Review: Finding Iggy & Friends At Las Iguanas, Cardiff Bay

I have to confess I haven't eaten at Las Iguanas for years and was a bit unsure what to expect.  Back in the 90's (!) I remember lots of guacamole and refried beans.  Plus, there was now the additional challenge of two decidedly fussy eaters to consider.

It's July so obviously we have an umbrella & this is Ieuan's "feed me now" face

Lured by the promise of one of the new limited edition collectibles from Aardman Studios, Iggy & Friends and the fact that kids eat free this summer when the adults choose a main course from the A La Carte Menu, we decided to try something other than pizza for a change.

No that is not a strawberry milkshake Ieuan

Las Iguanas in Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay, is set on the corner of a run of restaurants and commands a great view over the bay and the crowds milling to and fro.  It is bright, airy and decorated in a kind of Brazilian feel with lots of wood and warm colours.

The restaurant was already full of lots of families with young children

When we arrived on a Saturday lunchtime, the place was already buzzing and we were given a great table right by one of the floor to ceiling windows.

There is certainly plenty of choice.  In fact there is so much choice, it took us a good while to decide what to have. Luckily our server, Kasia, was friendly and patient, particularly when explaining to Ieuan that the cocktail he'd spotted with fresh watermelon in the glass was alcoholic and not served to 8 year olds.

I always think that kids menus can be a little unimaginative and our two are at the difficult age when, at 9 and 8, their appetites don't always match the portion size of either the adult portion or the child's. You are then faced with either ordering an extra side or an adult pudding to compensate.  

No such problems at Las Iguanas.  The 'Ninos Meal' costs £5.90 and includes a main course, dessert and a drink.  

The children's menu

The kids' menu has a number of vegetarian and one gluten free option (the Wacky Tacos) and in among the usual children's favourites there are a fair few 'different' choices - for example they can have a 'Crazy Quesadilla' which is a tortilla, folded, chargrilled and filled with a choice of cheese and cherry tomatoes, chicken and cheese or garlicky chilli, thyme mayonnaise and melted cheese, served with corn chips.

Although there is a lunch menu served until 6:30 pm each day featuring smaller versions of some of the A La Carte dishes, the Husband and I opted to eat off the main menu to take advantage of the kids eat free offer.

There is LOADS of choice - and at various levels of spiciness.

We had some Peruvian Botija Olives (in a herby marinade) whilst we made our selection.

Whether you want a Taco Plank (tortillas served with various toppings), a selection of Tapas, steak or chicken from the grill, burgers, Mexican classics, Brazilian dishes or salads, there really is something for everyone.

Just some of the wide range of menu options

In fact, I'd say Las Iguanas is not really a restaurant you can fully experience in one sitting.  The Husband is already planning to return to try the Tapas.

I chose Blazing Bird (£13.50), half a succulent spicy chicken kept nicely moist by a tangy barbecue sauce, served with my choice of curly fries and a creamy slaw.

Blazing Bird

The Husband had fajitas with marinated steak strips (£17.50), freshly cooked to order in a mix of spices, onions and peppers.  It came sizzling with guacamole, grated cheese, soured cream, jalapenos, roasted tomato salsa and wheat tortillas.

The steak was lovely and tender and nicely complemented by the selection of spicy accompaniments. The four tortillas made it a very generous portion.

Steak Fajitas

Caitlin chose Cod Bites - battered cod chunks with a creamy mayonnaise dip and fries, whilst Ieuan is going through a 'cheeseburger phase' and opted for the beef burger in a toasted buttery brioche bun, topped with melted cheese and served with fries and a ketchup dip. The portion sizes were certainly generous for our two.

t's safe to say the kids enjoyed themselves

The Husband finished his meal with coffee but I tried the Maracuya Mess (£5.00), layers of passion fruit mousse, berry compote and crushed meringue.  The kids opted for a Strawberry mini milk ice lolly and Raspberry Jelly.   Just enough after all we'd just consumed.

The kids were introduced to Iggy and Friends designed by Aardman Studios. Iggy, is Las Iguanas' mascot and he and his Latin pals; Tumble the Tapir, Banana the Llama, Mick the Jaguar, Mischief the Monkey and Santiago the Sloth, were all named by diners in a recent competition. They have now come to life as 3D collectibles, each with an unmistakably ‘Aardman’ expression.

Collect Iggy & Friends

There are six toys to collect and younger visitors (suitable for the over 3s) will be able to choose one character each time they enjoy a meal from the Iggy & Friends menu from 22nd July while stocks last.

And don't forget that kids eat free if the adults choose from the A La Carte Menu.

We really enjoyed our meal and are looking forward to returning.  I've never seen Ieuan clear his plate so quickly.  

More information:  www.lasiguanas.co.uk.  Book online or for the Mermaid Quay branch

tel: 02920459165.  Email mermaidquay@iguanas.co.uk.

*We were invited to try the new kids menus by Las Iguanas.  All thoughts and experiences are, as usual, uniquely ours.

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Reinventing Family Favourites With Branston Pickles & Sauces

Most of us know the name Branston and the saying "Bring Out The Branston".  The original Branston Pickle was always on our table to liven up ploughman's lunches and sandwiches.  My dad was a particular fan and in fact, his pet name for me was Pickle - which may, or may not be linked.

Branston Pickle was first made by Crosse & Blackwell in 1922 and is named after the small village near Burton in Staffordshire. Over 17 million jars of pickle are sold every year and the range now includes relishes and table sauces.

But did you know that you can use Branston products to liven up a whole range of dishes, including family favourites such as lasagne or beef stew with dumplings?

There is a great selection of Branston products to choose from such as the new Branston Sweet Chilli Pickle, Spicy Tomato Relish, Caramelised Onion Chutney, Orchard Fruit Chutney and Tomato & Red Pepper Relish.

You can use these to jazz up your leftovers - for example, you could use up leftover cheese in a Cheese, Spinach & Caramelised Onion Chutney Quiche or how about some Mediterranean Bubble & Squeak Cakes - a great way to use up leftover potato and veg.

Branston's website has a comprehensive range of recipes to try, including five created by Andy Bates, the star of Food Network’s Street Feasts which are tasty takes on the hot sandwich. Andy, who is known for his modern twists on classic dishes, fuelled by his international travels and passion for street food, has created a recipe to complement each flavour in the Branston Relish range.

How about Cider & Fennel Braised Pulled Pork, Mango Salsa Roll with Branston Sweet & Spicy Brazilian Relish or Mushroom & Grilled Cheese ‘Burger’ Muffin With Branston Caramelised Red Onion Relish?

It's a very long way from the humble Ploughman's!

If you would like to try Branston's recipes for yourself, you'll find them at www.bringoutthebranston.co.uk.

We tried Sticky Pork Chops but substituted the Branston Orchard Chutney for the Branston Sweet Chilli Chutney.

Simply make a marinade with 4 generous tablespoons of Branston.

Coat the chops with the marinade and chill for 30 minutes.

The Marinade at work

Then whack in the oven for half an hour while you prepare some rice with the broccoli and courgette.

The tomatoes are added to the chops about 10 minutes before serving.

The result was pork chops with quite a kick and the added veg are great for the kids.

You're sure to find a way to add some extra taste to your meals with the Branston range.

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Win A Hamper of Garofalo Gluten Free Pasta - 4 To Give Away!

Like many busy parents, we find pasta is a family staple for quick and nutritious meals.  The kids will happily eat it and it's quick to prepare after a long day.

Incredibly versatile, it's just as good in a summer pasta salad as it is in the traditional Italian pasta dishes.  I'm sure Spaghetti Bolognese is a staple meal in houses up and down the UK!

Recently there has been a lot of press about going Gluten free.  Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and other grains.  It gives elasticity to dough and often gives the final product a chewy texture.

Unfortunately, not everybody can tolerate gluten and it can cause side effects ranging from the mild, for those who are gluten-intolerant to more serious in the case of those with Coeliac Disease.

Coeliac Disease is a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.

For suffers, eating gluten can trigger a range of symptoms from bloating and abdominal pain, to weight loss and feeling constantly tired because they are not receiving sufficient nutrients from their food.

A gluten free diet is the obvious solution.

As you might imagine, living without pasta is not an option for many and particularly for Italians. This is why Garofalo has their gluten free pasta range, only launching with a product and shapes that met the high standard of Italians following a gluten free diet.

Garofalo also considered it equally important to produce a healthy product, which in the end might even be better than normal pasta!

They have used corn flour, rice flour and quinoa and shaped the pasta through a traditional bronze die for texture.

Since many on a gluten free diet struggle to consume enough fibre, Garofalo's gluten free pasta contains 7g of fibre per 100g.

The super food quinoa adds even more nutrients to Garofalo’s gluten free pasta; it contains fibre and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc. It is also an excellent source of vegetable protein and obviously gluten free.

Garofalo sent me a selection of their gluten free pasta to try and we opted for the linguine which the Husband whipped up in to his Bacon and Parmesan Carbonara in about 15 minutes flat.

We did not notice any difference in taste from 'normal' pasta although there is a slightly different texture so as a gluten free option this is great.

You could happily serve this without anyone suspecting a thing, which is always useful when you have picky eaters in the family and don't want the faff of having to prepare two separate batches of pasta!

If you'd like to try Garofalo's Gluten Free Pasta for yourself, I have 4 hampers to give away, each containing 6 packs of their gluten free pasta.

You can also buy the product from Ocado, Amazon or Gustalia.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  Terms and conditions apply and UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday 30th June 2016.

Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Miniscoff - Great Organic Ready Meals For Kids aged 1-8+ & Giveway

When I weaned my kids it involved endless hours wrestling with a food processor, fruit and an selection of implausibly small freezer pots. I was a devotee of Annabel Karmel and would blend combinations of fish and spinach or mix up fruit purees to get as much goodness into the kids as possible.

Nowadays, as readers of this blog know, my cooking is a little more, er hit and miss and there are times, particularly when the Husband is away on business, that I'd love to give the kids a proper hot meal with real family favourites.

The reality is that we dash home from school, dash straight out again and then come home to reheat a pizza or when time is really short to yet another round of sandwiches.

I always mean to get something out the freezer and cook something up in the slow cooker in the morning, but now I write full time (and am hopeless at getting side-tracked), I usually remember after lunch that tea is looming.

The kids are too big for baby ready meals and too small for adult ready meals which, being generally stuffed with too much sugar, salt and other additives are often a poor choice anyway.  Ieuan is still resisting baked potatoes, although he will deign to eat roasties so I was happy to find that there is a range of ready meals for kids which cater up to 8+.

Miniscoff is a children's organic food brand founded by Angus Oliphant, who, as a working dad discovered that trying to cook meals from scratch was challenging and that healthy prepared meals suitable for kids were hard to find. He decided to create his own range of organic ready meals for parents that didn’t want convenience to mean compromise.

Ieuan weighing up the Miniscoff Organic Sauces

All Miniscoff dishes are certified organic and made by hand and the brand has recently received awards from Prima Baby & Pregnancy as Best Toddler Food Range and Best Children’s Food Brand from Junior Design Awards.

Miniscof meals are available from Ocado as well as the Miniscoff website and are also available on over 300 menus across the UK if you're travelling.

The meals include 9 organic ready meals and 4 organic sauces:-

The Ready Meals

Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie (lamb) (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

Mr MacGregor's Pie (beef) (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

Curly Wurly Chicken (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie (GM & Egg Free)

Salmon Ocean Pie (GM & Egg Free)

Jolly Spag Bolly (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Planet Spaghetti (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Chilli Yum Yum (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

Creamy Salmon Pasta (GM & Egg Free)

The Organic Sauces

Chicken & Bacon (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

Bolognese (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

West Country Cheddar (GM & Egg Free) 

Cheese & Tomato (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

We were sent a selection of Miniscoff meals to try and we tried Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie, Curly Wurly Chicken and Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie.

Caitlin tries Miniscoff Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie

Initially I wasn't too convinced about the portion size but they were just right for my two.  You may want to add a side dish or two of extra vegetables if you have time to bulk the meals out.

We did find that, particularly with the Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie, the omission of seasoning was noticeable, although only to be expected and that a pinch of salt and pepper improved the dish greatly. My kids are 8 and nearly 7 though so you would not want to do that for younger children.

The pasta dishes we tried, (the Curly Wurly Chicken and Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie) were preferred by my two who adore pasta and they both said the sauce had more flavour.

I found all three dishes to be tasty and with a natural flavour.  You can tell that there are no artificial additives in the dishes.

In fact, Ieuan actually cleared his plate which is practically unheard of in the Hobbis household.

Miniscoff have set themselves a challenge by coming up with organic ready meals for such a comparatively large age range (1 - 8+) but I think they have succeeded. I will be trying the organic sauces during the week and they will be ideal for a quick half-term holiday lunch.

I did find that microwaving two meals together required extra time for the Shepherd's Pie but that is standard with microwaved foods.

As an option I think that the Miniscoff meals give you a hassle free choice of menu options to serve up without having to rely on pizza and fish fingers.

I don't know about you but when the kids are off I find I really have to scratch my head to come up with lunch and dinner options that find favour!

You can find more about Miniscoff on their website, on Facebook or Twitter.  The ready meals retail at £3.50 and the sauces at £3.00.

Giveaway

If you fancy trying Miniscoff organic ready meals, I have a lovely hamper of 6 assorted ready meals and 3 organic sauces for one lucky winner.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter in the usual manner.  Terms and conditions apply.  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 17th June 2016.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

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Win Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - Honey Bee & Love Bug Have Arrived For Valentine's Day

Unless you've been living in the Artic tundra knitting your own igloo, I'm sure you have come across the delectable sweet treat - the Krispy Kreme Doughnut.

Actually, the first time I heard about them was when they were mentioned by Miranda in Sex & The City.  But I digress.  As usual.

Now there are Krispy Kreme stores popping up all over the UK, including my hometown of Cardiff and doughnuts are made fresh and delivered each day using the special yeast-raised doughnut recipe which came from a New Orleans French chef back in 1937.

There are 15 varieties of doughnut to choose from (as well as coffee and milkshakes served in their stores) and two of these have arrived just in time for Valentine's Day.

Krispy Kreme Honey Bee

Honey Bee  - filled with a smooth chocolate and hand-dipped in vanilla icing.

Krispy Kreme Love Bug

Love Bug - filled with with Strawberry mousse and hand-dipped in raspberry icing.

You can buy these separately or a part of your favourite Krispy Kreme Dozen - and either in store or online.  Honey Bee and Love Bug are ideal treats for Valentine's Day and can be ordered now online for collection in store on the 13th or 14th February.

Bugs & Bees

We loved the smooth chocolate filling in Honey Bee and the soft strawberry mousse in the Love Bug. and found them to be a real indulgent treat.  The Husband prefers crisps and nuts so there is one Love Bug just waiting to spend some time with me tomorrow. (Hurrah).

They offer a completely different taste from the more traditional doughnut - much lighter - although I suspect that sadly doesn't apply to the calorie content. But who can quibble over something like that when faced with doughnuts named Reese's Peanut Butter (my weakness!), Lotus Caramelised Biscoff or Triple Chocolate Cake? 

Ieuan testing the Honey Bee

Caitlin testing the Love Bug

I have TWO Krispy Kreme giftcards to give away to ONE winner - each card entitles the owner to either one doughnut per month for a year or one dozen doughnuts to take away on the spot.  

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 19th February. UK entrants only.  Terms and conditions apply.  Please note that this giveaway ends after Valentine's Day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like this giveaway?  Please share with your friends by clicking on the social media icons below this post. Thank you!

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Review: December Degustabox - A Box Full of Foodie Treats

As you might remember from my last post, Degustabox is a monthly subscription food box service with each box containing between 9 and 14 products from well known and / or up-and-coming brands.

It's a fun way to discover new brands and to try food and drink products you may not otherwise discover or add to your supermarket trolley.  We all tend to buy the same things week in, week out, don't we?

 So what was in the December box?

The contents of the January Degustabox

Each box costs £12.99 including delivery and the value of the box contents is promised to be far greater than this, based on what you would expect to pay if you bought the items in the shops.

Once you have received your box, you are encouraged to review the products and let the brands know what you thought - whether you liked the item or not.

The December box contained, as per the previous boxes, a lovely mix of sweet and savoury treats. There is a selected list of products for each month published on the website but not everyone receives the same combination. The element of surprise adds to the fun.

Once again, there was a mixture of brands I already knew but quite a few I'd heard of but not got round to trying - which is really the point of Degustabox.

There were 10 products from January's selection and 1 from a selection which Degustabox call their "Db's Discoveries".

Degustabox's products of the month are Barilla Mediterranean Vegetables Sauce (£2.00) and Barilla Whole-Wheat Fusilli (£1.50).

Barilla Mediterranean Vegetable Sauce & Whole Wheat Fusilli

The theme of this month's box is "Healthy New Year" and these two items form a mainstay in lots of healthy tea-time suppers.  Pasta is so easy to feed to children.  Even Ieuan eats it!  Whole wheat is much better for us than white too, with one serving giving you 20% of your daily fibre needs.

Hip Pops Soya & Potato Snacks (£1.00 x 2)

Healthier than fried or baked snacks, these contain 50% less fat than standard potato crisps. They come in 6 flavours, 4 of which are gluten free.  The product contains less than 11% fat and is low in saturates.  I received the Barbecue and the Salt & Vinegar flavours. Hip Pops contain around 99 calories per 25g serving.

Hip Pops Soya & Potato Snacks

Betavivo Oat Cereal (£1.00 x 2)

Betavivo Oat Cereal

Betavivo is a crispy oat heart cereal which is proven to lower your cholesterol and blood glucose. One daily serving provides the 3g of beta-glucan from oats needed to reduce your blood cholesterol as well as helping to reduce the amount of blood glucose your body produces.

Nothing But Freeze Dried Fruit Slice Snacks (£1.69 x 2)

Nothing But Freeze Dried Fruit Slice Snacks

Nothing But is a healthy freeze dried fruit and vegetable snack with under 80 calories per bag.  Each packet also counts as 1 of your 5-a-day.  I had the yummy Pineapple & Grape and Strawberry & Banana varieties.

Fabulous Bakers Mango & Pineapple Bars (£1.80)

Fabulous Bakers Mango & Pineapple Bars

We are already big fans of Fabulous Bakers.  These snack bars are made with all natural ingredients and contain no 'nasties' or added sugar.  They are made with real fruit, slow release energy oats and are also high in fibre.

Koko Dairy Free Milk Alternative (£1.79)

Koko Dairy Free Original Milk Alternative

This is a unique alternative to cow's milk as it's made with freshly pressed coconut milk.  It contains fewer calories than skimmed milk, has 0% cholesterol and is 100% allergen free.  It tastes remarkably like cow's milk on breakfast cereals and doesn't curdle in your tea or coffee.

Crabbies Light (£1.49) & Red Square Toffee Mini Vodka (£1.99)

Crabbies Alcoholic Light Ginger Beer & Red Square Toffee Mini Vodka

Now I'm not entirely sure these two can be classed as 'healthy', especially given the new alcohol guidelines which cheerful state that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.  But, on the basis that a little of what you fancy must still surely do you some good, I'm prepare to suspend any disbelief.

Crabbies Alcoholic Light Ginger Beer has half the ginger of the original for a lighter taste and 2.8% vol per 330ml of the beverage.

Red Square Toffee Vodka is made with 7 times distilled and 100% pure vodka and Degustabox have helpfully given a recipe for a pick-me-up cocktail on the reverse of their information leaflet.  To make a "Crabbie's Toffee Mule", simply combine 25ml of Red Square Toffee with 330ml of Crabbies and add some ice.  Simples.

Complete Energy (£1.99), Drink Me Chai (free gift) & Happy Monkey Smoothies (£1.00)

Complete Energy, Drink Me Chai & Happy Monkey Smoothie

Complete Energy Bites (£1.99)

These are low calorie chocolates infused with caffeine.  In fact, 1 bite is the equivalent of a large premium coffee.  They provide an instant energy boost to help improve your alertness, endurance and physical energy.  The Husband has tried them as an energy boost on an early morning sprint from Cardiff to London and says they certainly do the trick.  Just be careful not to take too many - it is caffeine after all, and there's an advisory note on the box.

Happy Monkey Smoothies (£1.00) - DB Discovery

These smoothies have no added bits and give children 1 of their 5-a-day.  They come in 3 flavours, Strawberry & Banana, Orange & Mango and Apple & Blackcurrant.  They are made from 100% pure fruit and are free from sweeteners and preservatives.  They come in boxes of four and are ideal for lunchboxes.

Drink Me Chai (free gift)

Chai seems to be growing in popularity but I must confess I'm not a particular fan.  This one is spiced with a hint of clove and has only 42 calories per cup.  It's available to buy in Waitrose, Sainsbury and Ocado.

The total retail value of the box is £19.94, good value given the cost of the box was £12.99. If you like the excitement of a monthly present and enjoy trying out new brands, I think Degustabox is a great scheme. I'd place it firmly in the 'treat' category but the price is low enough to make it attractive. A Degustabox subscription would also make a great gift. You can cancel at any time, as long as you give them sufficient notice to stop next month's box.

Please note, though that Degustabox can only deliver to Mainland UK and not to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands and you must be over 18 to order.

I also have a discount code for first time subscribers for a very generous £6 off your first box. Simply enter BLDEG15 at checkout.

Further information is available at the Degustabox UK website, or you can talk to them on Facebook or on Twitter.

Thanks for reading Mother Distracted. I really appreciate your support and I'd love it if you could share this post across social media. If you’re new to Mother Distracted, why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

 *PR Samples were received for this post

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Snack-time Treats With The Fabulous Bakers

The Fabulous Bakers from Oxfordshire have just reformulated their cakes, muffins, flapjacks and bars using natural ingredients with no artificial additives.  So, I duly recruited my crack panel of taste testers (oh alright, the kids) to give them a whirl.

Individually packaged and ideal for popping in lunchboxes and serving up as elevenses treats, we tried the Double Chocolate Mini Muffins, the Fabulous Bars of Berry Good Things and the Fabulous Mango & Pineapple Bars.

The Double Chocolate Mini Muffins have a lovely gooey chocolate ganache centre and like the rest of the range are suitable for vegetarians.  Each muffin contains around 123 calories.  They are, however, very moreish.  The 8 x multipack of mini muffins retails at £1.50.

The Berry Bars and Mango and Pineapple Bars are part of The Fabulous Bakers new range of oaty cereal bars (there is also a Banana Brunch Bar).  There are also popcorn bars in "Raspberry & White Chocolatey" and "Apricot, Almond & White Chocolatey". Cupcakes and flapjacks complete the completely reformulated range. A 4 pack of the Bars retails at £1.79.  The Fabulous Bakers products are available at Asda, Ocado and, shortly, Sainsburys.

True to their word, The Fabulous Bakers' products taste natural and not synthetic or overly sugared. We found they made a great change from our usual biscuits.  I'll also be popping a couple of muffins into Ieuan's lunchbox for his school trip to Barry Island (or Barrybados as we know it locally).  Is there anything more exciting to a kid than a packed lunch?!

And I like The Fabulous Bakers' philosophy of #Fabulous World Actions which you can read about at thefabulousbakers.com. For example they support Inner-City Bee Habitats and have a "Reduce, Cycle, Recycle Initiative".  The box the muffins came in was made of 70% recycled cardboard.

You can learn more about The Fabulous Bakers at facebook.com/fabbakers or on Twitter @fabbakers.

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Lunch at one of Wales' Best Thatched Inns - The Bush Inn, St. Hilary

The lovely 17th century thatched Welsh country inn, The Bush Inn at St. Hilary, has long been a favourite destination for a quiet lunch for Mathew and I.

The Bush Inn, St. Hilary (photo from website)

Some months ago, we were surprised to be watching the wonderful Sherlock: Hound of the Baskervilles with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, only to spot The Bush Inn as the location for one of Conan Doyles most cunning who (or in this case what) dunnit.

Source;  The Bush Inn Website:  The owners with Benedict Cumberbatch & Martin Freeman

The last we had heard of the Inn prior to this was that the place had been unfortunately destroyed by fire and so, hoping that the place had been lovingly restored (as would seem to be the case from Sherlock on TV), we bribed the grandparents to have the kids and sneaked off for a leisurely lunch.

Outside The Bush Inn, St. Hilary

Coincidentally, we chose the same afternoon as the local Rolls Royce Enthusiasts Club and the car park was lined with the most regal of vintage vehicles.

I have added some photos later on and the husband refused to let me see if I could trade in our car for something closer to automobile royalty.

I am happy to report that the Bush Inn is indeed fully restored to its former splendour and offers a quiet haven somewhere towards the popular market town of Cowbridge.

Although sunny, the church at St. Hilary was shaded and dark, almost as if the Hound were lurking somewhere about.

The Church at St. Hilary

The Inn is not really the place for noisy, rumbustious children and it would not be our first choice as a destination for a family meal with young children in tow.

No,  the Bush Inn suits escapees from daily drudgery and those who want a break from the endless chain restaurants which seem to be taking over our city centres.

Entrance to The Bush Inn - a warm welcome awaits

Inside can be found the roaring fire, and the cosy nooks we remembered from years ago.

The lunch menu is quite simple.

The Inn now specialises in pies and Wellingtons, with a varied and more inspired vegetarian (and gluten free) menu than is usually the case.

There are also the usual burgers and sandwiches on the menu.

Never able to resist a pie with a puff pastry crust, I chose the Fisherman's Pie with cod, prawns and leeks and the husband chose the Steak Pie with Guinness and Stilton.

Both arrived piping hot with a lovely crisp puff pastry 'lid' and a generous portion of chips and vegetables (cabbage, carrots, broccoli and courgettes).

The vegetables were nicely al dente.

Fisherman's Pie

Steak Pie

Not necessarily the perfect combination with a fish pie but my glass of Malbec Los Haroldos (Mendoza, Argentina) was smooth and aromatic.

It is immensely cheering to see how many local pubs now offer decent red wine!

An aromatic Malbec

Give a man a pie and he's happy

For dessert I chose a rosewater creme brulee with homemade shortbread biscuit and the husband had a salted caramel chocolate pot.

Both were excellent with the rosewater adding a fragrant sweetness to the brulee.

I'm afraid the chocolate pot was emptied before I could get my spoon anywhere near it.

Rosewater Creme Brulee

Salted Caramel Chocolate Pot

Decent coffees followed and a chance to relax and watch the crackling logs of the real wood fire burning happily away.

There is nothing like a real fire - not something we'd be comfortable having at home until the kids are much older.

The bill was around the £50 for both of us which compares very favourably to eating out in the centre of Cardiff or in Cardiff Bay.

Then it was out into the sunshine to admire the beautiful vintage rollers and to remember times when we would have been able to linger a little longer before heading back to Dinas.

Perhaps next time we may be lucky enough to bump into the Sherlock film crew.

Rather them than the Hound of the Baskervilles, that's for sure.

And while I'm waiting patiently for the promised Christmas Sherlock special, I have contented myself by writing my own homage to the great detective here.

If you are looking for a place to eat that combines tranquillity, an atmospheric pub and good food, the Bush Inn at St. Hilary is heartily recommended.

Further information can be found at the website - www.bushinn-sthilary.com and on Twitter @bushinnsthilary. This is a completely independent review.

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