FOOD & DR INK
The Bombay Cottage celebrates its 20th anniversary Nicholas Rudd-Jones tries out some new dishes at an old favourite
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o on, admit it, you’ve been a regular there for years, but surely it hasn’t been around for 20 years!? Despite being by now one of the most established restaurants in the town, the Bombay Cottage always manages to treat each and every customer as the most important and valued person that has walked through their doors. We arrived one sunny Friday evening after a stroll round town, and decided to place our choice in the hands of owner Habib. All he needed to know was how courageous we were spice-wise (not very) and which meat/vegetarian preferences and he did the choosing. The best thing from my point of view was that it meant having several dishes I had never tried before and that was great. My partner chose the Raj-Shahi Amar Jhinga – spicy king prawns cooked in mango, yoghurt and a dash of fresh cream, very indulgent and delicious. I tried something slightly spicier and more meaty – the Zaflingi Murgh – barbecued chicken marinated with hot Naga Murich, honey, fresh finger, garlic, coriander, tomatoes, green peppers and ground spices. A robust and delicious dish, all I needed was to add rice for a complete meal. The boys chose milder dishes – a chicken Shahi Naroyal – chicken korma cooked with coconut and nuts; and Chicken Merelan – chicken with mango, pistachio, almond, fresh mint, yoghurt and a dash of cream. The service here is phenomenal. Just so much as glance up, and someone will come to your table to see what you need. If you want a chat
about pretty much anything, there is someone who will pipe up and help. We found ourselves chatting for a long while about exactly how the taste buds work and transmit messages to the brain! The Bombay Cottage reputation has spread far and wide. The takeaway service is very popular too - free up to five miles, and a mileage charge thereafter, and they get some orders from surprisingly far away. The evening we were there he had just taken an order from the other side of Oakham. As we left, full and contented, we were bid goodbye like old friends. “Happy 20th anniversary Bombay Cottage and thank-you for looking after us so well and with so much enthusiasm for so many years.” • 52 Scotgate, Stamford PE9 2YQ Tel: 01780 480138 www.thebombaycottage.com
The White Horse, Baston Antonia Scott went with her husband to check out a pub east of our patch that has just been completely re-furbished
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f you are looking for a new favourite village pub, then trot along to The White Horse in Baston (between Market Deeping and Bourne) for some seriously good nosh. The pub has been totally revamped and has a high end quality feel to the interior without losing any of the warm welcome you’d hope to expect in a pub. The bar is incredibly long so getting served is easy – part fashioned from sycamore timber at owner Mark Richardson’s farm, down the road. Mark bought the pub last year and lovingly restored it using largely local tradesmen to support the community. Managed daily by Ben and Germaine Larter, formerly of The Bull & Swan in Stamford, locals are in good hands when it comes to the quality of food served and beers and wines poured. Head Chef, Leighton O’Callaghan previously from the Five Bells in Edenham, and with a long serving military career producing high quality food, is well placed to serve his customers’ needs. Having personally visited every local meat producer and supplier before serving up each dish, customers can be assured of its premium quality. On the mid week night my husband and I visited, we noticed how busy and atmospheric
the pub was. The staff were all incredibly personable – chatty and informative without being intrusive. The food arrived quickly, for such a busy evening and was beautifully presented, as well as pitch perfect fresh. For Starters, we tried the ‘Goat’s cheese and red onion marmalade tartlet with a baby leaf salad’ which at £6.25 was plenty big enough and simply delicious and the ‘Local ale braised oxtail crispy fritters served with a pea puree’ at £8 which was devoured! We both ‘ummed and ‘arrgghed’ over what to choose for a main course, which is a sure sign that you simply have to return to sample the dishes you didn’t have. I finally opted for ‘Cumin roasted lamb chump, tomato couscous, cucumber and mint salad’ at £16.50 (the most expensive single dish on the main course menu) which was a little piece of Middle Eastern heaven! My husband was concerned about the etiquette of ordering the ‘Whole chargrilled fore rib of beef, with watercress salad, onion rings and gruyere mushrooms’ at £45 as it clearly stated ‘For Two Or More To Share’! In the end, it didn’t deter the carnivore king who was presented with the largest wooden platter filled with what looked like the perfect “last supper”!
Puddings were plentiful and I just about managed to squeeze in an ‘Eton Mess’ – a delicious twist on the classic with strawberry sorbet nestled in between the meringue and cream. We were hugely impressed with The White Horse – the surroundings, the food, the staff and the atmosphere were all impressive. Baston dwellers will surely be expanding their waist bands over the coming months! • Contact: The White Horse, Baston, 4 Church Street, Baston, Lincs, PE6 9PE Tel: 01778 560923. www.thewhitehorsebaston.co.uk
STAMFORD LIVING SEPTEMBER 2013
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