Encounters of the Food Kind

16/10/2023

On 23rd September, our wedding anniversary, Ian and I had dinner at SY23 In Aberystwyth, Wales, with our friends as it is also their anniversary!
Access - parking can be an issue as the restaurant itself does not have a car park. There are a few disabled parking bays very close by if you’re lucky enough to grab a spot. We have been twice now and have been able to park there.
Venue - there is an alfresco area where you can order tapas style dishes which is cooked right in front of you, on coals. You can sit there and just order drinks, if you wish. There is a bar inside on the ground floor with just one step into the building but this is where, if you are in a wheelchair and have no mobility, your experience stops. If you are having the experience of Nathan Jones cooking for you, it is upstairs, approximately 20/25 steps. I was taken up first so I could take my time. It was a struggle for me to get up there but I managed with Ian’s help.
Getting back down at the end of the evening was more of a challenge for me but that’s because I tend to have more pain later as my medication is wearing off. Just to mention, I think there is another bar through different door by the alfresco area which is also where the toilets are…
Toilets - the toilets through another door (as mentioned above) where there is a ramp. There are men’s, ladies and a disabled toilet, which I used on our first visit, which were clean and tidy. Once upstairs, there are two toilets outside the dining area which are very nicely decorated and kept spotless.
Staff - I cannot fault the staff in any way. They were very pleasant and friendly, yet professional. Nothing was too much trouble. They were very accommodating. If we asked any questions they were extremely knowledgeable about the dishes that were served to us. If you get up during the evening and leave your seat, your napkin is folded neatly and placed back on your table. If your napkins happens to fall on the floor, you will be given a new, clean one. They offer to take your jacket/coat to be hung up and politely hold doors open for you and make sure you are comfortable. 10/10!
Food - well, what can I say, utterly delicious. Imaginative. Scrumptious!!
Each dish has been incredibly put together to make your taste buds dance and sing!
The food is mostly cooked over coals which definitely adds to the flavours.
The kitchen is open and you can watch Nathan and his chefs cooking right in front of you. There’s only 4 seats that are facing away from the kitchen. I wonder, if the tables were to be turned sideways, everyone would be able to experience the food being cooked. There are 18 seats in total and as for booking a table, be prepared to book way in advance. One of our favourites is the little yuzu flavoured meringue pie. Wow, it just explodes on your tongue. Yes, it is expensive but you will be hard pushed to find another menu so well put together! Only reason we won’t be rushing back is because of the stairs.
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

16/10/2023

Good afternoon everyone 😊
Sorry we’ve been a little quiet but I’m going to try and make up for it and do our reviews back to back although the holiday one will be done another day 😂

Anyhow, on Tuesday 5th September, Ian and I had dinner at Marco Pierre White’s in Bridgwater, Somerset , which was bought for us as a present.
Access - there is hotel parking, which we had to pay £2 for 4 hours but it was well worth it as the disabled bays were right by the entrance so I didn’t have far, at all, to walk. It’s all on a flat so for wheelchair access it’s great.
Venue - as you walk into the hotel the reception desk is right in front of you and the restaurant is directly opposite.
Toilets - these are situated through a door next to the reception desk with male, female and a disabled one, which I used and it was very clean, tidy and decorated nicely.
Staff - the staff were very pleasant and friendly, yet professional. Nothing was too much trouble. They were very accommodating. Making sure I was comfortable and had everything I wanted and needed…. I got my husband, so all good 😉
Food - we ordered from the set menu, which unfortunately didn’t have a big choice. We paid extra to add bread and butter. To start, I had egg mayonnaise with shrimps which turned out to be two boiled eggs with mayonnaise around them. Ian had carrot salad which was grated carrot with some sultanas and vinaigrette. Tasty but not very imaginative.
Ian paid a supplement to have the sirloin steak and I had the rump. Both came with chips and vine tomatoes. The garlic butter was a bit overpowering. We also paid extra for the side of onion rings, which were big but very greasy. Dessert was the best dish of the evening which was crème brûlée. One of the nicest we’ve ever had! Plus the raspberry sorbet and vanilla ice cream was delicious.
The meal came with a glass of wine but as we aren’t big drinkers we were allowed to swop it for a mocktail. Shame the garnish of half a strawberry had seen better days;(
Overall, we wouldn’t rush back to be honest but was, in general, a nice evening out.
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

25/09/2023

See… broccoli isn’t always good for you 😂😂

Man is Horrified to Find a Ladder Snake Inside a Bag of Broccoli He Purchased from an Aldi Neville Linton, 63, was conducting a routine grocery run on a routine day. But in a package of broccoli, he unearthed a “frightening” discovery. He had gone to an Aldi in the West Midlands of England to bu...

21/08/2023

Good evening everyone 😊
Sorry we’ve been a little quiet but have had a lot of personal things going on.
Again, this blog will be in two parts so we can add the video AND pictures 😃
Part 1….
Anyhow, on Sunday 13th August, Ian and I had a Jamie Oliver cookery lesson in Islington, London which was bought for us as a present. We were a little apprehensive about parking, access for my wheelchair and the cooking in general. But, we shouldn’t have been, we had a wonderful day.!!
Access - we drove up to Holloway Road, which is where the Jamie Oliver cookery school is. The building itself doesn’t have parking, but as it was a Sunday (and no football games at the Emirates Stadium) we found parking fairly easy. There are bays spaced out along Holloway Road, plus they had disabled parking. For access into the building itself , it is all flat and level, so no issues there for my wheelchair 😊 If you do not want to drive into London, Holloway Road tube station is extremely close to the venue.

21/08/2023

Part 2…. Jamie Oliver Cookery Lesson.
Venue - there are steps from the entrance level down to the kitchen, but they have a small lift for wheelchairs and people with mobility issues. It’s very open and spacious. There are stations around the kitchen for people to cook at but Ian and I had a station set up at a table, so I could still stay in my wheelchair.
Toilets - these are situated on the kitchen level with male, female and a disabled one, which I used and it was very clean, tidy and decorated nicely.
Staff - the staff were very pleasant and friendly, yet professional. Nothing was too much trouble. They were very accommodating and made sure I could see everything while our chef explained what we would be doing etc. The chef who was teaching us was funny, informative and entertaining 😊
Food - as we cooked this ourselves, all I can say was it was delicious 😂 it was a South Indian Prawn Curry. The recipe was easy to follow and we will definitely be making it at home!
We would like to go back and get some more tasty recipes under our belt!
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

08/08/2023

Part 2 of our Dexters review….
Staff - as always were very pleasant and friendly, yet professional. Nothing is too much trouble 🙂
Food - please see the photos for a look at the menu. Ian had the slow roast beef and I had the turkey. The vegetables, cabbage, swede and carrot mash came out separately in little dishes to be shared between us. Apart from the mash potato that was already on the plate and a big Yorkshire pudding with Ian’s dinner, there wasn’t anymore vegetables. Personally, we think one or two more side dishes of carrots and/or peas etc would have made the meal perfect. Maybe even a parsnip or two. The food was extremely tasty and well presented. I usually leave something on my plate but as you can see from the pictures, we both totally smashed it 😂
We WILL definitely be going back!!
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

08/08/2023

Part 1…..
Can you believe we haven’t been out to eat for a week? Yes, we’ve had to cook our own meals 😂 so yesterday, Sunday 7th August, we had a roast dinner at Dexters in Carmarthen. Yes, we have been there before but not for their roast dinner.
We have decided to add a video of our experience, we hope you enjoy and find them helpful 😃 although this post will now be in two halves as we can’t post with a video AND photos 🤷🏼‍♀️
Access - we have commented on the access to Dexter’s before but to reiterate, there is a ramp from the street pavement up to the main entrance.
Venue - inside is decorated lovely with little lights and soft lighting. We love the ambiance of the place!
Toilets - The main are toilets are downstairs but there is a disabled one on the main level which was very clean and tidy….
…. Please see part 2 of this review for the photographs and ‘staff and food’ section..…

04/08/2023

Yep!

🥱🥱the struggle is real😴💤

01/08/2023

Sunday 30th July, we met up with Ian’s daughter and her boyfriend for lunch at The Lighthouse in Bracelet Bay, Swansea. It’s recently changed hands and thought we’d ‘give it a try’.
Access - there is a ramp at the far end of the entrance area, otherwise there are a couple of steps up outside the main entrance. There are two areas where you can eat. One seems a little less formal than the other, us being seated in ‘the other’. Unfortunately, there are two steps into this area and no other access for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Saying that, you can sit in a booth just outside the more formal dining area just make the staff aware when booking a table.
Venue - the main restaurant area is quite big and when busy can be quite loud. Where we were sitting is still open but not as noisy. It’s nicely decorated and tables can be moved around for bigger parties. The views are great, looking out at the sea. We even saw a couple of seals bobbing up and down 🙂
Toilets - There are toilets on the main level. The disabled toilet was fairly clean and tidy, just a few bits of toilet paper on the floor. To access the toilet you can either ask for the Radar key or use your own, if you have one.
Staff - it took around 10 minutes for someone to come over to our table and thought she was going to take our drinks order but she put a bottle of tap water on the table, didn’t say a word and then walked off! It then took another 10 minutes for another person to come over and take our drink and food order. The gentleman was polite and friendly. The food came out around 15/20 minutes later.
Food - Ian, Amber and Ben had the beef roast and I had the nut roast. The variety of side vegetables, minted pea and cabbage, swede and carrot mash and cauliflower cheese, came out in ramekins, one to be shared between two, which was actually just enough. One carrot, one parsnip, two small roast potatoes, one broccolini, the stuffing was more like a crumb but still nice, like a mushy pea paste underneath, a big Yorkshire pudding and gravy. The food was tasty and well presented.
Yes, we would go back, definitely!
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If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

28/07/2023

Today has been a difficult day as it was a year that my dear mum passed away but we, Ian, myself, my brother and sister-in-law took our dad to mum’s favourite restaurant, Capital Restaurant in Edmonton. It’s authentic Turkish cuisine.
Access - there is a ramp into the restaurant which is quite steep but makes easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Venue - the restaurant is quite big and when busy can be quite loud. It’s nicely decorated and tables can be moved around for bigger parties.
Toilets - There are toilets are all on the one level. Clean and tidy.
Staff - The staff are very friendly and helpful. Nothing is too much trouble.
Food - the menu is pretty vast and over the years we have tried different dishes. You are given freshly cooked bread with a mixed salad, cacik, hummus, chilli and garlic sauce to start for free. The salad has a lovely vinaigrette on top. Tonight we had between us, chicken shish kebabs, lamb doner, which both come with either rice or couscous, side of halloumi, chips and a cold meze. Everything was extremely tasty!
You are offered a Turkish tea and given small sweet balls which, I think, are made from semolina.. again, these are free!
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

27/07/2023

Well, today’s venture was to Tony’s Pie & Mash in Waltham Abbey. This time we just went with my dad as it’s his favourite place to eat. Also, it’s the place David Beckham orders from and apparently used to have it shipped out to America…. Maybe still does.
Access - once again, I’d like to point out I am a registered disabled person and the access is all on one level and very good. There is a car park around the corner from the entrance which is about 150 meters. There are approximately 7 disabled bays and parking is free if you have a blue badge.
Venue - it’s nicely decorated with the typical green and white tiles. Wooden benches for seats. There is room at the end of the tables for a wheelchair or pushchair.
Toilets - There is one toilet for everyone’s use. Clean and fully equipped with hand soap and hand dryer. Toilet paper had run out but when I asked for more the young lady got some immediately.
Staff - The staff were very friendly and helpful.
Food - no fuss pie and mash with a choice of liquor or gravy. There is only one choice of pie and that is mince beef but there is a vegetarian choice, which they cook fresh on request. There is also sausages and jellied eels on the menu. Dessert is a choice of apple or cherry crumble or old school jam cake and custard. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate are cheap and in a mug.
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian

27/07/2023

On the evening of 25th July, we went to Dexter’s, Carmarthen, for dinner which we first visited on 9th July 2023, for Ian’s birthday. This time we went with family and had really bigged it up, so was nervous that we might be let down but there was no need to worry, Dexters certainly didn’t disappoint!!!
Access - as a registered disabled person, I would like to point out that the access is very good. There is an ascending pathway up into the restaurant and outside seating area. Unfortunately, they do not have a car park but there is one across the road and also some yellow lines (without chevrons) you can park if you have a disabled blue badge.
Venue - we have driven passed the building many, many times but to be honest, we didn’t even know it was there! The inside is quaint and has pretty beams. Not the decor you expect from the outside.
Toilets - The toilets are situated downstairs but they do have a disabled access toilet on the restaurant level. I didn’t use it so cannot give an honest opinion.
Staff - There were 8 of us dining and we had only booked the night before so we were seated on two round tables that were pushed together but still had plenty of room. The staff were knowledgeable about the menu and very friendly.
Food - we all ordered a Steak of different cuts and wanted them cooked differently. When the food came out every thing was spot on! My fillet was cooked medium and was so tender it cut like butter. Ian had sirloin and the fat was rendered perfectly. The charring in the steaks make the flavour sing! My sister-in-law cannot eat eggs so the waitress took her side of Caesar salad and replaced it without the mayonnaise and without it being a problem. The triple cooked chips are amazing and the cheesy mash was extremely tasty. The desserts sounded delicious but we were all so full we couldn’t order anything else 😂
If you have any questions, feel free to message us
Signing off… Tina & Ian