Saturday 17 December 2016

Out to lunch.

As regular readers of my blog posts will know, this is not unusual.   In fact there is rarely a week goes by when I don't go out to lunch at least once.

Today is the day for the farmer to shoot with his syndicate,   The damp, dark, foggy days have disappeared and today is bright, sunny, cold and frosty first thing this morning.  So, while the cat is away the mouse will play and friend W and I decided to go out for lunch.

W drove a few miles up the Dale to the village of Swinnithwaite and to Berry's Farm Shop and Restaurant.   Here we had a wholesome (and large!) plate of sausage, mash and peas.   It was delicious and we were full.   This did not stop us following it with a mince pie and coffee.   I have now come home feeling I don't want to eat anything else for at least a week. (we are going out for Christmas lunch tomorrow)|.


On our return journey, through Wensleydale bathed in Winter sunlight, we had to stop in order for the local Hunt to cross the road and ride off up the fields on the other side.

I am not a hunt supporter, neither is friend W, but I do love to see the spectacle of the Huntsmen in their red coats, riding their magnificent horses - and the hounds too (although by the time we got there the hounds were off out of sight over the top of the hill.

But the spectacle did round off a rather splendid couple of hours in the middle of the day.





20 comments:

Derek Faulkner said...

The Hunt of course, were not breaking the law and hunting foxes! Have you thought of starting a blog whereby you summarise local eateries, you must be some kind of expert, or perhaps another one "how to eat out most days and still stay slim".

Frances said...

I very much enjoyed seeing your misty phootographs taken "on the road," that you shared in your previous post. And the view of your decorated Christmas cake certainly made me envious of those who are lucky enough to have a slice.

The luncheon plate you begin this post with looks completely scrumptious! I would also have said yes to a mince pie!

Good that the weather cleared for all the outdoor activities being enjoyed by others. I don't think I would be a supporter of hunting either, but the picture you took is splendidly traditional.

Snowing here this morning...and extremely cold. Brrrrr. xo

Mac n' Janet said...

Oh I would have loved to have joined you for lunch. Riding to hounds is such a spectacle, if it didn't involve killing I'd be a supporter of it.

A Heron's View said...

I have to admit that I have spent many a glorious day following the Stag Hunt over the wilds of Exmoor and the Quantocks. In fact we kept a vehicle for doing just that with. Fox Hunting was okay too except that one really needed to ride to get the real experience. Whereas in following the Stag hunt we could see most of it from the lanes and rough tracks. Beagling after the Otters in Somerset too was another of our pastimes all of it done on foot and they the organisers were a most sociable and welcoming crowd of people too.
I really despise the anti-hunt louts.

mrsnesbitt said...

Sausage and mash - love it! The kind of meal we love after turkey, turkey and turkey.

Librarian said...

Bangers and mash... yummmm!! Wensleydale is so beautiful, and you had just the right weather for the drive.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

You can't beat a plate of bangers'n'mash on a cold day. It doesn't seem so many years ago when normal folks never went out for a meal unless it was a very special occasion.

Derek Faulkner said...

Chasing animals to death should never be a legal pursuit. Killing them with one shot from a rifle is perfectly acceptable. Can't see any acceptable reason for killing otters.

Joanne Noragon said...

The entire day was magnificent. Beautiful horses and good looking men never go amiss, but that lunch was the highlight.

Heather said...

The Beaufort Hunt used to hold their meets outside my husband's office years ago, and it was always a wonderful sight. But, like you, I am not really a supporter.
It is not time for us to eat again yet, but your plate of sausage and mash has made feel feel quite peckish. Glad you had a bright day for your girls' day out.

Rachel Phillips said...

I could eat one sausage only.

Tom Stephenson said...

Wht would you do with the other two?

Alphie Soup said...

What a plateful of bangers, mash and peas. You certainly do have a good appetite Weaver Pat.

Alphie

Cro Magnon said...

I've only hunted once; with the Old Surrey and Burstow. I gave up after about an hour as I didn't jump. I didn't bother again. Jimmy Edwards (remember him?) was a member of the hunt, and rode an enormous cart horse.

Rachel Phillips said...

Whacko! Bend over, Wendover.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Joanne. Not sure about how good looking the men were - wasn't near enough to see, but do agree!! (although expect that their eyes would be cast on somebody about forty or fifty years younger than me anyway!)
For the record - I ate every scrap - the sausage was far too good to leave. but it is now 8.16am the next morning and I have still not had any more to eat.
YES - I do remember Jimmy Edwards Cro - he would certainly need a cart horse to carry his weight around.
Thanks for calling in, everyone.

Gwil W said...


A wily fox will nearly always get away.
A lively hunt can be a noisy semi-drunken affair.
It's nearly all girls on those horses.

Anonymous said...

Simple food is often the best, eh? It looks delicious.

Terry and Linda said...

Once more I got to enjoy and see a true English lunch and English tradition.

Your comment came through this time. Thank you!

Linda

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