|
 FOOD
NEWS
August 2008
Our fresh Tomatoes, juicy, tasty and very red, are just coming into
season, grown from seed, they have come on beautifully in our Polytunnels.
This weekend we have picked the first and aren’t they the real thing, our
own little red beasties. For the next couple of months Hoops Inn
Tomatoes will be plumping out our Salads and Dressing Our Sandwiches.
Lettuce and Rocket Leaves are also in full season, and like our
Tomatoes really add a zingy freshness to our food.
The Herb gardens are also in full production with Fresh Basil, Thyme, Mint
and Rosemary. This year we have been a bit behind the eight ball with our
radishes, the first crop went so quickly, and we have had a long gap
waiting for the second crop, plenty of recent Sunshine has really helped.
Like our Gardens, Plants and Herbs our Menus have changed with the season,
mind you with the price of Fresh English (Devon) Meat and Fresh Fish
(Cornwall), they have had to change.
For Years we have sold an 8oz Fillet of Devon Beef at under £20.00, this
year it has crept up and up and up, hit £20.00 and has now finally
disappeared from our Bar and Specials Menu. Though is still appears as
‘Special Attraction’ in our Restaurant Menu at £25.00, not expensive by
London standards, but definitely not a ‘Devon Price’.
Fresh Wild Sea Bass, Line Caught (of course), comes into us daily
(if you see Sea Bass on a Menu, without the Magic Words, Wild and Line
Caught, you can bet it is Chemically Fed, Farmed Sea Bass. Our Wild Line
Caught Sea Bass, comes on a bed of Local (Cornish) Samphire , with
a Beurre Blance Sauce, the perfect fish dish. Mind you fresh Cornish
Sardines dipped in flour and quickly pan fried, served with Rock Salt and
Fresh Lemons are nearly as good, if somewhat cheaper.
Still messing about in Boats, we still serve Cod, (wild, not farmed),
straight from the stormy seas of the North Atlantic, with our own real
chips, homemade Tartare Sauce , Peas and Lemon, still an absolute bargain
at £10.20 (kids portion £4.95).
Eton Mess is back on our Summer Dessert Menu, Meringue, Fresh West
Country Cream, Strawberries and for this Summer, we have added Blueberries
for a crunchy texture.
Our Cheeseboard is up to its usual standards, but we have moved
from Wooden Boards to Scottish Grey Granite tiles, for a very modern
presentation. The Cheeses remain traditional with Charles Martells,
Stinking Bishop, Creamy Elmhirst from Sharpham Estates and Qyickes Matured
Devon Cheddar. Plus we have added a couple of Spanish favourites a superb
Manchego and a Fantastic Galician Blue, and at £7.95 is Tremendous don’t
forget we aren’t pretentious foodies at The Hoops Inn, we try and serve
honest, fresh, well cooked, local food.
|