Mr McDonald writes: "Lunch in a garden centre near a motoring museum, anyone? Anyone?...Hello?
No, sounds like one of the most soulless food experiences
the country has to offer, doesn’t it? Perhaps dismal enough to drive you into
the smiling, floury arms of Toby, the Toby Carvery front man whose ruddy face
leers down at you with alarming regularity around the Dorset/ Hampshire
borders. Consign any pre-conceptions to the compost heap though, if you happen
to be passing through Beaulieu (pronounced “Bewley”) and are lucky enough to
find Steff’s.
Steff’s is at the Fairweather Garden Centre – “Beaulieu’s Hidden Gem”. It is indeed hidden – set back off the far end of Beaulieu’s main street and, at first glance, both miniscule and closed. Fortunately, it’s gem-like qualities become obvious as soon as you venture past the front door. The space opens out into an inviting kitchen and dining room spilling into a back garden with well-spaced tables, sweet little birds scavenging for scraps and – wait for it – a childrens’ play area. This last is a small but perfectly formed offering, our children disappeared into it and, uncharacteristically, played completely self-sufficiently until the food arrived. It’s also covered and therefore all-weather; these people know what they are doing.
And that, thankfully, extends to the food. The poached duck egg salad (£6.95) delivered a perfectly cooked egg wobbling on a pile of crispy lardons and leaves from Patrick's Patch. Some tremendous baked ham and homemade piccalilli were the highlight of a Ploughman’s lunch. The kids had a delicious cheese omelette (make sure you try it to “check it’s cooled down enough”) and a “Rascal’s Potato Boat” (£2.75), which was a half jacket potato topped with a choice of tuna, cheese or beans and served with carrots and cucumbers. The only disappointment was the Welsh Rarebit (£5.25) – this was merely cheese on toast and a very meagre smear of cheese at that. Amongst the stuff we didn’t try, the salmon fishcakes, homemade quiche and a lot of the sandwiches looked tempting. Steff’s also do eggs Benedict for breakfast, which seals an early morning return for me. Pudding-wise, the kids had some very pretty blackcurrant jelly (£1.50, pictured), its sweetness nicely balanced with a topping of tart fresh blackcurrants. The grown-ups tucked into delicious cakes and coffee.
Steff’s is at the Fairweather Garden Centre – “Beaulieu’s Hidden Gem”. It is indeed hidden – set back off the far end of Beaulieu’s main street and, at first glance, both miniscule and closed. Fortunately, it’s gem-like qualities become obvious as soon as you venture past the front door. The space opens out into an inviting kitchen and dining room spilling into a back garden with well-spaced tables, sweet little birds scavenging for scraps and – wait for it – a childrens’ play area. This last is a small but perfectly formed offering, our children disappeared into it and, uncharacteristically, played completely self-sufficiently until the food arrived. It’s also covered and therefore all-weather; these people know what they are doing.
And that, thankfully, extends to the food. The poached duck egg salad (£6.95) delivered a perfectly cooked egg wobbling on a pile of crispy lardons and leaves from Patrick's Patch. Some tremendous baked ham and homemade piccalilli were the highlight of a Ploughman’s lunch. The kids had a delicious cheese omelette (make sure you try it to “check it’s cooled down enough”) and a “Rascal’s Potato Boat” (£2.75), which was a half jacket potato topped with a choice of tuna, cheese or beans and served with carrots and cucumbers. The only disappointment was the Welsh Rarebit (£5.25) – this was merely cheese on toast and a very meagre smear of cheese at that. Amongst the stuff we didn’t try, the salmon fishcakes, homemade quiche and a lot of the sandwiches looked tempting. Steff’s also do eggs Benedict for breakfast, which seals an early morning return for me. Pudding-wise, the kids had some very pretty blackcurrant jelly (£1.50, pictured), its sweetness nicely balanced with a topping of tart fresh blackcurrants. The grown-ups tucked into delicious cakes and coffee.
This sounds lovely and I have to say garden centre's can be very relaxing places to go and eat. The kids do love to amuse themselves whilst we sit back and relax.
ReplyDeleteMy fave if The Avon Mill Garden Centre in Lodddiswell, nr.Totnes & Salcombe. Wonderful home-made food and any of the main courses can be made into children's sized plates.
The staff are so friendly and the restaurant overlooks the garden centre and also has outdoor seating as well as a terrace, which is new!
It is set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine....but I am biased as it is my favourite place to go when in South Devon.
Oh apart from Dartington Hall that is, again a stunning place to eat. The pub within the grounds is fantastic as is the walk around the grounds you must do if you go there!
Thanks Laura, that sounds brilliant. I'll stick them on the map!
DeleteI love this place, and am a frequent visitor (given that I live about two mins away, not that surprising). Food is always so, so good, brilliant value and deliciously honest.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd be here all the time if I lived locally.
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