Food. We all love it, we all eat it - I’m not called the Travelling Fatman for nothing. So, for a wee bit of fun, here’s a selection of various meals I had on a recent trip back to the UK - a trip where I self-catered in a camper van, stayed in a couple of really nice hotels and visited family. All images taken and edited on an iPhone - so no pretence at photographic brilliance. I do, however, pretend to be photographically brilliant on my Instagram Page. Go on, have a look and a follow - you know it makes sense. :-)
Anyway - UK food photos - here goes….
First meal back in the UK and arrived just before the very stroke of Brexit - so it had to be a good old British Favourite - Fish and Chips! Sadly, though, this wasn’t all that - at an airport hotel and a bit of a disappointment. Don’t be fooled by that crispy looking batter - the other side was damper and mushier than those peas. And the fish was dry. The lemon was juiceless - but the chips were ok. Still, bit of a let down…should have had another British favourite - curry.
Second meal back in the UK - on the first day of Brexit - so had to be another British favourite - a good old fry up! In the same hotel and this was from a buffet - but was so much better than the F & C from the previous night. Luvvly Grub! Although the beans did touch the egg, and I confess that upset me a little and the sausage should have been used as a barrier. Still, my mistake - you live and learn. All tasted good, though.
Right then - on to the camper van. What we have here is a wonderful concoction of Sainsbury’s tinned chilli mince and some brown rice from good old Uncle Ben. Might not look much, but warmed the old cockles on a British winter’s eve, I can tell you…
Washed it down with a cold can of Scrumpy Jack. That’s a gourmet camper van meal right there - a delicate balance of spicy chilli and ice cold cider. 6% proof as well. Winner winner, chilli dinner.
Breakfast the next morning - couldn’t be bothered putting much effort in - I can be a right lazy sod at times and no mistake. Still, minimum effort and still a tasty breakfast, there’s a lot to be said for that. Corned beef rolls, again courtesy of Sainsbury’s. I love Sainsbury’s.
Grilled Cheese, cooked in the van. Hot, melted cheese and crispy white toast - food of the gods, that is. To see how it’s done, look here.
Being in a camper van doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy gourmet food (see previous images) and still get your 5 a day. Fresh strawberries, courtesy of…drum roll…SAINSBURY’S! (editors note - courtesy of Morocco and propbably a lengthy transportation process that rules out “fresh”. Still, nice effort though)
Now this is what I’m talking about! From the Wensleydale Creamery in North Yorkshire - a stonkingly good home made quiche with locally made cheese. (Note to editor - NOT imported from Morocco, this is the real deal). The new potatoes were very good as well. Salad - meh.
Now this is different league. Treated myself to a night in the Yorebridge House Hotel, just a few miles from the Wensleydale Creamery. By goodness they do good food - these canapés are, from left to right, hummus on a crispy thing, beetroot and horseradish macaroon and a deep fried cheese thing. Each one of them was a joy. Incidentally, they put this image on their Instagram story - yay me!
Yorebridge again. Crispy…and I mean CRISPY pork belly. With apple, black pudding, pig cheek and…can’t remember the rest. Porky, apply goodness right there.
After Yorebridge I headed to Scotland - and this Scottish Breakfast trumped the earlier one - includes a slice of haggis and tattie scones. It really was Very Good Indeed. Pease note they used the haggis as a barrier between the egg and beans - extra points for that touch, you don’t want the wet ingredients mingling before you’re ready for it.
Steve Coogan And Rob Brydon made a TV program called “The Trip” a few years back. The first series included 6 different pubs/restaurants in the North of England and it is an ambition of mine to try them all at some point - and this was the first on the list. The Inn at Whitewell in the Trough of Bowland, a beautiful part of the country. Anyway - lunchtime appetiser, one of their signatures - chicken liver pate. Might not look much, but it was rich and buttery and went well with the pint of cask ale you see sneaking into the edge of the pic. I would say it was a bit much for a single person and would be better shared - coming from a Fatman, that’s saying something.
I’m in a pub - in England - had to be the fish and chips. Well, didn’t HAVE to be, I did consider the steak pie. But that had mushrooms in it, so was ruled out on that basis. Damn ‘shrooms. So in a way it did have to be the F & C. And it was a good choice - crispy beer batter, moist fish, lovely chips, juicy lemon and unmushed peas. Plus some more beer. Get In!
The alcohol % game was upped with this bottle of Perry (pear cider). Still, it was organic and I think that means it’s good for you.
Dinner at the Inn - chips were great, the roasted tomatoes full of flavour and a decent sirloin - all good! Apart from those damn ‘shrooms…sitting there, font and centre, all proud of themselves. Pffffft.
Oh my. This was, without any shadow of doubt, the best sticky toffee pudding ever. EVER! The previous holder of the title, an STP from the Glenfinnan Hotel in Scotland (2016) had its crown taken convincingly taken by this beauty. The sponge was so light but packed with treacly flavour and the sauce - a combo of creme anglais and butterscotch sauce - brought a tear to my eye. It was so, so good and an excellent way to finish a week of food adventures.
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