Monday 25 April 2011

The Fox Bar & Bistro, Ripponden

On Good Friday we arranged a church walk around a local reservoir in Rishworth. It was a very pretty walk, and much appreciated by all who came along.

Afetr the walk, as is our usual plan, we planned to convene on a suitable eatery. Using an amzingly useful app on my phone, we had sussed out the local options a few days before and decided to give the Fox Bar& Bistro a try (rather bold, not having eaten there before and taking a group of around 20 people).

The choice proved most worthy, as they looked after us very well. I phoned ahead, as we started to walk, to let them know how many would be turning up an hour or so later and, without asking, they had sorted a long table for us to all sit together in one side of the restaurant.

The food was very reasonably priced, with the special lunchtime offer of two meals for £15.00 (from the bar meals or pasta dishes) and the quality was extremely commendable. One couple in the group were from a catering/hotel background and they were very impressed!

I cannot omit to mention the Tuscan lasagne, which I had, as the combination of pasta layered with ham an egg was a rather unusual twist on a traditional bar meal and still lingers very favourably in my memories. One to try again, I suspect.

Coming back to the matter in question, the coffee....

It was a very hot and sunny day and, following the meal, as people started to drift away, we sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed a cappuccino al fresco (the best way to enjoy a cappuccino). As you can see, the presentation was a little on the "messy" side, but gave opportunity to lick chocolate powder off fingers. The temperature was little on the cool side, but the coffee had a very nice taste, was just the right strength for me, and had the perfect balance of froth to liquid.

Overall, temperature aside, a very enjoyable cappuccino, enjoyed outside on a sunny day, at a very recommendable establishment. Top marks from me.

Photo taken on Sony Ericsson Xperia X10

Monday 11 April 2011

Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire

A recent visit to stay with friends led us to go for a walk around the Stanwick Lakes country park in the Nene valley, Northamptonshire.

The park is very family-oriented, with a playground (the likes of which I wish they'd had when I was young!) and excellent vistor centre. There are some lovely walks to be had around the lakes, and plenty of birds to spot. There is an adventure trail, and some great rope bridges, rope slide, etc. to have some fun on.

Coming back to the visitor centre, there is a gift shop and cafe, with a balcony overlooking one of the lakes. This is one of the nicest places I have ever had the pleasure of sitting to enjoy a cappuccino and, I must add, a very nice cappuccino it was, too.

Not too big, nicely presented, just the right amount of froth (enough to be able to "eat" some of it with the spoon) and just the right strength. In the said location, with an almost perfect cappuccino, in the company of my beloved, on a glorious sunny Spring day, with not many people about (midweek), what more could a man ask for?

Here are some snaps to give you an idea of how nice it was...



Photos taken on Canon EOS 5D mk2 with 24-105L lens