Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Thursday 11 August 2016

The Bridgend Hotel (Islay) – an excellent dinner


The Bridgend Hotel, Bridgend, Islay


The weather on Islay is truly execrable. Fortunately, there are some good places to eat. Last evening we tried the Bridgend Hotel and were very favourably impressed starting with the warm welcome. We were settled in Strath Lounge for pre-dinner drinks and a look at the menu featuring locally sourced ingredients 

The dining room is attractively airy and the public areas of the hotel are well appointed as are doubtless the bedrooms. 

We were very happy with our menu choices. Only the wine list could do with improvement – no vintages, a rather limited choice and it would be good to see some more interesting wines included. The list plays safe. It would be nice to see more ambition to match the quality of the food. In contrast they have a comprehensive list of local whiskies.

Starters:     

 Langoustine salad with garlic mayonnaise 

 Warm langoustine tails with herb butter
 2014 38 Parcelles, Ventoux, Famile Quiot
Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Syrah 
– attractive soft, spicy fruit, quite light colour

Grilled lemon sole with asparagus and fennel

Lamb cutlet and loin with pea mash, new potatoes 

Medallions of venison with beetroot, parsnip crisps, potato croquettes 
– the venison was nicely pink just as I had ordered 

Sliced pear, almond tart with honey ice cream 

Chocolate crème brulée with roasted marshmallows




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