On to England! First Stop-Harrogate

Over the years we’ve spent a bit of time in Harrogate, England for work and found several places that have really good food. So good that we purposely arranged our trip to spend a night there and enjoy some of the best Yorkshire lamb and custom pastries anywhere.

First stop, the Wellington for a fantastic bacon and brie sandwich with chips! It’s really hard to argue against a nice toasted sandwich with two thick slices of bacon and melted brie. And if any country has perfected the French fry, it’s England. Cooked until crispy in beef fat oil, the way they were meant to be cooked, thank God for my cholesterol medication!!!

The “Wellie”

Bacon & brie w/chips

Checked in to our flat and had a little time to relax before dinner.  Tonight, William and Victoria’s. William and Victoria’s restaurant has to be one of our all-time favorite restaurants. They first started out as a small bar / restaurant in the basement of an old Victorian house but have since expanded to include the first floor as a dining area. The menu is a meat-eaters’ delight with steak, pork, and of course, lamb as well as some very nice vegetables and home-made potatoes (we’ll skip the peas, please).

Lamb Henry

Bill & Vick’s

Prices aren’t cheap, dinner for two ran around 80GBP with wine.  We both chose the lamb Henry with potatoes and bread; and a bottle of cab. The meal didn’t disappoint, it was excellent! No desert, finish up the wine and walk back to our flat. The only thing bad about this experience was David, the guy behind the counter. We’ve been coming here for over 20 years and he’s still as cold as your grandmother’s kiss. Oh well, tomorrow we’ll go to best restaurant #2.

Rainy morning and time for us to go to Betty’s for breakfast. Betty’s Café is our second favorite restaurant in Harrogate. Their specialty is pastries but they also do an outstanding job with breakfast.

Poached eggs with mushroom and hash browns

English breakfast (modified)

Little did I know but after breakfast and a bit of shopping, we’d be back at Betty’s for pastry and coffee.

Betty’s

Yorkshire lemon curd tart

Edmine tart

Harrogate was a good stop, glad we had a chance to enjoy our favorite restaurants but now it’s time to drive to Liverpool and see our good friends, Dave & Sarah. We’ll spend the weekend there before heading off to Llangynog, Wales, for our first full week of touring England.

Cheers Mate.