaves or a some slices of bread to accompany the dish I think I would’ve been more satisfied but as it was, the four small piles of seafood was a bit underwhelming and possibly a tad over priced at £9.25?

The same however, can’t be said for the main meals. This is where ‘The Gate Bistro’ came into its own. The toasted ciabatta and onion and chilli jam propelled the handmade burger to something rather special and was well worth the £8.95 paid. My 28-day Hereford rump steak was absolutely delicious. A beautiful piece of meat, with no bones or fat and so tender and moist that it simply melted in your mouth. The garlic butter served with the meat was an ideal accompaniment, adding another flavour to the dish but without detracting from the meat itself. The roasted tomato and field mushroom were perfect and both dishes were served with a bowl of proper hand cut, rustic chips. Excellent value for money at £13.50 (even better on a Wednesday night as it 20% off all steaks).

Overall, I would recommend ‘The Gate Bistro’ as a place to eat in Leicester. There is a lack of detail (at times) when it came to the level of service received and the restaurant itself but the food and main courses in particular were extremely good and excellent value for money. Honestly, the steak was one of the best steaks I’ve tasted for a long time.  So for that reason, along with the fish dishes I’ve yet to try, I have no doubt I will be returning to ‘The Gate Bistro’ sometime soon.

Restaurant 3.5/5

Food 4/5
Service 3.5/5
Value for money 4/5

Total 15/20

http://www.thegatebistro.co.uk/index.html

Leicester born and bread

I haven’t been out for dinner much lately (sorry fellow blogettes) but I have been eating lots of bread!  Really, blooming lovely bread to be precise.

My friend has recently introduced me to the delights of Jessica’s homemade traditional bread business in the West End of Leicester.

Jessica (a fellow foodie) has a passion for high quality, tasty bread. Unable to source such items from our supermarkets and shops she has set up her own, made to order, artisan bread baking business. Using only the best ingredients and traditional bread making methods, Jessica is able to create some of the tastiest and healthiest bread in Leicester.

I had the pleasure of sampling the sun-dried tomato baton recently. A blend of white and wholemeal flours with chunks of sun-dried tomatoes throughout, made using a sourdough method. I can honestly say it was one of the nicest loaves of bread I have ever eaten. It was rustic, crunchy, soft in the middle and filled with lots of large juicy sun-dried tomatoes. Eating it I realised I was making involuntary ‘mmmm’ noises throughout and couldn’t help going back for more!

Other more exotic loafs are available including ‘Herb Fougasse’ and the brilliantly named ‘Pumpernickel’ bread but you can of course also order tin loafs and rolls as well as monthly specials (this month it’s Barley and Linseed Buttons).


Prices range from £1.10-£3 and all bread is made to order.

You really have got to try it. Now we have a spot of sun, one of Jessica’s loaves would ideally be enjoyed on a picnic blanket, with a selection of meats, cheeses, a few juicy olives and a large glass of chilled white wine! Happy (foodie) days!

To find out more, visit Jessica’s website www.leicesterbornandbread.co.uk/home or contact Jessica at Jessica@leicesterbornandbread.co.uk or 07957726308

“Good bread is the most fundamentally satisfying of all foods; and good bread with fresh butter, the greatest of feasts.”

James Beard (1903-1985)

The Swan - Kibworth

This week I headed off to ‘The Swan’ at Kibworth. From its website The Swan presents itself as a modern, gastro ‘pub and eating house’ serving ‘British food at its best’.

Great! As a result, my expectations were that in exchange for a willingness to pay above average pub food prices. I would be dining in a modern, comfortable, relaxing environment, enjoying high quality, British food, whilst receiving a good standard of service. I was right about the high prices bit but everything else fell somewhat short of the mark.

 

I will start with the décor. Worn, leather brown sofas, check. Wood burner, check. Pale green painted walls, check. So far, so gastro. But then looking down you notice the bold, colourful, patterned carpet you find in traditional British pubs. The paint work was scruffy and patchy in places and the dining tables, although rustic and sort of ‘modern farmhouse’ in their design, were too close together so you felt crammed in and a little uncomfortable. Not quite the sophisticated, elegant dining experience you might expect from a modern day gastro pub?

The menu was stylish, minimal, simple, sleek. Very gastro. The prices were also gastro. £5-6 for a starter and £12-£17 for a main. Seems fair for good quality, locally produced, freshly prepared food but not sure that’s quite what we received.

 

The starters were good. My ham hock was a little bland but the homemade Piccalilli made with chunks of vegetables, made up for that. The chicken liver pate was particularly nice, presented on a wooden chopping board, in a little closed glass jar, served with a beautifully spiced apple and date chutney. Good start, ticking the gastro boxes. But then came the mains. I had a marinated pork steak, with buttered broccoli (£16.95) and my friend had pork belly served with Chantilly carrots (£13.50). Both were nice dishes but just nice. Nothing more, nothing less. More importantly, they were both missing something….. ah yes, a potato of some description and perhaps even a second veg? Turned out the £17 literally brought you a pork steak and a few broccoli florets. Pretty shocking really. In fact I think I am still in a state of shock now. I can not believe that £17 doesn’t buy you a whole plate of food.  If you wanted that you had to spend a further £2.50 on a side order. I was so perplexed by the whole situation I began to wonder if it was me. Maybe I was out of touch with the effect rising food prices had on the cost of eating out? But then I remembered The Red Lion at Gilmorton and Café Soya, a Vietnamese restaurant in Birmingham I went to a few weeks ago.  An unbelievable plate of food in terms of taste, quality and quantity and all for about £6.

In some situations, even if the food doesn’t warrant the higher prices sometimes the service or the dining experience helps to justify the additional cost. But from my comments above regarding the atmosphere and environment this was not the case at The Swan and although there was nothing wrong with the service we received, the young girl who waited on us was pleasant but it was pretty standard.

So sadly, I won’t be recommending The Swan at Kibworth as a place to dine, mainly because it represents such poor value for money. Although the food was nice, no part of the experience justifies the prices they charge on the menu. It’s a real shame because if the meal was more like £10 or even £12 and came with a few chips or new potatoes my experience and review of the pub would be completely different. But as it is, The Swan presents itself as a high end gastro pub, charges accordingly, but fails to deliver on any of its gastro pub promises.

Restaurant                          3

Food                                     3.5
Service                                 3.5
Value for money                2

Total                                     12/20

Everest Dine - 61 Belgrave Gate, Leicester

Everest Dine opened in November last year so is a relatively new restaurant to Leicester. It aims to provide ‘quality food, exceptional service and outstanding customer satisfaction’ and based on my experience last week, it manages to achieve just that.

Everest Dine is an Indian restaurant with a difference.  It has created something new, something different, something good.  Firstly, it has done away with the often small and dated ‘curry house’ experience and has replaced this with something rather grand. The restaurant has high ceilings, pillars, extravagant décor and a huge staircase running through its centre which creates a real sense of luxury and opulence. The tables are beautifully dressed, complete with polished, silver cutlery, glistening wine glasses and a single red rose resting elegantly in a tall vase. Together it makes quite an impact when you first walk in.

The menu itself excites. As well as the traditional Indian dishes there is also the option to try a range of Gurkhali and Nepalese dishes. I was eager to sample the new cuisine so I selected all Nepalese dishes and I wasn’t disappointed.

Both the starter and the main courses were really tasty and beautifully presented on the plate. In their marketing material Everest Dine claim they use ‘special herbs and spices all the way from the Himalayas’ and I think you could tell. The flavours were familiar but much fresher and more distinct. With every mouthful, the flavours would come at you in waves – the sweetness from the coconut milk, fragrance from the herbs and spices and then a kick from the chilli. A really pleasurable eating experience. The portion sizes were probably a bit smaller than you may be used to in a ‘normal’ Indian restaurant but they were by no means too small, just refined and I certainly didn’t leave hungry.

The service was excellent. We were greeted at the door and well looked after throughout the meal. The staff were exceptionally polite, helpful, friendly and passionate about their food and restaurant. Even the manager came over to talk to us and gave us a dessert to sample for free, just so we could try it (which was also delicious by the way).

I thought Everest Dine represented excellent value for money. The food and drink didn’t cost any more than you would expect to pay at your average curry house but for this you got a fine dining experience with excellent service and food.

Everest Dine in Leicester is one of six associate restaurants across the UK and is clearly part of a successful and expanding brand. And you can see why. I think they have come up with an interesting and exciting alternative to mainstream Indian cuisine and dining.  I would definitely go back, so it’s another one for the Recommendation List.

Restaurant                 4

Food                            4
Service                        4
Value for money       4

Total                            16/20

www.everestdine.co.uk

Yesim Bakery & Café – Narborough Road Leicester

Now, I have heard good things about this place, so when I arranged to meet a friend for lunch this week, I had to give it a go. And I have to say it didn’t disappoint!

From the moment I walked through the doors, Yesim began its assault on my foodie senses. The smell of freshly baked pastries and eastern spices immediately started wafting up my nose. I instantly felt warm and relaxed, a sensation created by the Turkish lamps soft lighting, the rustic wood interior and the lovely little seating area at the back, made cosy from the authentic carpets and piles of colourful cushions. As I wandered further in, my eyes lit up with what was contained in the large display fridge running through the café.  It was filled with all sorts of interesting Turkish delights, including breads, Turkish pizza, börek (savoury pastries fillings with minced meat, cheese, spinach, poultry, fish and other vegetables), meze, sweet pastries, baklava and cookies (kurabiye).

Well, as you can imagine, I was beside myself with excitement. The waiter kindly described every item in the fridge and I selected as many of them as possible for our lunch.  Shortly after, they were brought to our table and laid out in front of us, like a feast, ready for us to share.  It was absolutely delicious. Familiar food and familiar flavours but combined and served in new and interesting ways.

The meal itself represented excellent value for money. I was full to bursting (to the extent that I couldn’t even squeeze in one of the terribly tempting cookies or sweet pastries) and all for just £7 per person (including a drink).

So, if you fancy something a little different for lunch I would most definitely recommend that you head to Yesim. It might only be lunch, but it’s going on the recommendation list!