Tuesday 5 June 2007

2nd - 4th June 2007. Five Go Mad In Padstow !



Neither Lynda or I need much of an excuse to eat and drink well, but we're always grateful when a genuine reason comes our way. Padstow in Cornwall, in particular Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant had been kicking around as a suggestion for a trip for at least the last twelve months. Rowena and Rollie - our long standing very close friends and neighbours - had originally suggested a weekend visit there as a good idea for them, us and Elaine - another very close and old friend. Diaries clashed for a large part of 2006 and so we thought a long-range booking, which coincided with Rowena's birthday (I'm sure she was 38 last year?!) would be best. A great excuse, a great suggestion. Amazing though how quickly it came around.


R&R arrived at our place bright and early'ish on the Saturday morning in their 4WD, into which we slung our bags, Elaine and yet more drink, then hit the road heading South West. We'd got a rough idea of what we wanted to do during the weekend but we took advantage of the first part of the five hour trip to sort out the detail. The weather forecast wasn't good for Cornwall, but despite that and the fact that the forecast for home was for high temperatures and endless sunshine, we were in extremely high spirits and only about ten minutes into the journey we'd decided on an itinerary and were laying into the enormous stash of sweeties we'd amassed between us.


After a couple of hours driving we broke up the journey briefly for a wee stop and then again a bit further on at Exeter Services for a spot of lunch, courtesy of M&S. Fully refreshed we cruised through the last leg of the journey into Padstow, and to the Cross House Hotel, home for the next two nights. Very nice place and people I have to say. The rooms are large and nicely furnished - well done Rowena for picking it out. Some seriously quick unpacking was followed by a stroll around Padstow. It's a lovely place, sitting very comfortably on the Camel Estuary. None of us had appreciated the extent of Mr Stein's influence on the town - an hotel, a restaurant, a cafe, a chip shop, a patisserie, a gift shop, a cookery school and a Deli all bear the Stein name and logo. Not that his empire in any way (from our point of view anyway) detracts from the town at all. In fact the various enterprises fit in aesthetically as well as any other in the town, and must also be like a magnet for visitors to Padstow, whose economy in turn must do very well thank you as a consequence.














After a short stroll we felt we really ought to try some of the local cider and so fell into the Golden Lion Inn for some Addlestone's - apparently locally brewed. The first pint goes to the head, the second straight to the legs which fortunately still managed to get us up the hill and back to the hotel. A buff up in the shower and then into R&R's room for a bottle of something fizzy and we were fit for anything.





Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant was no disappointment. It felt special as soon as we walked in; very simply but tastefully decorated with extremely polite, friendly and attentative staff. We were seated at a lovely large round table and we all licked our lips as we looked over the menu with the help of some very large gins & tonics. We made our choices and sat back and enjoyed a real gastronomic treat, washed down with some excellent wine. As we were pondering what to have for dessert a shocked Lynda's eyes widened, she pointed across the room and said 'There he is'. The man himself had just walked in, and fair play to him he walked the floor, chatted with the punters and posed for photos. He seemed to be a genuinely nice, modest and friendly bloke. His passion for food and cooking comes across in the quality of the restaurant and the attitude of his staff. He chatted about Chalky and narrow boats, posed with us for some pics and signed lots of autographs - thanks Rick, you made our night.
























Sunday - Rowena's birthday. Fantastic breakfast at the hotel and a rousing rendition of 'Happy Birthday' while Rowena opened her cards and presents. We resisted the urge to give her the bumps and instead we jumped in the car and drove through thick fog and many diversions to the Eden Project just outside St Austell. Great place; the concept, the plants and the architecture all combing to make a wonderful day out. Great pasties too - we had our first of the break there and they, together with the home-made chips and lemonade went down very, very well. Sadly Rowena refused point blank to have a ride on the zip line, much to our disappointment.






Back to Padstow for tea and birthday cake. Mmmmm, what a cake. Earlier in the week Rollie had scoured the kitchen and garage for ingredients and tools and put together the most marvelous chocolate cake. Another quick scrub-up, another bottle of fizz and then we hit the harbour. What started as 'a quick drink before finding a somewhere for a snack' ended up in a fairly drunken and very boisterous evening in the Harbour Inn, which involved loads of cider, Cornish Cream Stout, huge amounts of food, some locals, some tourists and the bar staff. Lynda had by this time discovered some hilarious uses for the sticker she'd got at the Eden Project, including sticking it to my arse, my back, my chest and just about anywhere I couldn't see it but everyone else could. Funny, funny girl. We eventually fell out of the pub and tottered into the harbour just as the ferry between Rock & Padstow had pulled in and was loading its few passengers. We sprinted (stumbled quite quickly more likely but it felt like sprinting) down the slipway, negotiated a reduced rate with the skipper as we only wanted to do the return trip and settled down to enjoy our one and only boat ride of the weekend. Rock was closed anyway by all accounts so we weren't at all disappointed to go straight back to Padstow. There's something quite eerie but exhilerating about being on a boat at night, especially a small and open one like the water taxi, but it was great fun and even Rollie who by his own admission gets seasick standing near a sink full of water, enjoyed the ride. Back at the harbour, a graceful leap off the front put us back on terra firma and we headed back to the hotel where in recognition of her efforts in organising the weekend I presented Rowena with a beautiful genuine plaster cast statue of some woman that just happened to be sitting on on the hall table.


The next morning despite being a bit tired and not too shiny after the previous night's entertainment we still managed to do justice to a full English and to spend a load of money in the Padstow shops. A few photos then a couple of heartfelt 'So long Padstow's. Back to the car weighed down with our souvenirs of shoes, pictures and pasties, we settled the bill and then set a course for home. We broke the trip up at Exeter once again (seeing the DB9 there was spooky) this time with a very scrummy Rick Stein pasty each. It was a great run back with even the M25 being kind to us. Paul McCartney on the radio and loads more sweets helped maintain our good humour, then home in time for tea.


A brilliant break thanks to our travelling companions. Many thanks to R&R and Elaine. Special mentions though have to be made to Rowena for the idea and organisation, Rollie for getting us there, around and back safely and comfortably, Lynda for most creative recycling of the Eden project entry sticker and Elaine for wetting herself on the journey down - it was only coffee, honest!