Exploring the area

Last night I decided that I’d take a walk through the village where my new work away apartment is.  I took a stroll down the hill until I found the first pub and being the sociable chap I am thought it would be rude to pass it without popping in for a swift one.  It was fairly early but there was the landlord and landlady, two old chaps a young lad and a dog in there. That’s it.  Within seconds I’d said hello and we were talking about the snooker on the telly where Stephen Hendry was approaching the end of his 147 break, a repeat from earlier in the day I think.  When I finished my drink, the landlady asked if I wanted another so I explained that I was off to explore the village because I’d just moved in.  She looked at me knowingly and said “Ah, Lynn’s place”, and the wise old bearded sage, clutching his large neat whisky on the stool next to me proceeded to tell me exactly which apartment in the new build block I was in!  It seems this is a closely knit village!!!

We exchanged pleasantries and I continued to walk down the hill towards the local shops.  On finding the next pub I thought again it’d be rude to pass without having a quick look and on walking in was greeted by a member of the bar staff who invited me to find a seat and she’d bring a drink over for me.  Very civilised and quite clearly this place was up-market.  She asked me if I wanted to see the menu.  The pub which was actually a bit more like a wine bar than a pub has an italian bistro attached to the side of it and on further discussion I learned that both the pub and the restaurant were under the same ownership and that they shared a kitchen.  I explained that I’d decided to try the local indian takeaway but that I wouldn’t mind seeing the menu for future reference and very helpfully the hostess gave me a copy of both the pub and the bistro menu for me to take away with me.

After finishing my drink I continued my walk to the local village shops and went into the indian takeaway.  The kitchen was imediately behind the counter so I could watch the food being cooked which I like because it’s kind of reassuring that the hygeine standards of an establishment are open for inspection.  I ordered a dish that was described as fairly hot but which despite me being quite a curry afficianado I’d not actually heard of before. and after a short wait wandered back up the hill to enjoy my meal.

The chef in the curry place clearly has a different definition of fairly hot than I do.  In all seriousness, the dish should have been described as face meltingly rediculously hot, and despite trying, and despite being completely at home with a normal madras strength dish, I had to abandon my attempt to finish the meal about two thirds in.  It took a large glass of Beringer 2005 and a bottle of peroni to finally stop the pain.  Perhaps, given the calorie intake of the walk down the hill and the latter refreshment of my pallet, it was just as well that I didn’t finish the meal!  I think I’ll cook tonight.  I was thinking of seared tuna on a bed of rocket, a drizzle of oil and a string of on the vine cherry tomatoes accompanied by a viognier from the Rhone valley, although if anyone cares to suggest a wine to try with the dish I’m listening!

Tagged as: oop norf