The Box Tree, Ilkley....

[mrs.chappie]

Anyone had a meal at this restaurant? I'm booked in for tomorrow night.

[mrs.chappie]

Had a fab meal, my lamb was super. Hubby had turbot and I had a taste but tbh I was disappointed with the turbot, didn't have much taste.

The scallops were fantastic...hubby had the biggest scallops I've ever seen! I had salmon but I wished I'd had the scallops too.

It was all beautifully presented and the butter was carved into a rose with lots of individual petals - first time I've ever seen that.

Pudding was a pineapple tart with a pina colada and cream cheese ice-cream. Very sweet but good.

Hubby had a glass of Hine 1914 Cognac, silly bu88ers that we are, we didn't ask the price.....I coughed a bit when we got the bill - forty quid for one (very small) glass!

All in all it was a lovely evening, and we enjoyed a stroll around Ilkley town centre this afternoon - much bigger and nicer in Ilkley than we were anticipating.

Would like to go back to The Box Tree again, even though it was very expensive.

[DTCwordfan]

Glad you enjoyed it Mrs C.....my last big splurge was at Raymond Blanc's Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and that was extraordinary and, although a small fortune, well worth the experience...... and it's memories that we take with us not fat Nat West deposit accounts.

[mrs.chappie]

Hiya DT, we went to Le Manoir a few weeks ago (part of my son & DIL's wedding present). Was pointless buying them much as they've lived together for a long time and have everything they need. So we bought them some excellent pans (son loves cooking, just like his dad) and took them to Le Manoir. We didn't stay over though - we stayed at an old coaching inn about 4 miles away.

We had the most fantastic time at Le Manoir. It was amazing. We had the tasting menu, together with matching wines. A night we will never forget. Did you stay over? Perhaps one day we will, fingers crossed.

[DTCwordfan]

No Mrs C - have done tea and dinner there - we didnt live a huge distance away so the stay over was a wee bit redundant. The decor is great (the first Restaurant programme was ridiculous the way they had that tarts bordello at the back of the house!

Do you remember the hens in the garden, ready to pounce on any of those delicious appetisers with drinks.....

Have said to many that if you can't afford lunch or dinner, then go for tea as that is an experience and a half.....

[Meg]

Met Marco on a cruise ship, he has a restaurant on P and O ships we had the same butler, poor guy told us MPW hadn't had a shower in 4 days. Food was good though, and I bought his books which he signed for my DIL.

[mrs.chappie]

Unfortunately we didn't get there early enough to look round the gardens...I would've liked to see them.

Hopefully, God willing, we will go again one day. Will have to start buying lottery tickets. :o)

[mrs.chappie]

Crikey, no shower for 4 day? Phew! :o)

[mrs.chappie]

Oops, I lost my 's'. :o)

[DTCwordfan]

the veg gardens are worth seeing

wouldnt mind trying L'Enclume in my old back yard - well where I grew up

[mrs.chappie]

Ever been to The Fat Duck?

[DTCwordfan]

yonks ago

[DTCwordfan]

before the snail ice cream (lol)

[mrs.chappie]

Was it fab? I don't like the sound of snail ice-cream. :o(

[Meg]

Strange guy cabins on P &O are no smoking, but he puffed away in his suite, his sons had the suite next door, there was a lot of verbal abuse between the rooms. Glad you enjoyed your meal.

[DTCwordfan]

it was when it had just a star and was rather delicious at that time and not too bizarre.

Waterside on the other side of the river was fab....but then Le Gavroche (when it was in Lower Sloane St and moved up to Park St behind the US Embassy) was also good - havent eaten in the reincanation....

[DTCwordfan]

he probably put a pair of his undies over the smoke detector, meg......

[Meg]

Trust me DT the guy needs defumigating!

[mrs.chappie]

Thanks Miss Meg.

I'm chuckling at the thought of MPW and his lads having a barney through the walls. Folk are funny, aren't they!

[mrs.chappie]

We ate at The Waterside and the chef (one of the Roux's - can't remember which) came out at the end of the evening and went round all the tables having a little chat with us all individually.

Hubby was well chuffed. Got a signed book too.

[Meg]

T,was not through the walls, but in the corrridors, quite amusing. I spend a lot of time in the Bay Horse, Ashton in Makerfield, which is closing for re-furb, Box Tree is on new venures list, looks okay to me.