The Blue Bell- Glinton, Cambridgeshire

Since the 18th century, The Blue Bell has been situated at the heart of Glinton, a small village in Cambridgeshire. As an idyllic village pub, The Blue Bell offers open fires, exposed beams and the best of local cuisine. Of course, we can't compare a small pub to those swanky London restaurants, but I would suggest that after my visit, most would walk away from The Blue Bell happy wherever the location!

Having lived in Glinton as a youngster and still moving back there during the summer and christmas periods, its safe to say I have seen a fair share of owners at The Blue Bell and the food has not always been the best (to say the least). So when Nick and Brigette Frankgate took over ealier this year, the need to maintain The Blue Bell's traditional place in the village whilst also meeting the demand for good quality food was not a easy task. So how have they got on?

I opted for an interesting starter that seemed to jump off of the menu- Grasmere Black Pudding, Bacon, Poached Egg and Hollandaise sauce. It may not sound too exciting, but the chef managed to take something of a plain dish and really make it special. The black pudding (supplied by a local farm) was like no other I had ever tasted before and the perfect poached egg saw yolk ooze over the plate.

For the main, something a bit special! Slow Cooked Pork Belly, Creamed Leeks, Buttered Carrots, Parmentier Potatoes and a Madeira Jus. If the explanation or presentation didn't do it, then I can assure you that the succulent meat and flavoursome leeks sure did.

For dessert, I indulged myself into a Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream and Toffee Sauce. It may not be a dessert that can really impress, but it can certainly be done badly, so all credit to a solid finish to the three courses.

As the restaurant section was full to the brim and people were even opting to eat in the pub section, I believe this says a lot for a Monday night in a little village pub! Double it up for two and add on a couple of drinks and coffees, and you leave with a pocket only £50 lighter. No complaints there!

This is certainly the best food The Blue Bell has produced in the last ten years and is definitely setting the bar for high quality food in the surrounding areas. It's certainly on par with the best local pub The Pack Horse and best local restaurant The Cherry House (Reviews to follow).

Considering that its a small village pub, The Blue Bell is 'punching above its weight' when it comes to food- an 8/10 in the local area.

Sergei's Tapas Bar- Casarabonela, Spain

Suitably named after the owner's pet dog who makes a remarkable resemblance to the meerkat from everyone's favourite TV advert, this local and idilic bar could easily be missed high up in the mountains of inland Spain. However, once stumbled across, you'll never want to leave. The view itself is remarkable and you can almost feel the local/traditional ethos of the place.

The bar itself may not seem to offer a great deal as you either sit in the small seating area inside or venture outside into what seems not far from a car park, but honestly, don't be put off! The food can only be described as the best tapas I, and my fellow diners, have ever tasted (and this is coming from someone who, lets just say, enjoys [adores] tapas AND from a friend that has travelled around europe and now lives in the village itself). The bar is local and rustic (in the most beautiful way) and the regulars are both welcoming and up for a good laugh!

Much more than the standard tapas you'd expect as tourists in Spain, Sergei's goes beyond your usual patatas bravas or chorizo. With no menu, you simply point out what you want, ask what he has, OR let him do the work! Now letting the chef choose what you eat in Spain isn't always the best idea in terms of quality or price (talking from experience) but at Sergei's you are in good hands! Here's a snippet of some highlights over our several visits:
- Gem lettuce with olive oil, salt and his special ingredient (I know this doesn't exactly sound great, but honestly, I can't begin to describe how good it was- well, we ordered it an extra 3 times...)
- Bruscetta with Jamon Serrano (see above)
- Local sausage soaked in what can only be described as heaven
- Boquerones en Vinagre with home made bread
- Pulop a La Gallega- A national speciality with a local twist of homemade spices

- He even did some Patata Frittas for us and started to do them as soon as we walked in as it takes a while to hand peel, cut and cook them! (You can take the Brits out of Britain....)

For six people to walk out of there stuffed with a belly full of food and not forgetting the drinks we had before, during and after eating, the bill came to a remarkable 54 Euros! Yes thats 54! We all agreed that we would have paid at least double that for the amount of food and its quality and we were sure to give a big tip! After several visits those two weeks, we have revisited on three separate occasions over the past two years and the family friend we stay with assures me that he has become something of a local at Sergei's!

There is no doubt that the food, atmosphere and overall experience (including a ridiculously small price) gives Sergei's Tapas Bar a 10/10!