Milk & Honey

Milk & Honey

I had never noticed Milk & Honey before, probably because it was not there.

A little deli cum café on the left hand side of the main entrance into the Castle Grounds in Guildford, the top end where is located the bowling greens and a bandstand where plays take place.

I was actually on my way to visit Alice Through the Looking Glass, but the best laid plans of mice and men …

I decided to pop in and take a look. I was there all afternoon until late afternoon or early evening.

Occasionally one finds a lovely food place, where as soon as you walk in the door you see it is a labour of love. Grocer and Grain in Brighton is one such place, and that is what I was reminded of when I walked into Milk & Honey.

Home made cakes, coffees, teas. In the window Easter eggs. Easter eggs? Greek Easter is 5 May.

When people bought a cake, or a piece of cheese, it was lovingly wrapped and tied with a ribbon.

I looked up, and what I had not noticed before, handmade jewellery hanging from the ceiling.

I suggested for the summer, tables and chairs outside, freddo cappuccino. If Costa Coffee can block an alleyway and cause an obstruction, I can see absolutely no reason why Milk & Honey cannot have tables and chairs outside obstructing no one. Although with the park benches outside, pull up a milk churn as a coffee table.

We tried making a freddo cappuccino, but did not work, wrong glasses, wrong milk, and ideally need better coffee.

Another idea I suggested was little picnic packs for people to take and enjoy in the Castle Grounds.

Some hours later, I left to go off in search of Alice.

Lunch at Café Mila

Café Mila

It has been so cold, this has been the first visit to Café Mila this year.

Last year, in the summer, it was always very busy, but once winter came, it was very quiet.

Today, it was quiet on the street. It was therefore a surprise to find how busy it was.

This is the first time I have been on a Monday, as it used to be closed.

Very enjoyable chicken pie, followed by carrot cake and cup of tea.

Café Mila has always had books to browse. After I had finished my carrot cake, I browsed Quiet Food.

What is Quiet Food? Basically slow food with contemplation. It comes from a Buddhist retreat in South Africa where food, its preparation and eating, is seen as important as meditation. The book is beautifully illustrated with little stories, haiku poetry.

Why not do BookCrossing, I suggested last year? Good idea, but like many people, we do not like the BookCrossing website. We will come up with our own idea.

There is now a little notice telling people there are books to browse and books to take away. If you take a book away, your are asked once read, to release it into the wild (you could give it to a friend), then on their facebook page, write what has happened to the book. There is a also a little sticker in the books telling you this. If no sticker, then please do not take away.

A good idea, though I do not like anything that encourages people to use facebook, even less that has information on their activities. I tried to think of a better way but could not.

What I would suggest is do both, register on BookCrossing and then tweet what has happened to the book.

Toby Carvery Aldershot

I walked in and the first thing that hit was the noise, the loud music, I nearly turned on my heals and walked out. I regret I did not.

People want to relax when having a meal, not have to shout above loud music.

I was escorted to a table by a window. Normally that would be be my preference, but it was cold. Those who arrived a little later and were sat further in, closer to the food, complained it was cold and were moved elsewhere. Another couple, sat down, who I assumed to be the head chef, came across and spoke to them. They got up and walked out.

The portions were meagre if not mean, poor quality meat. The person serving surly. The vegetables looked tired, as though sitting there for hours. I also noticed, but only later when I saw someone had peas on their plate, that only half the vegetables that should have been there were there. I also noticed from the menu that if you paid extra, you got larger portions. This is like the cowboy charter airlines. Reduce your luggage allowance from the standard 20 kg, then charge for extra luggage allowance, or worse no luggage allowance at all.

Toby carvery in Aldershot has been open at most three months, and yet it is already looking shabby, paint peeling off the walls, toilet door jams. As I walked in to the Toby Carvery, there was a sign warning the door was broken.

Outside it said breakfast served. No mention what. No mention on the menu either.

It was fairly empty. The staff out numbered those eating. Each time I have passed by and looked in, it has looked empty. I asked was it always like this, and was told yes, the novelty on opening had already passed.

Apart from one charming young waitress, the vibes given off by the staff was one of glum resignation, rather be some place else.

Totally lacking in atmosphere.

Not a place I would recommend if you want a decent carvery. I wonder how long it will be before it closes?

There is a Toby Carvery on the way out of Frimley. It is far better, or was, maybe it too has dropped its standards. Or is this because it is Aldershot, standards low, nowehere decent to eat?

For an excellent carvery try The Foresters on the way to Fleet.

The Toby Carvery is part of a group of tacky chain eateries in Westgate, or Waste Gate as local retailers are calling it.

Westgate is an ugly retail development on the edge of Aldershot town centre, that is killing the town centre. If all the eateries are as bad as the Toby Carvery, then they have nothing to worry about, or at least would not if there were any decent restaurants in Aldershot, which there are not.

For every meal eaten in one of these chain eateries that is a meal not eaten in a local restaurant. For every pound spent, it is a pound drained out of the local economy, compared with a pound recycled in the local economy.

When I have eaten in the Toby outside Frimley, I have felt too full to move. I left the Aldershot Toby Carvery feeling hungry.

I wandered through the town. There were few people about even though it was market day (and Easter school holidays). I noticed big gaps where there would have been stalls. As predicted, Westgate is causing the collapse of the street market. The quality fruit and vegetable stall near The Arcade, which has always been busy, had not a single customer. And yet the council claim Westgate is good for Aldershot, though this is not the view of either retailers, shoppers or residents, who see Westgate as an unmitigated disaster for Aldershot.

The only place I saw was busy as I walked past was McDonald’s. Says it all really, this is Aldershot.

Lunch in Plaka

lunch in plaka

Plaka is an area in Athens below the Acropolis of little narrow streets, lots of restaurants and shops.

There may be places worth eating, but I have yet to find any, and lunch today was no exception, it was awful.

I fed some to the cats. What was left, I was very tempted to say to the waiter, as I have paid for it, please serve to the dogs in the road with my compliments.

The only thing good I could say: the portions were generous.

Strofi, near the Acropolis Museum, was the only place I found worth eating.

Strofi

skewered pork with potatoes and vegetables

Strofi is located a couple of blocks away from the Acropolis Museum.

It was empty. I enquired did they have a roof top restaurant, and almost as an afterthought, was it extra?

Yes and no was the answer. But the man had to go up and check. Check what? A few minutes later, he came back dpwn and led me up stairs.

The place was almost empty. A view of the Acropolis was claimed. To be correct, a view of the Parthenon, and that was obscured by plastic sheeting. Music from a nearby speaker. When the menu came there was nothing I fancied. They charged for bread as an extra. I settled on skewered pork, served with potatoes and vegetables. It was not cheap, 13 euros.

A long wait. What was I doing here, no atmosphere, expensive, I should have gone to one of the restaurants in Plaka.

Food finally arrived. Large pieces of pork, not obvious at first, samdwiched between griiled peppers, the vegetables, peppers and courgettes, appeared to have been grilled (though said was from the oven).

Portion size was not small and it was delicious. I could have done with more potatoes.

After my meal I was given a complimentary liquor.

I declined dessert, though on my way out they looked delicious, and I regretted my decision.

On my way down I looked in the first floor. This would be a far better place to sit as the view is through glass, not plastic.

Dining out in Plaka

dining out in Plaka

Plaka is a area of Athens below the Acropolis.

A maze of old streets I had wandered during the afternoon. I was on my way up to the Acropolis. I followed a street, that narrowed, that turned into steps, tiny houses clinging to the hillside. It curled back upon itself and I found I was back where I started.

I gave up. Instead wandered around Plaka, many restaurants, coffee shops, all very busy, street musicians.

I sat with a girl and her dog.

I decided to return that evening with a couple of Chinese friends.

They had already eaten but decvided to join me.

We found a very lively restaurant.

Three small pork chops, which were excellent, but served with cold rice, cold chips, and the service was appalling.

Casa Canaria

Casa Canaria

Casa Canaria is a pleasant little restaurant overlooking a little garden in front of the main church in Punta Brava.

The bright green plastic chairs and tables outside are a bit of an eyesore.

I had been told excellent tomato soup. I fancied tomato soup and so I walked along Playa Jardín from Puerto de la Cruz to Punta Brava.

No tomato soup, they did though have chicken soup. It was delicious. Chicken, carrots and spaghetti(?).

I thought I would try champiñones al ajillo, garlic mushrooms. I wish I had not as not very pleasant. Sliced mushrooms, hard to tell if fresh or tinned, little bits of what I assumed to be green and red peppers and garlic, cooked in olive oil.

Washed down with a glass of beer and two glasses of water.

In a pleasant location, overlooking a little square in front of the main church, but why then ruin the tranqulity of the spot with a widescreen TV. Yes a widescreen TV outside beamed at the outside seating area.

Walking back, I came across an interesting book a man was reading overlooking Playa Jardín.

Bar Restaurante Venezuela

Bar Restaurante Venezuela

Bar Restaurante Venezuela is a pleasant enough little restaurant in Punta Brava, though completely lacking in atmosphere, not that is if morons shouting to each other is atmosphere.

I have come to the sad conclusion that the peasant class in Tenerife is both brain dead and stone deaf. Gather together two or more and quiet conversation seems to be beyond them, they shout at each other.

The food though was surpisingly good. I ordered tortilla, with no idea what to expect. I expected a small slice, with what I did not know. What came was a large plate, half of a large tortilla, salad, and a glass of water and a beer which I had added to the order.

But what would otherwise have been a pleasant meal was spoiled by the horrendous noise.

Bar Restaurante Venezuela is located in Punta Brava, opposite Santa Rita, or to be more exact, opposite Hogar Santa Rita.

Punta Brava is a little village one end of Playa Jardín, Puerto de la Cruz at the other end.

Synchronicity: Strange, considering the name of the restaurant, the day, or maybe the day after, Hugo Chavez dies, Presidente de Venezuela.

Mojo Rojo

Mojo Rojo is a sauce or salsa of the Canary Islands. It comes in two types, mojo rojo or mojo verde.

Ingredients

3 cloves of garlic

heaped tablespoon of course rock salt or sea salt

1/2 teaspoon of sweet chili powder or hot chili powder

pinch of cumin

pinch of oregano

extra virgin olive oil

spash of wine vinegar

Method

Can liquidise, this method uses mortar and pestle.

Add three cloves of garlic and course salt. Pound. Add olive oil to get appropriate constituency. Add other ingredients, a spash of vinegar. Add sweet chili powder or hot chili powder depending how hot you like your sauce. Mix. Takes about five minutes.

Many thanks to head chef at Hotel Florida and Ana in El Limón.

Late lunch at The Barn

Falafel, pita bread, homous and a little salad

Falafel, pita bread, homous and a little salad. Delicious. Not something I would enjoy all the time, not even once a week, but every so often it is very enjoyable.

I asked what was the soup, as it did no say on the chalk board in the street. I did not learn what it was, but it must have been popular, as it had gone.

I have previously suggested they chalk up what the soup is as it will bring more people in. But chalking the food on a board in the street is working as last summer The Barn was always empty, now quite busy.

I never understand why people miss the obvious, but maybe focussed on one thing, like preparing the food, you miss the bigger picture. You know what you are serving and automatically assume so does the rest of the world.

I suggested they chalked up on the board in the street: Falafel burgers guaranteed free of horsemeat.

It is lovely and warm and cosy in The Barn now that they keep the barn door closed. Though I can see folk who have not been there before, may be reluctant to open the door to see what is inside. Although on the other hand, when it was left open and freezing cold inside, they would not have wished to stay.

I was joined by the girl selling the Big Issue who I had spoken to earlier on the street in Farnham. Not surprised, she said she was very cold. She then apologized, she had to go to catch the train.

I used to catch the train, but since discovering a bus leaves from outside The Barn, I have tended to catch the bus and of late it has been on time, if not earlier. Today was one of those days when it was earlier. It was already there. I thought I would miss it, but the driver said, if early, they sit and wait.

It had been cold all afternoon in Farnham. It was light when I walked into The Barn. When I left it was dark and very cold. I was pleased I did not have to wait in the cold for a bus.

With places like The Barn serving quality coffee, why do people visit Costa or tax dodging Starbucks?

The Barn is quite literally a barn down a little alley in the centre of Farnham. A cultural space with a kitchen, art, food, music, yoga. Between Lion and Lamb Courtyard and Castle Street almost opposite Downing Street. Cross on the pedestrian crossing if walking up Downing Street and it takes you almost straight in their door.