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Working ’til 5:30 pm today to make up for yesterday’s snow – that was an extravaganza. Still have to introduce myself and explain why I’m doing this. Mostly I have to get used to the entire idea, seems like I’m getting used to all kinds of ideas these days. At least I got a few miles in this morning.
Wow – my first blog and I can’t think of a blessed thing to say. Of course it is early and all that. It is February 20th 2008 and I’m getting ready to meet a friend for lunch at the Whip Tavern out in back of Unionville (horse country) Pennsylvania. It’s a rather cozy English pub, and the menu has improved vastly since the first time I was there; they have a wonderful smoked fish plate – will have to revisit that particular gem. Maybe some of that good Tetley’s ale too…….
So it’s a good twenty four hours later and I guess I can talk about lunch. One thing about the Whip that makes me nuts (or can be very gratifying) is the complete lack of cell tower. Can be good – can be bad. I was just a few minutes early so I hung out at the bar, first person there except for some guy in the corner who I think is an employee of some sort. I spent about ten minutes munching on those supergood sweet but spicy peanuts they have while contemplating various beer on tap, and a good variety of bottles behind the bar, they’re really into the UK thing. So my drinking, er, eating buddy showed up and thus the afternoon began. We decided to go with the Welsh Rarebit as a starter; “a warm blend of English cheddar and Stilton cheeses and Smithwick’s Irish Ale, served with dipping crostini”, in a word – yum. Then my friend had a Reuben sandwich (Sauerkraut, corned beef and Swiss cheese on rye – I like the way they call fries “crisps”) and I went with the Smoked Fish Plate just to make sure it was as good as I thought it was. It was. Again the menu has expanded I think but it’s still different – Bangers and Mash i.e. Sausage and mashed potatoes, does that sound good to you? Guinness Lamb Stew, Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie (lamb again), by the way did you know that lamb is the closest texture to eating human flesh? Just one of those weird things you read and go on to share relentlessly with people, preferably at the dinner table. One of my favorite things about the menu is the “Carvery” section where you choose a meat, cheese, bread and dressing; I like the Ham and Brie on Farmhouse White with Red Pepper Mayonnaise. Sadly they were out of Guinness on tap so I went with Mackelson’s I think it was, then a Double Chocolate Stout – don’t recall the name but it’s in a big orange and purple bottle. All in all I like the Whip, the surroundings are nice, the interior is comforting with lots of wood, a fireplace and a real nice couch area (that I’ve seen people leave their kids at while their folks are lunching). So after a light lunch and two beers we figured it was time to make a move and headed on over to Loch Nairn, specifically the Tavern.
By far the best thing about the Tavern was a drunk lady who apparently comes in every Wednesday. Better than cable and free to boot. She was telling us about Sapori Ristorante Italiano (which doesn’t seem to have a website yet). Sapori is a very upscale authentic Italian Restaurant open for dinner only, it’s located in Greenville Center on Kennett Pike (route 52) in Greenville Delaware. I’ve heard that a good meal for two will run you about $120-150 and reservations are in order. Anyway the company at Loch Nairn’s Tavern was better than the beer and the food, turns out our drunken friend has been in the restaurant business for about twenty years and was pretty darned knowledgeable as well as entertaining. Everyone was real nice, there’s a French server named “Bruno” who is very cool and interesting; talk to him if you get the chance, especially about soccer and politics. Finally I got that Guinness I wanted and my friend switched to Yuengling (Yuckling – don’t know what possesses her to drink that crap), we ordered a cheese and fruit plate……..nothing amazing and the goat cheese always throws me for a loop – it should really come with a warning – “yes it does taste as bad as it smells” but to each their own. As far as I’m concerned the best cheese in the world is Prima Donna which is surprisingly easy to come by at the gourmet Country Butcher in Kennett Square - a fantastic place altogether.
Hello world……….I’m awake!
