We’re Back!!
On Tuesday, May 25th, To The Last Drop will re-open. Thank you for your patience while we were away and we look forward to seeing you back in the shop for our usual cuisine to go from our house to yours as well as our Saturday Morning Breakfasts!! England was wonderful and although it is always so exciting to travel and explore, it is also a blessing to come home and have a soft place to fall.
My recent travels took me to England- both London and just north to Oxford and the Cotswold region. It was a wonderful combination of very different terrain, history and culture. London was an exciting and vibrant city with such culture (wonderful theatre and museums) history (Buckinham Palace, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey) and the amazing blend of old and new. It is a civil, clean and polite city filled with an interesting blend of calm in peoples manner and bustle of a city such as New York. I was determined to bust the myth of English food being bland and boring and did just that.
Each meal we shared in London was wonderful, filled with new finds and tastes, and served with politeness and flair. I did dedicate a day to traditional English fare and had some fish and chips, mash (smashed fresh peas with mint) and a Pimms cocktail. While all were nice to try- I am not a fan of fried food much anynore so the fish and chips were not kind to my stomach. however, it was a fun meal to do and the Pub in which we ate, unique.
The fresh fish prepared all different ways, the jersey royal potatoes, traditional English breakfasts and wonderful service will remain favorites of mine.
We stayed at two lovely hotels which were each unique and special. In London, we atyed at The Goring Hotel in the Westminster area which was lovely and had impeccable service and accomodations. The bar was a perfect place to end the day and settle into a nice evening. In the Cotswold, we atyed at Lords of The Manor in Uppper Slaughter. This hotel was steeped in history and tradition. Within the hotel there was an amazing small dining room with a chef beyond belief. Each time we ate there we were one of ten tables treated to a gastronomical feast with tastings at every turn and menu choices which highlighted the local produce and meats as well as adding a level of international and culinary genius.It was difficult to go elsewhere for dinner although we did have other good recommendations in other villages that were also good, just not outstanding.
Oxford was a special treat to see the history but most importantly, to see Todd, my son. He is at Oxford for a six week session as a part of his scholarship and we met him on the campus for an afternoon and early dinner and then spent the next full day with him in a park outside the city of Oxford. Of course, seeing him was the highlight of my trip and being able to see him there, in that environment, unforgettable.
He is off to Sardinia for a side trip and I am off in my mind to another place to travel already. The world is so big, so vast, and so filled with paths to discover. While it seemed far away at times while I was there, it was also home for those 9 days. People to meet, culture to experience, history to learn and wonderful meals to share. Simplicity in living- perfect.
