Enoteca Ciccimonelli (the Ciccimonelli Wine Cellar) Iglesias, Sardinia

I had indicated to my amiable host, Luciano, of Bed and Breakfast del Corso, that I was interested in wine tasting. And when I say that, I don’t just mean quaffing lots of wine but rather taking a more intellectual approach to this lovely activity. He directed me to Enoteca Ciccimonelli which is not just a very well stocked wine shop, but a very excellent restaurant too.

During my first visit the night before, I had met the owner and a young woman who I believe was his daughter, who served front of house. They told me that they are open as long as there are people around, but it had been a very quiet evening, so they were just locking up and about to go home. I promised them I would be back and I’m glad I did, as my visit the next day proved to be exceptional.

So, returning as planned, I readied myself for a superlative gastronomic journey. Having chosen a suitable outdoor seat and not wanting to waste a second, I ordered the sumptuous Seafood Platter whilst imbibing a glass of Cannonau, which had been poured into my beckoning glass. Cannonau is full bodied, luscious, bursting with mouth watering flavours and is undoubtedly the signature red on the island. I can now see why it is on sale at so many different restaurants, and it won’t cost you the earth either.

Chatting to the two waitresses at Ciccimonelli, one of them told me that she was earning money and wanted to get off the island to explore, study and work either on mainland Italy, Europe or somewhere around the world, because there is nothing really on Sardinia in terms of meaningful work. I began to understand that Sardinia may not be where the younger generation wants to remain long term, and I suspect that for these locals, the island could be viewed as geographically claustrophobic and limited in terms of opportunity.

Anyway, having quaffed and very much enjoyed my generous glass of Cannonau, this was followed by an aromatic Oristano, which was very golden in appearance like a dessert wine, but dry in taste. I sampled numerous wines during the evening, and each one was unpacked and explained to me very informatively. The two young women served me very ably and professionally and were obviously very well informed having been trained well by the restaurant owner I would imagine. The whole evening felt stylish and professional, and the evening concluded with a dessert wine to compliment the final, inevitable course on the menu.

My evening of quiet contemplation and enjoyment was then interrupted by the unpredictable Mediterranean weather, as lightning suddenly flashed across the night sky accompanied by a deep and ominous rumble of thunder. Two guys who were also eating outside then rushed into the restaurant to avoid the deluge of rain now falling from the sky. Having been to India numerous times, the ferocious downpour was slightly reminiscent of many monsoons I have witnessed over the years.

Almost immediately, the air began cooling, and rivulets of water washed down over the cobbled street from the persistent, heavy rain. I was sat under a huge umbrella and was enjoying being splashed gently by rain. The waitress asked me if I wanted to go inside too but I declined as I was still very much enjoying the alfresco dining experience, savouring delicious food eaten in the rain, albeit under a large canopy.

I eventually retired to the inside of Enoteca Ciccimonelli and ordered another drink. The shop was a veritable Aladdin’s cave, selling lots of lovely produce, including some locally made nougat! Well, I bought a delicious chunk of that, and having paid my bill, I left. When I got back to my apartment, I tore off the wrapper, and I was not disappointed with my local sweet treat.

In summary, Enoteca Ciccimonelli was a fabulous dining experience, and I would 100% recommend it. You will enjoy fabulous, local produce and receive the highest standards of service, and you really can’t ask for more than that, can you?

***All photos, except main header, courtesy of Enoteca Ciccimonelli***

Psalter’s Restaurant @ The Luttrell Arms

Blog, Food, UK

The Luttrell Arms Hotel is situated in Dunster, a rather splendid medieval village in beautiful West Somerset. Enclosed within the ancient walls of this 15^th century hostelry, is the Psalter’s Restaurant. I was invited to stay at the Luttrell by Head Chef Barrie Tucker, with a view to trying out the culinary offering. Barrie, locally born, is very much at the helm of the brigade of chefs there, and is the driving force behind the food on offer.

I arrived on Sunday afternoon, after a not so long drive from North Devon, and was immediately impressed by the professional, courteous manner of the staff. I was at once ushered to my room, interestingly called Rodney (he wasn’t in there thankfully), and I soon found myself relaxing within my sumptuous and spacious surroundings.

My accommodation was supremely comfortable, with a vast queen size bed, sofa, reading chair, writing desk (how thoughtful), TV, and of course a lovely, modern en suite bathroom. I would say that Rodney was a mixture of modern decoration and antique style; and jolly nice it was too. I felt like an absolute king peering out of my second storey window over the historic Yarn Market below.

Having earlier spent some time unwinding in the bar – not far from the fire, I navigated my way eventually to the Psalter’s Restaurant, whereupon I was ushered to my cosy corner table. The menu was most definitely stimulating, offering a really good choice of varied and appetizing dishes.

Not wishing for the grass to grow under one’s proverbial feet so to speak, I quickly selected the wine for the night, which of course is the altogether superb Malbec – having an ‘explosive red berry nose with chocolate and soft vanilla notes.’ Sounds like a meal all by itself…

Now for the food. I opted for the Pheasant and Cranberry Terrine, followed by Roast Rump of Beef with Pepper sauce. The terrine was beautifully presented and prepared, resembling a work of art. It really looked fabulous on the plate, and tasted equally delicious too. I considered this a perfect way to begin the evening, and I couldn’t wait for the next course.

The Roast Rump of Beef with Pepper sauce arrived shortly after. The beef was rare, and I’m not sure that there was a choice with this, but either way, the two slices of beef draped across my very stylish graphite colour plate were melt in the mouth delicious. The attendant pepper sauce, with a hint of sweetness, was quite unlike anything I had ever tried before and extremely moreish.

Keeping the beef company on the plate were spinach, wild mushrooms and fondant potatoes. A very tasty, balanced and mouth-watering offering. All the while, this was being washed down with my ‘Hefty, deep fruited’ Malbec, making this a somewhat enjoyable experience.

My dessert choice for the night was Treacle Tart with Lemon Curd and Lemon Curd Ice Cream. This was not as overpowering as it sounds, but was in fact a delicately balanced finish to a wonderful evening. When you’re cooking at this level, it’s not always about strong flavours but something a bit more subtle.

The next morning, on the way to breakfast, I checked out the terrace overlooking the compact courtyard, which in turn leads out to the lovely Secret Garden overlooking the grounds of Dunster Castle. In warmer weather, this would be a marvelous place to eat and drink. I eventually exited the Luttrell arms after an immensely satisfying Full English Breakfast, containing hog’s pudding and potato cake. I think anyone who stays at the Luttrell will honestly have little to complain about, and will find it a very refreshing break.

The #EatExmoor Food & Drink Trade Show

Blog, Food

Wednesday 7th February sees the inaugural Eat Exmoor Food & Drink trade show, at the Beach Hotel in Minehead. The #EatExmoor initiative is a joint project from the Exmoor National Park and Visit Exmoor; the tourism authority for this special area. Local producers, chefs and hospitality providers are invited along for a day of networking, cooking demonstrations, informative, interesting and helpful talks about how to maximise your business, in and around the national park.

The day will also be celebrating the launch of the #EatExmoor Guide and the #EatExmoor Marketing Toolkit. So, if you are connected to the hospitality industry in the Exmoor area, you know where to come: The Beach Hotel, Minehead 10-4pm. Click on the link below for the day’s programme of events.

The #EatExmoor Food & Drink Trade Show Programme of Events

Give my regards to Broadway!

Blog, Travel, UK

Nestling on the western edge of the Cotswolds, Broadway is a must-visit destination if you are in the area. Why? Because it’s beautiful, and it simply oozes English village charm. In fact, it’s almost too perfect and too twee for its own good, but I just love it. It’s got lots of those lovely, unique kind of shops that magnetically draw you inside, inviting you to part with large sums of money for no real good reason at all – except for pure self-indulgence of course.

We came across a chocolate shop, a sweetie shop (selling a seemingly endless variety of sweets), and a lovely wine and gin store tucked away up a side street. A visit here was required of course, and after much chat with a chap called Dan around various drink related topics, we succumbed to the temptation to sample some of the shops wares. The whole experience proved to be immensely satisfying.

Broadway is a little gem, of that there is no doubt. One look inside the estate agent’s window will solidly conform this fact. So if you should find yourself meandering towards Stratford-upon-Avon, as we were, I would encourage you to pop in and have a jolly good look around. You are bound to find something that takes your fancy!