Lovely meal out last night

[debih]

I went to a local restaurant with 6 other friends (it was our book group xmas night out) - I'd never been before but will definitely be going again.

http://www.stones-restaurant.co.uk/

We had their Christmas menu.

We started with little tiny venison croquettes, a little pot of blue cheese mousse and nuts, followed by little tiny loaves of bread (one treacle and one sundried tomato) served with salted butter and a pesto and chilli butter. Then I had chicken roulade which had two little roulades, the most divine chicken liver pate I have ever tasted, a little fancy piece of toast, apple "blobs" and apple strips. For my main course I had belly pork - a melt in your mouth piece of belly pork with a piece of crackling, little balls of black pudding that had been coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried, a "ragu" of leeks, tiny carrots, a fondant potato and purple sprouting broccoli. The pudding was amazing - a trio of chocolate. Two little melt in your mouth milk chocolate pieces, two hard pieces of dark chocolate cake, three little blobs of white chocolate, a banana ice cream and slices of toffee covered banana.

With wine and a cocktail to start (I had Pimms and ginger beer) and including a tip it cost us all £45.

It was absolutely lush!

[Ally]

Sounds fab!

[Kaz]

Oh my word my mouth is watering!!!!!

[debih]

I forgot to say - there was drama as well as good food!

They gave us a card menu with the cocktails on. I was struggling to see mine (my eyes are getting worse) and commented to my friend sitting opposite me that I needed to start bringing my glasses out with me. She offered to lend me her reading glasses and as she passed them over to me I sort of dipped my menu down to the table.

I hadn't realised that there was a little lit tea light between us - I only realised when the top of my menu set on fire. I wafted it around and blew on it and the waitress rushed over and took it away from me and put it in the sink. She said it was surprising how often it happened.

My friends moved the tea light away from me after that!!!

And - the restaurant underwent a big refurbishment late last year - after the back part of it was gutted by fire!!!!!!!!!!

[tonicha]

Sounds lovely Debih, glad you enjoyed it and had a good time, even the fire

I hadn't realised that there was a little lit tea light between us - I only realised when the top of my menu set on fire.

Sort of thing happens to me all the time

[JoM]

That sounds amazing! Love the thought of the black pudding, I'm going to have to buy some now because I'm craving it

[miasmum]

oooh cant beat a bit of black pudding.

So glad you had a lovely night Debih and at the tea light

[JoM]

oooh cant beat a bit of black pudding.

You can't, the kids love it too - John just looks at us in disgust when we eat it, not that he's ever tried it.
He's one of those people who dislike a food without ever eating it