Lime Wood, Lyndhurst, Hampshire.

23^rd April 2011

I’ve wanted to go to Lime Wood in the New Forest, Hampshire for quite sometime. I read about it in a national magazine but Mr A. had stayed there on business and felt it was definitely worth a family visit. As it was a significant birthday for Mr A. Jnr, we decided it was the perfect excuse to go for lunch.

Lime Wood, is a boutique country house hotel set in the New Forest National Park, just an hour and a half drive from London. What was originally a 13th Century hunting lodge is now a 5 star Regency country house. We were blown away by the  setting as we took the long drive up to the entrance. We guessed it was popular by the fact the car park was almost full.

From the minute we entered the hallway and walked through to the courtyard, we could see the pure luxury. So you can imagine how excited we were about the food. As it was lunch and not dinner, Mr A. felt that The Scullery was a better option as it was less formal than the dinning room.

We started with drinks in the courtyard and as it was a really hot day, the glass roof was open. It was a beautiful start to the experience.

We then moved to take our table in The Scullery, which looks very like an 18th Century country house kitchen. With the huge open fire, which I imagine would be fantastic lit in the winter, the wall displays of plates and the big range of preserves, it definitely had a country kitchen feel to it.

For starter Mr A. ordered Crispy pigs ears with apple chutney, I ordered Devils on horseback and Miss A. and Mr A. Jnr had Sarson’s salt and vinegar squid. We accompanied the starters with the selection of breads and butter (salted of course!). When the starters arrived, there was enough for us all to sample each other’s. The Devils on horseback were generously wrapped in bacon and the prune was soft and juicy. The pig’s ears were really crispy as described and the homemade apple chutney was a perfect match. The Sarson’s salt and vinegar squid was described by Mr A. Jnr in just three words, ‘tender and delicious’.

As I said, it was a really hot day, approximately 24 degrees C, so the chef decided to fire up the BBQ, which all for of opted for. We had marinated chicken thighs – mint and roast garlic, marinated lamb, Lime Wood sausages, Loch Duar salmon, Tiger prawns, corn on the cob, Haloumi cheese with thyme, potato salad, mixed leaf salad, tomato, cucumber and coleslaw. Absolutely gorgeous! I must give particular praise to the Lime Wood sausages, highly flavoured and full of meat, delicious. We were delighted we chose the BBQ; it seemed perfect on such a hot spring day.

For dessert we withdraw to the patio outside The Scullery. Mr A. Jnr had Baked custard tart, Miss A. had Raspberry baked Alaska, I had Rhubarb Charlotte with Birds custard and Mr A. who is not a dessert person, had a double Espresso. We sampled each other’s desserts and decided we preferred what we chosen for ourselves. Mr A. was a bit disappointed with his coffee; we have found that this is something a restaurant can so easily get wrong. We are rich black coffee lovers, and found the coffee tasted burnt and not up to the high standard of the food.

All in all we had a fantastic meal in a truly beautiful hotel with the perfect company. As my favourite cook Ina Garten would say, ‘Now who wouldn’t want that?’

Ps We can’t wait to go back!!!

http://www.limewoodhotel.co.uk/

Starters, desserts, setting and service

           BBQ (It's a bbq)