Sunday 9 March 2008

Sunday Luncheon At Donaghadee


When we left home at about half-past one today the temperature was 8c. On our way home via Groomsport, it had dropped to 5c! There had just been a heavy hail shower while we were dining at Donaghadee Garden Centre in County Down.

I always enjoy the home-made meals at Donaghadee Garden Centre (and Bushmills GC too - it's owned by the same company). It's almost always busy. I think the standard of cooking and the type of food is quite similar to Fulton's restaurant in Belfast, though Fulton's places a little more emphasis on salads. The fare is good, traditional Ulster cooking. Today we had fresh, honey-roasted ham with mashed potato and cauliflower cheese; and lamb hotpot with garlic potato; followed by rhubarb crumble and whipped cream. We shared a bottle of elderflower juice.

My only gripe is that, having queued up, there was time spent waiting to order the pudding; then waiting for it to be heated; and finally waiting a few moments for the bill, by which time our meals were less than piping hot at the table. Fortunately I'm not to bothered about that, as long as it's not literally cold! Nevertheless, the meal was truly tasty and delicious, particularly the hotpot. The bill came to £19.60.

We drove on to Groomsport and sat in the car watching passers-by and the black-headed gulls. I thought I spotted a carrion crow too.

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