Lunch by The Straits

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We decided to treat ourselves to lunch out this afternoon. We opted for a trip to The Gazelle, just outside Menai Bridge on the coast road to Beaumaris. The glorious early Autumn sunshine and the still calm of the day was welcome relief after yesterday's foul tempest. It also promised fine views across the Menai Strait, as the pub/bistro is located in pretty much the loveliest spot along that stretch of coast, being originally the location of the terminus of the old chain ferry from the mainland [the view from our table at the top], and commands a vista of the mountains of Snowdonia to die for. On a day like today, there are few finer waterside spots in Europe. We hadn't been to the place for some time, and were curious to how it was shaping up on the food front, now that a near neighbour and friend of ours is chef de cuisine there.

I wrote before that I usually test the mettle of a kitchen by ordering squid - as I've said, it sorts out the serious from the lacklustre - but I wasn't in a seafood or fish mood, so settled for the steak and Guinness pie and chips, pictured left. I wasn't disappointed! Shortcrust is not an easy ask if it's to be done right, and this proved to be superb: thin, yielding and perfectly cooked. The filling was excellent, soft steak with a lovely dark gravy. Superb homemade chips: again I would contend that a really good chip is an art that few master and that so many cooks simply don't get at all. Good additional gravy on the side, and carrot and parsnip [good choice!] cooked just to my liking: sweet, not al dente to the point of being crudités, and like the whole meal itself properly seasoned! Most places these days seem to be paranoid, nay, phobic when it comes to seasoning: and poorly seasoned food is a job half done. As you can see bottom right, I wolfed the lot, and anyone that knows me knows that I rarely do that. Anyway, I recommend anyone to pop in there for lunch: we might even take a gander at the offerings for dinner some time soon. Keep you posted.

Comments

  1. Anonymous13 October 2023 at 09:06

    Thanks for my son's almost name check mate; he's Ez and I'm very proud of him:)
    ATB
    Joe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13 October 2023 at 15:14

      Discretion, me old son: I forgot to ask him if he'd mind being named in these oftimes outré pages ;0). And you're right to be proud of him: fine cook!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous14 October 2023 at 14:28

    As you well kno me old mucker a chef's reputation & name are synonymous; the restaurant gets the Michelin stars and the chefs move on; unless ofcourse they own the show, which sadly we do not! If you remeber we used to kno where "the" good indian cook was from the state of the service at the few Indian restaurants in Bangor & environs.
    As a proud father I'm always expanding his culinary & employment horizons and if you'd asked me for a "release" I'm sure that he'd oblige.
    ATB
    Joe

    ReplyDelete

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