ALL OVER HER MAJESTY’S GREAT LAND
JULY 2009
Okay, so I had some pretty grand illusions about the PUB. I had heard all about its ‘poncy’ culinary-based cousin, the GASTROPUB and the brewery-less FREE PUB and was altogether ready to be wowed by the entire Pub family.
A rather touristy pub (plus my sad attempt to take a cool out-of-focus travel magazine style photo)
As we toured the land pub by pub, I came across a lunchtime dish that I quite fancied and decided to then establish it henceforth, as the one and only meter from which to judge a good pub. Given that I’m pretty ignorant about good beer, I was more confident that I could safely attest the merits of The Ploughman’s Lunch.
The basic Ploughman's Lunch (courtesy of BBC
More or less, an aggrandized version of a Lunchables but sans plastic and Oscar Meyer’s slimy stamp, the Ploughman’s Lunch is, at its barest, basic state: cheese, a side salad, Branston pickle (which is super pickled relish), sliced apple and some crusty bread.
My first Ploughman's - clearly best paired with a Pint of local brew
So, I remain today, still searching for the top Ploughman’s and welcome all sorts of suggestions (particularly while I am still in London). But as it stands now, the best Ploughman’s I enjoyed (much to my purist Photographer’s dismay) was the one I had at the Potting Shed Pub in Crudwell. The acclaimed “Rolls Royce” of Ploughman’s Lunches, this spread was beyond what any olden-day Ploughman would have even liked, (3 chutneys, four types of homemade bread, three cheeses (stilton, cheddar and some stinky one) let alone thought should be consumed by one person. Sadly, I had zero problem tackling it solo and with a pint of Timothy Taylor to wash it all down.
A lesser version of the real thing (awaiting real photo please bear with me)
Me and Madonna's favorite beer - Timothy Taylor on tap at the Potting Shed
Love the Ploughman’s Lunch! Enjoyed reading these posts….keep it up!