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PERSONAL FAVOURITES
IN ENGLAND
We rarely eat out in England as we are usually at the restaurant but these are the few restaurants we can always rely on for a warm welcome from hands-on owners.Do say we recommended you.
From the exterior you would never guess what a find this pub is. Once inside relax in front of logs fires and enjoy fine wines, friendly service and excellent food
Fabulous rooms to stay in whilst exploring the Cotswolds or racing
Fresh, tasty food from local produce and unexpectedly (in this neighbourhood) the owners wines from their vineyard (Woody Nook)in Margaret River, Australia. You can buy the wines at a great price too!
Can be packed and noisy with Italian kids in the summer but have never had a bad dish here.
Great pasta,pizza and salads.Service can be a bit dodgy The best espresso in UK in my opinion!
This new fish restaurant (co-owned by the fishmongers below the restaurant) delivers outstanding value, wonderfully fresh fish,
wicked homemade chips and amazing batter on the fried menu items. Very friendly service.
IN FRANCE
Almost every weekend we drive to France to shop for the restaurant We always stay overnight and so we have found a few wonderful bed & breakfasts and restaurants owned and run by like-minded people.If you're travelling over and want something individual without breaking the bank you might find these addresses useful. Do mention that we recommended them!
Bed and Breakfasts
Alex Factory
Very difficult to describe this oasis of calm out in the countryside but only 10 minutes from Boulogne and the A16 motorway.
The rooms are in an annexe of the main house. Each room is very individually decorated in a Moroccan/French style.
Our favourite is L’Ecurie (the old stable) located in its own building away from the main house- it has its own kitchen/dining area and log-burning fire(which you can watch blazing from the bed!) .Up the staircase there are beds for about 6 people if you are taking the kids. Breakfast eggs come straight from their own chickens.
Enclos de l'Eveche
Tucked away by the side of the cathedral this is a very elegant old town house set around its own cobbled courtyard. All rooms have a different theme based on Boulogne’s history. The restaurant has an interesting menu but unfortunately is not open Sunday evenings so we have not tried dinner! The also do musical soirees in the courtyard in the Summer which sound fun.
Just 10 minutes drive from Boulogne the other side of a forest you will find this working dairy farm and the charming hosts. The rooms are clean, tastefully furnished and comfortable and until the dawn chorus very quiet. The breakfast includes fab croissants, pain au chocolat, bread, homemade goats cheese & butter, fresh apple juice from the farm, yogurts from the farm down the road-you get the picture!They also offer a simple but delicious supper in their dining room overlooking the orchard-homemade Foie Gras terrine and their Coq au Vin are particularly recommended.
This is the view from the dining room over breakfast May 2009
Restaurants
Le Channel
This family-owned and run restaurant in Calais offers the choice of excellent value set menus or a la carte. The food is consistently good with a large portions and beautiful presentation, the service is friendly and impeccable and the wine cellar impressive.
The menu lives up to its Michelin star status-some sublime dishes.
What really made it so enjoyable is how relaxing and comfortable you are made to feel-a wondeful way to spend a Sunday lunchtime(and afternoon!)
IN BUDAPEST
Budapest now has restaurants representing every cuisine but when we go over we mainly want to eat Hungarian cooking be it traditional or modern interpretations.
These are the restaurants we enjoyed as they offer a good combination of really friendly service, great atmosphere and a high standard of cooking
In Obuda three traditional restaurants: Kehli, Kacsa and Kisbuda Gyongye
In Pest , modern hungarian:Tigris
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We recommend