18th May 2008
Hidden Surrey Gem
A grey spring day found us exploring the Surrey countryside with visiting family, in search of idyllic villages and the perfect creamed tea with plenty of clotted cream. Well we found some quaint villages but it seemed all of the tea rooms were out of the evil clotted cream that day.
After that disappointment, lunch became our priority, and we headed to the Stephan Langton Inn, hidden away in the tiny hamlet of Friday Street, a few miles out of Dorking. This is a traditional pub with a cosy bar, dining room and beer garden, popular with the locals, hikers exploring the surrounding countryside, and day trippers from the big smoke.
Our quick lunch turned into an almost three hours feast of the best the pub had to offer, accompanied by very friendly service from the lovely waitress who seemed thrilled that we were enjoying our food, and the very amiable owner, Chris, who took time out for a chat about the pub and local life.
We decided to get several dishes to share amongst the four of us, starting with the Char grilled local asparagus with hollandaise sauce; the Ploughmans lunch, with cheeses, honey roast ham, fresh baked bread, chutneys & pickles; and the Stephan Langton Pork Pie with home made picalilly. All delicious, especially that just-out-of-the-oven bread and the local asparagus. Oh, and must mention the little complimentary cups of Courgette soup that the chef sent out as well. Much appreciated and tasty too.
Then we moved onto the Poached pear salad with toasted pistachio and parmesan; the Pan fried lamb sweetbreads with tartare sauce; and the Pork & apple sausages with mash and onion gravy. Again, all meals were great - the pear salad would not have been out of place in a top London restaurant.
Remember that clotted cream quest I mentioned? Well you wouldn't read about it - what was on the dessert menu but Apple & rhubarb crumble with clotted cream!! This made the visiting Aussies very happy, and our other dessert choice of the Warm chocolate fondant served with homemade ice cream sure put a smile on this girl's dial too!
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