This was another fabulous recommendation from my good friend Alison Taffs at the Hop Inn Hornchurch. Her choice this time was a light sparkling cider from Sweden. This Brannland cider was an absolute delight and is made from 100% swedish apples. Firstly on the nose you get the delightful aromas of apple , citrus and a touch of peach
So as we have received the news that things will be getting closer to normality I think it’s time for me to say a massive thank you to my hometown of Hornchurch for keeping us all going during these tough times.
If your normally a fan of Prosecco and Sparkling Wine either Brut or Rose then let me introduce you to a stunning alternative. What we have hear is an 2017 English Sparkling Rose Cider from the Gospel Green Cyder Company based in Blackmoor , Hampshire. Firstly let me say that I’m generally not a huge fan of cider but nearly every time I talk to my good friend Alison at the Hop Inn she really raves about it. So last saturday when we popped in to see her we said that we’d like to give either the Brit or rose a try. After reading the description on the Gospel Green website and having our discussion with Alison which included the fact that we would be pairing with a seafood platter we opted for the rose.
After driving past this place hundreds of times last sunday we decided to finally pay a visit to Micky’s Seafood. This was due to the fact we were thinking about having a seafood platter for our upcoming anniversary. But when we popped in it was like watching two kids in a sweet shop. We first had a nice chat with Mick before looking at all the amazing produce and an instant decision was made about what we’d be having for lunch that day. The selection of fish and seafood on offer is stunning ranging from Swordfish , Tuna , Mackerel , Lobster , Crab , Prawns , Roll Mops , Mussels , Crayfish etc etc. We chose a fabulous selection then nipped next door to get some bread before heading home. The result I have to say was fabulous as everything was so fresh and tasted amazing.
Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce you to Dessert in a can as I bring you the Vanilla & Pecan Pie Stout from the Hammerton Brewery which I purchased from the Hop Inn micro pub in Hornchurch. Believe me when I tell you this is absolute heaven. Firstly the aromas of vanilla on the nose are a delight before the sweetness of the pecan pie dances merrily round your palate leaving you in dreamland
When I visited my good friend Alison at Hop Inn Hornchurch last week she introduced me to a beer with a difference. It was a Smoked Beer from Germany and when she was describing it to me it really grabbed my attention. So yesterday afternoon I decided to try it and the end result is that it was amazing. As soon as you open the bottle the chargrilled smoky aromas hit you straight away and they don’t stop there. As with every sip you take and yes I said sip as this is a beer not to be rushed the smoky flavours just dance around your palate. The amazing smokiness is created by using malt , hops & burning beech wood logs and the result is a sensational soft smoky delight.
This was another great food & wine pairing to add to my collection. On sunday we decided to have a homemade Chilli so was therefore looking for a nice wine that was easy to drink and have enough body to hold itself against the spiciness of the dish. The wine we chose was a 2017 White Burgundy from the Wine Society which is made from 100% Chardonnay. It was a medium bodied wine with flavours of Apple , Pear & Citrus with a smooth finish on the palate. I’m glad to say it was indeed a delightful match
During the times that we’re in at the moment it’s always good to support local businesses and we were fortunate enough to continue this on saturday. Trying to think of something different to do we noticed that Casa Mia were offering a Takeaway Afternoon Tea for two people at £19.50 which we thought would be a nice idea especially as it was a glorious sunny day. So on the Thursday I placed my order and all you had to do was pick your sandwich selections and what bread you would like. It came to saturday afternoon where I made the 10 minute walk to pick it up.
This is my local Fish & Chip shop in Hornchurch and on saturday we thought it was about time we visited them again. This also finally gave us the chance to put the theory to the test that champagne is the best drink pairing. So in the morning the Laurent Perrier Brut went into the fridge and we chilled out at home waiting for lunchtime to come around. We then took the 10 minute walk to get our Fish & Chips. We received a friendly welcome from the staff and the placed our order. I ordered the Large Cod & my wife went for the Wing of Skate.
So with the current situation still going on it’s making this task even harder now. But I’ve still been able to come up with a few delights for you thanks to my local patisserie , home baking and a nearby coffee shop. Looking forward to getting back to normal soon but in the meantime I hope you enjoy these for now
