HOT MEALS: Going veggie at the Vegetarian Cookery School

I've always been a good girl and eaten up all my vegetables.

It's a different story however for the boyfriend. Peas are OK, and beans. And maybe peppers, but not much else. Unless it's chopped up really, really small and it barely recognisable, then I might just get away with it.

So, even though neither of us are vegetarians I thought learning to cook some really good vegetarian dishes might just convince him that not all vegetables are evil.

And where better to learn than at the Vegetarian Cookery School in Bath which is run by the owner of the award-winning vegetarian restaurant Demuths, Rachel Demuth, along with other vegetarian cookery experts – many of them former chefs at Demuths.

The school offers a range of courses, both evening classes and full day courses, in all sorts of different styles of cookery, from meals that can be prepared in just 30 minutes, to pasta making, and masterclasses with visiting experts.

Having visited both Spain and Morocco in the past year, and fallen in love with the food there, the Spanish and Moroccan course seemed like the perfect choice.

Helping Rachel lead the class was Jo Ingleby, who was head chef at Demuths for three years and has also spent time living in Spain where she developed a real passion for the local cuisine.

I was excited to learn how to make some authentic tapas dishes, and a fragrant Moroccan tagine that would hopefully show how delicious fresh, seasonal vegetables can taste, and convert the boyfriend.

I wasn't disappointed. What we managed to squeeze into six hours was amazing.

At no point did I feel rushed or pressured, and there was even time for Jo to show us some knife skills so now I can chop away like the best of the television chefs!

Salmorejo and Moorish bread stick

Harissa - made from plenty of fresh chillies

Broad bean and pumpkin seed bissara

Somehow, we managed to make almendras con sal picante (spiced almonds), salmorejo (gazpacho style dip), tortilla de patatas (traditional potato tortilla), Piementos de padron (fried green peppers), patatas bravas y alioli (potatoes with garlic mayonnaise), Moorish semolina bread, broad bean and pumpkin seed bissara, Moroccan tagine with harissa, toasted almond and mint cous cous and Moroccan orange and sultana salad, almond and orange cake and almond and rose water fruit pastries – and find plenty of time to eat as well!

Moorish bread

Jo turns out the Spanish tortilla

Some dishes we made from start to finish, others we contributed certain elements to, and a couple we just watched, but thanks to the great tuition I feel completely confident in making them at home. Even those that were made while we were busy cooking or eating we were made to feel involved with, with Rachel and Jo constantly keeping us informed about what they were doing, and showing us the progress of each dish every step of the way.

The class had been well thought out, and just about all the equipment we used was the sort of thing that most people would have in their kitchen, and Jo and Rachel's enthusiasm for what they were doing was infectious, and the enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge with people really shone through.

My spicy Moroccan tagine

The tagine was where we were given an almost free hand to make our own version of the traditional Moroccan dish.

Working in pairs we were given the recipe and a set of instructions. And while Jo and Rachel were on hand to offer advice if we needed it, we were left to interpret the dish in our own way.

Fortunately my partner and I both shared a love of spicy food, and the result was a wonderfully fragrant and spicy dish that I was very proud of.

Not being a vegetarian I thought that I might miss the meat element, but I can say hand-on-heart that I really didn't.

The tagine was as flavourful as any I had tried in Marrakech and all the tapas dishes tasted so fresh and were so colourful and vibrant looking that I believe that even the most hardened carnivore would have loved them.

Ornage and almond cake

Fortunately there were plenty of breaks timetabled into the day for us to enjoy what we were making, and the whole day ended with the whole group sitting round a table and enjoying the fruits of our labours along with some excellent Spanish wine (all vegetarian of course!).

There seemed to be a range of different cooking abilities on the course, but it was pitched so well that no-one seemed to be left behind, or getting bored, and Jo and Ruth seemed to be able to read exactly the right level to pitch the lessons at, and instinctively knew when someone might need some help, but without ever being patronising.

Toasting our efforts!

It was such a fun day, and I came away feeling inspired.

While I can't say I'm a complete convert to the vegetarian way of life the day did leave me feeling inspired and I shall definitely be trying not only to recreate the dishes that I learned on that day, but other vegetarian dishes.

And as for the boyfriend, I think there will always be a certain amount of vegetable suspicion, but I'll keep you posted!

For more information on the Vegetarian Cookery School visit http://www.vegetariancookeryschool.com/ or to find out more about Demuths restaurant visit http://www.demuths.co.uk/.

HOT DRINKS: Getting Cosy in Bath - the latest new bar/restaurant in the city

A much needed sparkle has been added to Bath's Southgate shopping centre in the shape of the Cosy Club.

Despite a small spattering of restaurants, the streets have remained eerily quiet at night, but now this hot new restaurant/bar should add a buzz to the area and give people a reason to visit.

The Cosy Club is full of character

I say “should” because if you don't visit this latest addition to the city's list of evening hotspots then you really will be missing out.

Lack of character is certainly not a criticism you could level at the Cosy Club.

It might be part of a chain (albeit a small one) but there's absolutely no sense of generic styling.

And that's because a big part of the Cosy Club “brand” - if you could even call it that – is the sense of individuality. No two will look the same. Even the Cosy Club logo will vary slightly from branch to branch.

Quirky, unqiue design sets the Cosy Club apart

The furnishings and decorations are sourced from everywhere from eBay to specialist stores.

Think old fashioned gentleman's club meets Cath Kidston-esque shabby chic and you'll be somewhere close to the resulting style. It's quirky, welcoming and, as the name suggests, cosy. It's the kind of place where you'll drop in for lunch, or an afternoon drink and find you love it so much that you'll end up staying well into the evening.

While the interior is charming (both in the quaint country cottage, and sexy silver-fox kind of way) the Cosy Club can boast that Holy Grail of bars in Bath – an outside space.

The balcony at the Cosy Club

The interior spills out on to a stunning balcony overlooking the shopping area.

The Cosy Club balcony overlooks Southgate

Majestic columns and touches of greenery create an oasis of calm in the heart of the city, and its elevated position means that it feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of the shops, while still being part of the buzz of the city centre.

There's a wide range of food available at the Cosy Club, from brunch, to salads and sandwiches, to more substantial main courses such as burgers, pasta and fish and chips, and tapas-style plates – perfect for sharing.

Tasty tapas at the Cosy Club

We tried a selection of tapas. All were very tasty and I particularly enjoyed the shredded five-spice pork with honey glaze, pork and thyme meatballs and Thai mushrooms with chilli, lemongrass and ginger.

At just £3 a plate, or three for £8, they are very affordable and great value for money.

According to manager Melvin the ethos behind the menu is that it is accessible and affordable, with dishes to suit every palate and pocket.

Cosy Club bar

Drinks are fairly typical Bath prices, with a large glass of wine around the £4 mark, a pint of Becks Vier £3.30, a large Cappuccino is £2.20 and cocktails come in at around £6.50.

But while the food and drinks are great, what really sets Cosy Club apart from its competitors is the atmosphere.

It's so different from anywhere else in Bath and it's so quirky and interesting that I don't think I'd ever get bored just looking around. The staff seem to genuinely love it too and I always think that's very important.

If the people who work there are having a good time then people visiting there will probably have an even better time.

The perfect hang-out spot any time of the day or night I think it may be my new favourite place in Bath and I'm foreseeing spending many hours there!

The Cosy Club officially opens tomorrow (June 20.)

HOT BATH: Why I loved Bath's Love Food Festival

It was great to see so many people turning out for Bath's Love Food Festival.

It would have been easy to just stay in and stay dry, but clearly there are plenty of people with a passion for good food because despite the downpours Green Park Station was buzzing.

I had been looking forward to the festival for some time, and I wasn't disappointed.

The range of stalls on offer was very good, selling everything from boxes pre-packed by Chilli Elephant with hard-to-come-by exotic herbs and spices and recipe cards to help recreate tasty South East Asian recipes at home, to tasty British made chorizo by The Bath Pig used by Raymond Blanc in his dishes at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, to cakes and pastries, fresh fruit and veg, cheese, tasty sauces and marinades, a dazzling array of herbs and wine in interesting and refreshing flavours such as lemon and ginger.

Yes, there was plenty to suit every palette, and at the end of the day I walked home with a bag bulging with goodies, and more due to be delivered, and I'm certain there were plenty more people like me.

Not only was the food on offer really great, but the thing that I really loved about the festival was the chance to speak to stallholders who had a genuine passion and belief in their products.

I firmly believe that food cooked with love tastes better, and now I also believe that food produced with love also tastes better.

HOT MEALS: Cote opens in Bath - Review

The latest addition to Bath’s restaurant scene opened its doors to the public for the first time last night.

Since the sudden closure of the Moon and Sixpence in March, the reopening of the Milsom Street premises as French restaurant Cote, has been hotly anticipated.

I went along to see if it had been worth the wait.

First impressions were very good.

Cote in Bath is bright and airy

The structure had changed very little. The upstairs was bright and airy, and seemed a little lighter than before.

I was pleased to see that the outside area had been kept, as it was always one of my favourite places in Bath for an al fresco drink.

Sadly there’s no option to just go for a drink, but if summer ever arrives it will be a lovely location for a sunny lunch.

Downstairs the atmosphere is perhaps a little more cosy and intimate – better for the winter months I think. And there’s an open plan kitchen which I always like.

We were immediately greeted by smiling staff who showed us to a table which made the most of the last of the day’s almost sunshine through the full length windows.

Unfortunately it in the line of fire from an air conditioning unit which was blasting out cold air, but when we mentioned it to the waitress she immediately offered to turn it off or let us have another table, so absolutely no complaints there.

We began the meal with my favourite of all drinks – a Kir Royal – which at £3.95 was very reasonably priced.

Kir Royal at Cote

We were also brought a carafe of filtered water without having to ask, a nice touch which is always appreciated.

Pissaladiere with rebochon

There’s a good selection of nibbles on the menu – we opted for the Pissaladiere, a traditional flatbread from Nice, topped with reblochon and thyme.

I’m a massive fan of Nice and its cuisine anyway and it didn’t disappoint.

The caramelised onions were soft and sweet but without crossing into marmalade territory, and the nuttiness of the cheese was perfectly complemented by the thyme.

There was a nice range of starters on offer, including several fish and vegetarian options, ranging from £4.50 to £7.95.

Steak tartare at Cote

I started with a steak tartare (£6.75). The meat was tender and had been mixed with shallots, capers, cornichons, egg yolk and cognac. It was very tasty, but my only criticism would be that it had been slightly over seasoned, but that’s a personal preference and in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the dish.

Smoked salmon

My partner’s smoked salmon (£6.25) came on a large plate – definite value for money. The crème fraiche drizzled over the fish cut through the richness beautifully and the capers were a good addition.

I selected my main course of veal cutlet (£13.25) off the specials menu, along with accompaniments of gratin potatoes (£2.95) and French green beans (£2.95).

The staff were knowledgeable about the products, and were able to tell me that the veal was raised at the same place as their steaks, in the Peak District.

Steak hache a cheval

It was encouraging to see that even though it may not have been “local” they were using British products. Not only does it cut down on the air miles but I could be assured that it had been ethically produced. I am still not sure however why the chicken has to come from Brittany. Apparently it is an area renowned for its poultry, but as I didn’t try any I couldn’t say if it was in any way superior to our home-grown produce!

The veal was moist and tender, and the accompanying sauce rich and buttery. The green beans were perfectly cooked, retaining a bit of crunch, and the gratin potatoes were divine. The sauce was the perfect balance of cheese, cream and garlic and every mouthful felt delightfully decadent.

My partner selected the steak hache a cheval (£9.75) which was basically a posh burger, without the bun. It was well cooked, with the meat remaining moist and the seasoning was spot on, elevating it above a ‘normal’ burger.

The selection of main courses was good, although the vegetarian options mostly appeared on the ‘light mains’ section so if you’re a hungry veggie you might be out of luck.

I was a little disappointed that the French classic Moules did not make an appearance. There were plenty of fish items, but as a dish which is, I think, synonymous with France, I would have like to see it there, perhaps in place of the seafood linguine, which, while it looked absolutely delicious, is less authentic I think.

The Cote speciality - creme caramel

The dessert menu was full of tempting treats. I chose the Cote speciality of Crème Caramel £4.50). It was infinitely superior to the lifeless versions found on supermarket shelves. It was smooth and creamy, almost like a crème brulee without the crunchy top, but at the same time light. The perfect end to the meal.

My partner chose iced berries with white chocolate sauce (£4.50). The cool, sharp berries coated in the warm white chocolate sauce were just delicious with the bursts of sharpness from the juice of the berries softened and almost cuddled by the creamy sauce.

Iced berries with white chocolate sauce

The wine selection was good – all French of course – with bottles starting from £14.50.

The menu is wide enough to have something to suit every palette and budget, and they also do great lunch and early evening deals.

The food is excellent value for the size and quality, and the staff were all friendly and knowledgeable which made for a great evening.

I would certainly recommend the new Bath branch of Cote to anyone.

HOT BATH: Charming afternoon of Charleston and china

“Utterly charming” is the perfect way to describe last Saturday afternoon.

I mean, how else could I possibly describe a 1920s-style tea party, complete with vintage china, finger sandwiches and scones and lessons in how to dance the Charleston?

It may not be the most usual way to spend a weekend in Bath, but by golly it was fun.

Charlie Albers won best-dressed for her authentic styling

From far and wide (OK, perhaps not that far or wide, but certainly from around Bath!) girls dressed in their vintage finery – and one token man who deserves a special mention for being the only one brave enough to accompany his partner – descended on a top secret location in Bath to join in Mrs Stokes’ Secret Tea Party.

The charming Mrs Stokes

The gorgeously girly afternoon was organised by the equally gorgeous fan-of-all-things-vintage, Mrs Stokes, who had planned the party to perfection, only revealing the location of the gathering once tickets had been bought.

It was a case of “costumes optional but encouraged”, but to be honest it didn’t really seem as if us girls needed much encouragement as almost everyone had made the effort to at least dress in a nod to the style of the era.

And if anyone needed any help, Pop-Up Parlour was on hand to transform hair and make-up into 20s fashion, and Bath’s fashion boutique Vintage to Vogue was on hand to offer styling tips.

Learning to dance the Charleston

Afternoon tea from Mrs Stokes' vintage china

We must have made quite a sight as we attempted to learn the Charleston with the help of Hoppin’ Mad, aka award-winning dancers Ann and Graeme (dancing was strictly optional btw – don’t want to scare off any future attendees!) and then sipping tea and nibbling cakes and sandwiches from Mrs Stokes’ Vintage China but fortunately unless you knew where to look we were largely hidden from view!

The whole delightful escapade was rounded off with a raffle bursting with prizes and an impromptu poetry reading by the fabulous Muriel Lavender.

Frankly dahling, the whole thing was simply lovely and I can’t wait for the next one!

To add yourself to the Mrs Stokes’ Secret Tea Party mailing list email secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com or visit the Secret Tea Party Facebook page.

All photos by Christina Sim (justsofashion.blogspot.com)

Other contacts:

www.mrsstokes.com/

secretteaparty@mrsstokes.com

www.itsdarlingfair.co.uk/

www.vintagetovoguebath.co.uk/

popupparlour@hotmail.com

justsofashion.blogspot.com
veryvintagethings@yahoo.co.uk

muriel@muriel-lavender.com

www.purplesparkle.co.uk/

www.fairyglass.co.uk/

www.hoppinmad.co.uk

HOT MEALS: Paying tribute to a culinary great at the Hop Pole Supper Club

I'm a fairly modern girl with fairly modern tastes, so when I decided to go to the first Supper Club evening at the Hop Pole in Bath, with a menu inspired by 1960s chef Elizabeth David, I wasn't really sure what to expect.

But as it turns out this is a woman who really knew her stuff, and the dishes had certainly stood the test of time, and could rival many of those produced at top restaurants today in terms of inventiveness.

Elizabeth David, was the chef credited with popularising, in the mid 20^th century, many European dishes and ingredients which are now taken for granted in the UK, such as pasta olive oil and courgettes.

The idea for the monthly supper club came from head chef and manager Alice Bowyer, and her partner Sarah Greenwell, who together run the pub on the Lower Bristol Road.

The Dining Room at the Hop Pole

They moved from London to take over the pub 18 months ago, and in September gave the dining room a refurbishment, and since then have been trying to grow the food side of the business.

And it was this space that started the ball rolling for the Supper Club.

Alice said: “We were thinking of things we could do to make use of the restaurant, and to fill it up, and the idea was born from that.

“And I though Food Heroes would be a good theme.”

“On theme for our monthly supper club of our food heroes, it made sense to start at the beginning with Elizabeth David CBE.

“I first came across one of her books, An Introduction to Mediterranean Food, a fair few years ago upon my own journey as a cook. Self taught, I took up as much education as I could and looking back now, what an education from David.

“Much of the influence on my cooking comes from her ethos and chefs who were, in turn, inspired by her writing.

“I appreciate her style – narrative and opinionated rather than listing recipes. We can learn the historic stories of the dish, the ingredients, her travel tales, all in one.

“She brought a romance to food that can't help but make you want to cook. In a time where chef's skills have been on the decline, a culture of pre-packaged foods being served in pubs and restaurants, I urge chefs and indeed anyone to read her books and fall in love with food again.”

And it is a testament that 60 years on, and in a time when chefs seem to be becoming increasingly experimental with the use of unusual ingredients and techniques, that David's recipes can still hold there own.

When preparing the food Alice was insistent that the recipes were followed as closely to the letter as possible in order to make the finished result as authentic as it could be.

And the results were certainly not disappointing.

Salmon trout, horseradish and watercress

The starter of baked salmon trout, horseradish and watercress, (taken from At Elizabeth David's Table) was an intriguing melange of flavours which burst on to the taste buds.

The salmon was moist and accompanied by a perfectly crisp piece of skin, which added a crunch to the dish, and the saltiness was a good contrast to the almost sweetness of the fish.

The horseradish and watercress sauce was an exciting little surprise and not at all what I was expecting. Served warm it was buttery, and almost creamy in texture, but with a hint of peppery freshness from the watercress, a slight warmth from the horseradish, and I was sure that I had detected the tang of wild garlic creeping through as well.

The main coarse of pot roast chicken, Biarritz potatoes and tarragon sauce (French Country Cooking) may not have sounded overly inspiring but was an absolute delight.

Pot roast chicken, Biarritz potatoes and tarragon sauce

The tarragon had completely permeated the chicken giving it a depth of flavour so often missing in chicken. The tarragon sauce was creamy and perfectly seasoned so that the tarragon did not over power the chicken.

I had never eaten Biarritz potatoes so was not sure what to expect. It turns out that Biarritz potatoes are potatoes mashed with ham hock and red peppers and they were delicious. The red peppers added a sweetness, perfectly complimented by the slight saltiness of the ham.

I am not usually a huge fan of desserts but on this occasion the dessert, a chocolate and almond cake with espresso ice cream (Italian Food and Social History of Ice and Ices) was the hero of the evening.

Chocolate and almond cake and espresso ice cream

The cake was soft and velvety, with a texture hovering somewhere between an brownie and chocolate fondant.

Looking at the ice cream, which was pale cream – almost indistinguishable from vanilla ice cream – there was no idea of the taste explosion which was to come.

It had the deep, almost bitter, warming flavour of a freshly roasted coffee bean while at the same time the silky creaminess of home made ice cream. It was a taste sensation which was both surprising and charming.

I wasn't sure if recipes from the 60s would be able to hold their own with today's modern palette, but I am pleased to say that I was proved entirely wrong.

Alice's passion for food and cooking is obvious and she clearly love sharing her passion with people coming out of the kitchen at the end of the evening to talk to the diners about the dishes.

And even before them, everyone was given an insight into the evening ahead with a carefully prepared dossier with some information about Elizabeth David, the food, and even the recipes.

When asked about future Supper Club evenings and which food heroes might inspire them Alice's face lights up.

“There's so many,” she said. “Rose Gray, Simon Hopkinson, Alastair Little, Jane Grigson. I'm not sure which will be next. It would make sense to do it chronologically, but I'm not sure.”

And in between the Supper Club evenings Alice will be concentrating on the pub's main menu.

Sarah Greenwell and Alice Bowyer

Since moving in to the pub Alice and Sarah have been trying to grow the food side of the business. Alice works in the kitchen, while Sarah is front of house meeting and greeting the customers while working behind the bar.

“It's been going well,” said Alice. “It's nice to exceed expectations. We know we are a pub, not a restaurant, but there are a lot of very average restaurants in Bath - it doesn't matter if we are serving fish and chips or bangers and mash, we want to do it the best it can be.”

The Supper Club will be help on the last Thursday of each month and costs £20 a head for a three course meal, excluding drinks.

Find the Hop Pole at:

7 Albion Buildings,
Upper Bristol Road, Bath BA1 3AR
T 01225 446327
E hoppole@bathales.co.uk

www.bathales.com/pubs/hop-pole.html

HOT MEALS: Giraffe in Bath - Review

There can be a snobbish-ness about restaurant chains, and about any kind of shop chain in general.

But the reality is that we need them. When a big name brand comes to a town or city, others will follow.

When they come, visitors will also come, and so is created a thriving social scene, and then smaller, independent outlets can flourish.

Bath is a prime example of this. Pay a visit to the artisan Walcot Street, or venture off the beaten track to the smaller side streets, there are plenty of quirky little shops and restaurants to tickle your fancy.

But stick to the main drag, and you will find the well-known big names.

The new shopping development, Southgate, which replaced an unspeakably ugly throw-back from the 70s, has predominantly been filled with well-known High Street brands like Debenhams, Boots and River Island, although there is still provision for smaller businesses to rub shoulders with the big boys.

But while the retail side of the development may be flourishing, the social side has taken a little longer to build up steam.

However, tomorrow restaurant chain Giraffe, opens up the doors of its newest branch in Southgate.

I went along on last night for a sneak preview, and I have to say I was impressed by what I found.

Yes, it might be a chain, but it doesn’t mean that there is no attention to detail or that it lacks any character.

Quite the opposite in fact. While most branches of Giraffe are catering for the family market, this one had a distinctly more grown-up feel.

Walking through the door the first thing you notice is the enormous light fitting hanging from the ceiling created from different coloured wires.

The slightly industrial theme to the décor continues with exposed pipes running over head, but it is softened by retro touches in the wallpaper and wall decorations.

The new Giraffe in Bath

The menu is large, but without being overwhelmingly so, catering for just about every taste and the range of cocktails is far from ordinary.

My partner and I started with a bruschetta sharing plate, which at just over £5 for 2 of us was great value.

The little triangles of focaccia bread were soft and light and just the perfect thickness to carry the toppings without making them taste doughy. Drenched with garlic butter, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and pesto oil, they were oozing with flavour and half packed an extra little punch of flavour with the addition of a artichoke, black olive and red pepper salsa.

Bruschetta sharing plate

The mains did not disappoint either. I ordered the Chilli Beef Enchilada which was packed with flavour, and the pumpkin seeds sprinkled in the salsa gave it some added texture.

The accompanying avocado salad with a tequila and lime dressing was far superior to the average side salad.

Chilli Beef Enchilada

My partner’s Parmesan Chicken Schnitzel “Kiev” was equally good. Instead of having the garlic butter inside the chicken, the flattened and breaded breast was instead drenched in it, avoiding any of the disappointment so often associated with chicken kievs when instead of oozing out deliciously you discover that all the garlicky filling had escaped.

It also meant that the chicken was perfectly moist, and the herb butter mash was an ideal accompaniment and more imaginative than bog-standard chips.

Parmesan Chicken Schnitzel "Kiev"

The mains were delivered with an impressively large condiment basket. It was slightly too big to comfortably sit on our table for two but staff were eagle eyed enough to remove it as soon as we had finished, but without us having to ask.

We finished with a Rocky Road Ice Cream Sundae which was easily big enough for two to share.

With a chocolate brownie, chunky choc and vanilla ice cream, marshmallows and hot chocolate sauce all packed into one glass it was a dessert-lover’s dream come true, with each gooey, chocolatey mouthful seemingly more delicious than the last.

Rocky Road Ice Cream Sundae

The service throughout was excellent with all the staff attentive, but not annoying.

They were very friendly and despite it being their first day were knowledgeable and well-informed about the menu.

Although it wasn’t completely perfect, our drinks almost got delivered to the table next door, it in no way spoiled the experience, and everyone was so smiley and friendly that any small mistakes were, just that – small, and instantly forgiveable. I’ve had far worse service at places that really should no better, and I’m sure that any little glitches will be ironed out in a matter of days.

So yes, Giraffe may be a chain restaurant, but that should not be a reason to dismiss it.

It’s fun, friendly and the food is delicious. What more can you ask for?

HOT MEALS: Top award for Bath's Eastern Eye

So an Indian restaurant in Bath has won a national award.
And not just an award for being a great curry house – no, something far better.
The Eastern Eye has been named the Les Routiers restaurant of the year.
That means that of all the restaurants in the UK that the inspectors visited – English, Chinese, Italian, all of them – this was the one that they liked the most.
Which I think is a pretty big deal.
I've always liked the Eastern Eye. Apart from anything else it's got a stunning interior, which is completely unexpected when you pass by the Quiet Street entrance, which is a simple unassuming door with stairs leading up. It gives no clue as to the magic which is waiting upstairs.
The ceiling with its three domes, combining Eastern splendour with Georgian elegance, is absolutely extraordinary giving it a majestic feel – and the food is pretty good too, with chefs serving up a variety of Bengali, Southern and Northern Indian cuisines.
It's been my favourite Indian restaurant in the city and it's great to see it finally getting the recognition that it deserves.
The Eastern Eye has been established and run by Mr Abdul Choudhury and his family in Bath since 1984 and he said he was "both privileged and humbled" to be awarded such a distinguished accolade, adding: "We hope to continue to provide a standard of service and class-leading cuisine that ensures our continued appreciation from both customers and critic alike."Our restaurant being awarded with such an honourable and rare award, is something we think not only brings a sense of pride to our own establishment, but to the city of Bath itself, ushering in a heightened reputation for culinary offerings within the city."

For more information about the Eastern Eye visit http://www.easterneye.com/
For more on the Les Routiers awards visit http://www.routiers.co.uk/