Monday 9 May 2016

Stoke Lodge Hotel Fish Night

Platter of starters before...
 STOKE LODGE FISH NIGHT

We were lucky enough to enjoy a delicious Seafood Supper at Stoke Lodge on Thursday 5th May.

We'd heard it was good and wanted to try it for ourselves, and have to say that we weren't disappointed!

There was a great atmosphere in the dining room - a 'special' party was going on at the next table - as we joined our friends and relaxed with freshly baked bread rolls and butter accompanied by crisp chilled white wine, which got us nicely in the mood for our starter. 





...and after!


Within a few minutes, a tempting platter of seafood to share appeared - bearing scallops baked in shell with white wine, breadcrumbs & wild garlic butter, hot king prawns with chilli ginger and garlic, and smoked mackerel, trout & salmon - all served on a bed of cucumber salad and accompanied by home-made Marie Rose sauce.



All of it was lovely, hence none of it lasted long with us around...



Ooops - sorry, we forgot...
Next came the Main Event, which I am ashamed to say we got so carried away with that we forgot to take a picture before we started gorging ourselves silly on it!  The photo says it all, I guess...

Anyway, we were presented with a steaming bowl of mussels in Devon cider, leeks & cream, and another platter - this time containing char-grilled whole mackerel on Panzanella salad, crispy goujons of plaice, and pan fried sea bass with salsa verde.

All these fishy delights were just as tasty as they looked - and served with a bowl of piping hot skinny fries and washed down with more of aforementioned chilled white wine we all agreed our meal was nothing short of perfection!




Photo before temptation got too great...




Finally, just when we thought we couldn't manage another morsel, in came yet another platter - this time with a stunning array of desserts. 

I'm not really a dessert sort of person normally but one spoonful of the gorgeous lemon posset (my favourite) served with shortbread biscuits and a chocolate tuile and I was a convert...


... and five minutes later


I'm ashamed to say that I then went on to try the chocolate cheesecake, lemon tart, chocolate brownie with fudge sauce and mango sorbet - but it's not as bad as it sounds, honestly.
  
That was what was so nice about having the sharing platters - you could have lots of lovely tastes of everything without feeling sinful or guilty (well not TOO much, anyway...)



And ten minutes later. You had to be there...


All in all it was a thoroughly enjoyable evening. 

We have to say a big thank you to all the lovely people at Stoke Lodge, we'll definitely be there for the next Fish Night - and we'll be telling all our friends...!


Guest Blogger Val Depledge