Just to let you know...

Good morning all, due to the inclement weather conditions today we have decided not to put out the Weigh & Pay Buffet but will be serving from the blackboard menu with some favourite Weigh & Pay dishes also available. We apologise for any inconvenience however, we are not expecting a high number of customers and wish to avoid unnecessary waste.

See you soon
Adrian & Louise

Il fait du soleil!

When I awoke this morning, it was wall to wall sunshine so welcome after the dreary mornings we've had this week. I'm a bit of a Francophile and got a bit 'Paris in the springtime' so felt a tart was appropriate to celebrate the sunshine. Adrian informed me he fancies a tart anytime(!) and agreed it would be a nice addition to the menu, with the promise that if it didn't sell I could have it for dinner, so added to the menu today we have Leek and Onion Tart. We've had a lovely coach party in from Birmingham today, all really pleasant and chatty, they seem to be enjoying themselves despite the cold weather.

The bluebells are stunning, somehow they seem more blue than ever, perhaps they're just brightening up the dull days. I photographed white 'bluebells' down near the lake but forgot to check if they were natives or not. It's not the first time I've seen white ones at Renishaw but I don't recollect seeing them anywhere else. Perhaps I just wasn't looking.

I hope some of you venture out to see us tomorrow on what is forecast to be an horrific day weather wise, lets hope the Beeb have got it wrong. Don't delay the bluebells are really early and will be over the top soon.

Louise x

The Rain in Spain falls mainly on Renishaw

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, or as Supertramp would say "It's raining again". However, we are  not downhearted, we are here, poised and ready with a big pan of soup on the go. It feels like a soup day today.

Of course, we can't complain about the rain really, the gardens are desperate for water and so might we be if the dry weather had continued. Anyway in the week that started with St George's Day, I would just like to say 'stiff upper lip' chaps and we're still be here whatever the weather.

I think Louise might pick up the rolling pin if I don't stop singing raindrops keep falling on my head ,and she wont be rolling pastry!

Adrian

Thank Crunchie its Friday

What a dreary week this has been weather wise, thankfully today the sun is shining. The courtyard was flooded yesterday but thanks to the very brave efforts of Malcolm and John (the Estate joiners) we were all rescued before the lifeboats could be launched!

Still haven't turned all the bananas into Banana Tea loaf (with my magic wand), but I have turned crunchies into Honeycomb Cheesecake. Mmm, I'm not a sweet tooth but even I can devour this. I had my first delivery of rhubarb from the lovely lady at the round house this week - crumble or chutney? Its a tricky one and I just can't decide, maybe I should put it to the vote. Anyone any thoughts on the subject?

We've made a couple of changes to the menu this week,  Daube de Provence and Pork Loin cooked with Prunes have made an appearance on the menu along with Roast Partridge which continues the game theme we've had going on.

We've now got a facebook page, if you search on Gallery Cafe at Renishaw Hall you'll find us. All these mod cons, we soon won't have time for cooking!

See you all soon.
Louise x

Cheese & Chutney

Last season Louise announced she'd a yearning to bake Cheese Scones, "they'll never sell", said I, how wrong can you be? Cheese scones have to be one of our best sellers and of course Louise never says "told you so", at least not more than once a week!

We have our own range of jams, jellies and chutneys for sale in the café this year. Many of the ingredients are homegrown without any thought of they'll all be ready together(!) and what on earth shall we do with them? After having been on a diet of purely soup for too long another solution was required, thus jam and chutney making began. The newest edition is Rhubarb and Ginger Chutney made with forced rhubarb from the walled kitchen garden at Clumber Park. Plum and Pear Chutney, along with sweet cucumber pickle, is served with the Ploughmans Lunch.


I'm under fire this  morning having bought Louise a box of bananas, apparently it should have been a box of chocolates. You can't please some people can you, but the resulting Banana Tea Loaf is worth the agro.


Bye for now.
Adrian

Busy Bees

Easter Sunday was very very busy indeed, Monday, sadly, was a bit of a washout but the hardy folks were out complete with children in tow and one or two of our usual faces turned up. It's lovely to see old friends. One lovely lady shared with me a story about a young boy who had come home from school and told his mum he had learnt about a man with holes in his hands who had crucified the Easter bunny. Could this prompt a debate about the levels of education in British schools I wonder?

The Simnel Cake was a roaring success and having been sceptical it would sell, I actually had to bake a second. The Hot Cross Buns also sold like 'hot cakes' (sorry!) and it has been muted by his nibs that I could start making tea cakes... watch this space.

Anyway, today's hot news is, the bees have arrived. My gorgeous mate, Lizzie B, has placed two bee hives in the Renishaw Kitchen Garden each with its own colony of lovely friendly bees (well, you know friendly in the great scheme of things). The plan is that later this year the bees will have produced honey some of which will be for sale in the Renishaw shop.  Liz has only been keeping bees for a short time but has already won two prizes in country fairs for the quality of her honey.  Anyone fancy trying some from her other hives let me know and I'll see what I can do. Liz and I have been working furiously in the Kitchen Garden over the winter, pruning the fruit trees hoping to improve the general health of some very old trees. Visited the bees yesterday to welcome them and there is plenty of blossom up there for the them to be getting on with. I'm going to help Liz with the upkeep of the hives and am quite excited by it all, although just a little daunted by being quite so close to the bees, but they do have their little way of warning you that you've been there long enough, they bounce off you!

Bee seeing you!
Louise x

Hot cross bunnies

As its Easter weekend and we all can manage an association with the Easter bunny (even if it is only for the chocolate eggs), I've dug up a rabbit quote from one of the Sitwell family.  Any thoughts who was responsible for these words? "A great many people now reading and writing would be better employed keeping rabbits." Answer at the end.


We've got the Easter Egg trail on Sunday and Monday along with face painting and Punch & Judy to entertain the children.  Come and see the Camellia Walk in full bloom, the Hellebores are still looking wonderful in their own sweet, shy and retiring way and the Bluebells are open early. Early Bluebells is a topic that has even reached BBC Radio 4. Bluebells were photographed at Renishaw on 10th March this year. Don't miss them.

Sunday morning will see us offering homemade Hot Cross Buns and Simnel Cake and for the children we'll have lovely little chocolate egg nests. Talking about rabbits, we've got Rabbit in Mustard Sauce on the menu at the moment served with lovely mashed potato to soak up that creamy sauce.


Got up this morning to the snow. My poor Auriculas, they love the white stuff but not, I fear, when they are about to flower. Take care all, see you soon.


p.s. The quote is attributed to Dame Edith Sitwell.