Kesgrave Hall

At the beginning of February, I made the journey home to Suffolk for a very special evening. The Fresh Starts, New Beginnings ball, hosted at Kesgrave Hall.

Supper with my favourite

Sunday night was a catch up night. One of my oldest friends is having a baby and due to uni and work commitments I haven't seen her nearly as much as I would have liked to over the last few months. We headed to The Sun in Dedham, a very quaint country pub with a great food menu, tucked off the high street in picturesque Dedham. Its a favourite with my friends and I for the cider on tap and huge beer garden.

After a long time surveying the menu and looking at baby scan pics (so hard not to be distracted!!) we both went straight for mains and chose the same: Fresh Hake on a bed of jersey royals, runner beans and a tomato and black olive sauce. We were served homemade breads to start which were delish and the main was superb. Tasty, fresh and filling!



After mains we couldn't resist a peek at the dessert menu but nothing took our fancy. So, we did what all sensible girls do and headed down the road to Milsoms for chocolate. Another favourite local restaurant, the dessert menu never fails and the outdoor seating on a summers eve is just perfect!

We took a table amoung the roses and checked out the menu. Not being able to decide between homemade profiteroles with chantilly cream and dark chocolate and the chocolate platter - milk choc mousse, choc brownie and berries set I'm white chocolate- we went for both and decided to share. Sensible yet again right?!

It was all heavenly. Chocolate-y yumminess and when combined with the company and a very good catch up it made for the perfect Sunday eve in the sunshine!

Less than 8 week to go until the bubba is born and I cannot wait! The mummy to be is getting pretty excited too...

Here's to gorgeous catch ups with old friends in the summer sunshine! 

Friday Night Supper

To celebrate keeping child, cats and house alive and standing for two weeks of house-sitting, Catherine and I went out for Supper on Friday eve. We went to Milsoms, a local favourite in Dedham, Essex.

Created within the surroundings of a grand Victorian country house, milsoms is a

stylish bar/brasserie with fifteen stylish bedrooms. Food at milsoms is created

by Chef Director Stas Anastasiades, his influences are taken from around the

world but his menus always use lots of local and seasonal produce; his

successful style and creativity were rewarded with an AA Rosette within 3 weeks

of opening. Seating in the restaurant is on 2 levels with a fabulous

terrace overlooking the extensive, manicured gardens. A huge canopy and outdoor heaters make outdoor dining a reality for much of the year.

We started with Pimms, followed by Squid with a dipping sauce to follow.

Catherine had sausages and mash for her main - a Milsoms speciality.

I went for the Gourmet Veggie Burger. Halloumi, aubergine on a burger bun with Tzatziki and Fat Chips, and veggies as a side. - Milsoms give an extra side with all mains i.e. if you eat there you have no excuse but to become obese which is never a bad thing when the food is so yum!

We were ridiculous and also had dessert (we were celebrating after all!). Snickers cheese cake with honeycomb ice cream and my god it was good!

Although we couldn't quite finish it, unsurprisingly!!

The restaurant...

And the interior, very chilled atmosphere with the bar as the central focus and orders being placed at the pass, not taken by waitresses, adding to the informal atmosphere. I've been going to Milsoms since I was about 5 and still love it for all occasions, as do most of the locals!

I'm now back home from house-sitting and a couple of weeks of crazy-ness and its been really nice to have some chill out time - I always forget how much I miss home until I'm back!