Basildog

Pop round? its the other side of the estuary man. Tony, are you staying in Padstow? If you are, it may be worth asking the Black Pig how far from the water they are, because the Water Taxi is THE way to go for dinner in Rock.Plus it saves you a 30 min drive

Thats what i was going to say Bapi...Simon must have pissed off the food gods,but what the feck has Gary done to deserve this?

Very nice of you to say so Dave, but the idea is you come and try us all!

The fillet of beef on the bone is just that...a fillet steak with an L shaped piece of bone still attached.Imagine a T bone without the sirloin and a shorter bone(does that make sense?)

Here's the menu..... Summer Menu Starters South Coast Lemon Sole - Soused Vegetables Potato cooked in Duck Fat Marinated Pigeon – Slow Cooked Leg – Cherries Watercress – Bitter Chocolate Terrine of Confit Rabbit, Roast Chicken and Foie Gras Fig Pickle – Cress Salad Summer Vegetable Salad – Poached Hen’s Egg Main Course Braised Lamb Shoulder – Rosemary Juices – Baby Onions Asparagus – Oyster Mushrooms – Garlic Mash Line Caught Cod – Cockle and Clam Stew Crisp Pork Belly – Scallop – Cauliflower Puree Red Onion Marmalade - Swiss Chard Marinated John Dory – Tomato Cous Cous - Baby Carrots Pink Grapefruit Desserts Frozen Rhubarb and Custard – Ginger Sponge – Lemon Syrup Bitter Chocolate Tart – Earl Grey Ice Cream Elderflower Cream – Apple Sherbet – English Toffee Jelly British Farm House Cheeses Harbourne Blue – Montgomery Cheddar – Ramhall Ewe Goats Milk – Cows Milk – Ewes Milk Coffee and Truffles - £3.00 Teas and Infusions - £3.00 2 c o u r s e s - £27.50 3 c o u r s e s - £32.50 This is a non smoking restaurant Service left at your own discretion

Tonight i dined at Ripley's in St Merryn, which is just outside Padstow in Cornwall.It gained a Michelin Star in January, and this was my first return since.They also have had some changes in the layout and decor.Before it was a bit cold, with a bit too much stone, now a wood floor,timber beams and a new bar/reception area add a much warmer and stylish feel. We took no pre dinner drinks, as we were still deciding on who was driving,so just water After we had chosen from the menu, an amuse of 4 grilled mussles with hazelnut and coriander butter.Could have been a little more seasoned, but a nice start.Homemade Bread rolls were served at this time.I like my bread room temp, Mrs BD likes warm bread.She won Mrs Basildog chose the Home Cured Gravadlax with Honey and Mustard Dressing on the condition that i had the Seared Scallops,Oriental Salad with Sesame Dressing.Both excellent.Glass noodles in the Oriental Salad were a fantastic touch.3 large scallops were just the right amount( they were bigger than the ones i have been getting recently, must check with Paul who he is using ) We only had one bottle of wine with our meal, Louis Jadot Mersault.£38.50, superb, and from the high end of the wine list(we don't get out much, so a treat) We both had the Fillet of Scotch Beef on the bone with Bone Marrow Butter,Red wine and Port Sauce.Just fantastic...superb quality meat, beautifully cooked ( rare and a medium) with a plate of Cornish New Potatoes, and a mix of Asparagus, Leeks,Mange Tout.The marrow bone butter just added a richness as it melted. A slight pause for dessert which for me was probably the star Chocolate Fondant, with Banana Ice Cream and Caramelised Banana. All i can say is this the best dessert i have ever had.The fondant just perfect,oozing chocolate.Stunning! Mrs BD had the Queen of Puddings.which was excellent.Simple but very well executed. 2 coffees to finish with a plate of goodies.Brandy Snaps,Fudge,Rum Truffles ,Honeycomb and Chocolate dipped Strawberries.All fantastic as they sound Service is friendly and smooth.No rushing around, just calm professionalism.Bill was £105 for 2, (but we did go big on a bottle of wine)and they make no service charge. This is the best restaurant in Cornwall.OK i have not tried them all, but if you know of better, please let me know.I took a big breath before writing this , as i didn't want it to come across as a gush for a chef i know and admire, but there it is.Paul produced some fantastic food tonight and in my opinion throughly deserves his star.For those making the trip to Cornwall, put it on your to do list.

Chez Bruce?

My fault, i ment 3am not 3pm.oops

Back to top

Thanks Macrosan. I kind of felt for the guy, cos Monday night i was out with friends, and we couldn,t find anywhere to eat.We met at a Pub that stopped food at 8.30pm.The annoying thing was that food was still coming out at 9.30pm when we left.Monday is a bad night, Chinese closed, Pizza Joint closed...ended up at my own place cooking after the last paying guests had left If he had been polite, instead of ranting, then maybe i would have felt more for him, rather than the gut reaction of "fuck off back to Liverpool!"

What is it with city folk when they visit small towns? Had a guy banging on the door tonight at 10.15pm asking if we were still open.We were full tonight (one table didn't show) and by 10.15pm the last tables were on coffee, and chatting, paying bills etc.So i said politely to the guy that we were finished for this evening.Well he begins this rant about how nobody wants to work in Cornwall, and where he comes from you can get food at 3am.I asked where he was from, and hes replies Liverpool, Macklesfield,Chester.I said, well those are large towns and cities, and we have a different way of doing things down here.Then i said Goodnight and closed the door on him. So , all you city types, do you feel the guy has a point? When you visit small towns what do you want? edit 3am not 3pm

Heard on the grapevine that the opening went very well, no hitches, not like a normal "first night" Trying to get hold of a menu

Please don't think i was doing him a favour, i was just trying to make him feel important Tony, the diary was such a mess with cancelled bookings,etc etc , it just took awhile to get it straight in my head. Could you tell?

I think if a restaurant has a displayed policy for no photos , then you should abide by it.It may be there to protect other customers privacy, or flash photography may disturb other guests.But a hot dog joint? Sounds a bit odd to me

No idea..but bringing this back to the top, because i would like to know

Well , if will make Tommy giddy, another reason to change my prices

Guilty as charged your honour I am just following the crowd aren't i? Maybe i'll have a price increase of 5p (well there is the new stove to pay for)

Just finish Sausages, Baked Beans and Fried Eggs, lovingly cooked by my wife at 1.30 am, when i got home from a long day at the stove. I cooked her lunch..Seared Scallops and Confit of Duck

How can you say that no one knows what you look like, when your likeness is there to see on your every post?

Phone number for Bookings or apologies(andy ) is 01208 862622

Yes you should feel guilty Andy....your a very bad man.Prepared to be fleeced or you can take me to the Black Pig for dinner and you can clean Nathan's oven as punishment

Welcome to Egullet Ginger Chef. What are the chances of you posting about your stage? Members would really enjoy it. Cheers

Mr Stein has just purchased a hotel in Newquay...clicky ricky also has plans to open a Patisserie in Padstow i hear

If i can't fit my new stove in my kitchen, i'll just leave it in the middle of the restaurant, and all the tables can be chef's tables! I'll staff it with egullet members doing stages, we can operate a BYO policy with food...you bring it, you cook it....oh this is a winner!