Review: Ox Pasture Hall - Fine Dining & A Hearty Breakfast - Part 2

I knew from the get go, we were in for a treat. Having viewed the menu in advance, I was excited. Robert and I have been to our share of fancy restaurants over the years, some with the pretense and glamour of a Michelin star but the Ox Pasture Hall menu proved to be a culinary gem, set deep in the heart of the countryside. Their menu looked well thought out, serving foods in season and it read mouth watering-ly delicious. 

Their courtyard restaurant is simple, yet pretty and the waiting staff quickly attended to us both, ensuring we felt more than welcome. Within minutes of being seated we received an extensive wine menu. We opted for a Pinot Grigio, a firm favourite among the two of us. Browsing through the menu, there was more than one starter I wanted to try so Robert and I made a truce of opting to pick something each so that we could try each others.

Robert selected the Yorkshire Coast Fishcake with pea puree and a soft poached egg, while I chose a duck starter which included a Confit Duck Salad, Duck Liver Parfait and Cherry Sorbet. On receiving our starters, we were struck by the finesse with which it was assembled. Presented to perfection, it seemed almost a shame to get stuck in, but we did. There were not enough complimentary adjectives to describe how delicious my food tasted. The marriage of duck and cherry a perfect one and the entire dish so more-ish and perfectly executed, I could have eaten it twice over.

Roberts starter looking just as appetizing, tasted delicious The fishcake, not one bit overcooked tasted sweet and wholesome and was complimented by some beautiful green pea puree and the perfect poached egg which proved to be runny when dived into. Poached eggs in particular are a favourite among the two of us and a perfect poached egg is often hard to master.

For our mains, I opted to chose a lighter meal and selected Oven Roasted Cod with Chorizo Ratatouille, fondant potatoes and red pepper coulis. Robert chose the beef which was composed of a mini Beef Fillet, tender Brisket of Beef, creamed mashed potato, a mushroom duxelle, baby turnip and carrot. Again, the presentation of each meal was faultless. Just like Roberts fishcake, my fish mains was cooked to perfection, breaking away with each mouthful and poke of a fork. The chorizo and red pepper coulis added a bit of spice and kick, nothing overpowering, just complimentary.

Robert requested his beef to be cooked medium rare and it was cooked just as he likes it and just as requested. Upon tasting his, I was a little jealous I didn't choose it myself. It was delicious, absolutely delicious. The beef fillet and brisket were full of flavour and very tender. The creamed mashed potato was the stuff dreams are made of and the mini vegetables tasted amazing in their own right. Between the starters and mains, the flavours from each meal were simply stunning and a real treat for us to both enjoy with Robert commenting that the beef was probably one of the nicest he had ever tried.

No meal is complete without dessert and while I initially looked through the menu I spotted a creme brulee, but no ordinary brulee a raspberry one. I decided to give it a whirl. The raspberry creme brulee arrived bright and pink with a mini raspberry milkshake on the side and a lovely crumbling shortbread biscuit. Initially I found the dessert to be very sweet, but none the less I really enjoyed it. Robert found himself ducking into it on more than one occasion. For his dessert, he picked the Caribbean cocktail. A mini selection of desserts, he was gifted with a coconut panacotta, mango rice pudding, passion-fruit sorbet and a mini pina colada. It looked like a party on a plate, full  of sunshine with each element tasting as sweet and fruity as the next.

The service from all the waiting staff that evening (with another special mention for Alan!) was excellent. Tentative but not overbearing, all members of staff ensured that not just Robert and I, but that all guests that evening were very well looked after. With full and happy bellies, we made our way back to our room to dive into that king size bed for a night of deep sleep.

In the morning, we woke up slowly, as you do on a lazy Saturday. Making our way to breakfast, the morning presented us with the most beautiful light frost and sunshine. A perfect, crisp autumn day showing Ox Pasture Hall in the most amazing light. Breakfast was served in the same venue as the night before and we tucked into the usual spread of cereal, fruits, pastries and juices before both ordering a full Yorkshire English.

Our waitress for the morning brought us some hot tea and a selection of toast and I was more than a little excited to try the mini pots of jam and honey left on our table. I don't know what it is, but I have a soft spot for those little pots and combined with some butter and a croissant and its a little piece of weekend heaven. Our hot breakfasts arrived and choosing poached eggs to accompany our breakfast, it was hearty, hot and perfect to fuel us for the day ahead. The black pudding in particular was some of the nicest I personally had ever tasted and dipped into my gooey eggs, I was one happy lady.

One of the loveliest aspects of our breakfast was enjoying it in some bright autumnal sunshine, watching the last of the frost glistening on the grass, drinking deep into our cups of tea and consuming all the colours of the outdoors. The final part of our stay and review shares the gorgeousness of the scenery and the preparations in progress we viewed for a wedding taking place later that day! We also took the opportunity, given the perfectness of the morning, to take an extensive walk of their grounds. Trust me, I never felt so camera happy.

The meals supplied on the evening and morning were provided and paid for by Ox Pasture Hall. An invite to stay and dine does not always result in a positive review, however on this occasion I was more than happy with the meals and food supplied and service received and I would be happy to return to Ox Pasture Hall for a paid stay.

Review: Ox Pasture Hall, Scarborough, North Yorkshire - Part 1

Over the weekend, Robert and I had the absolute pleasure of staying a night in the very lovely Ox Pasture Hall. A two and a half hour easy drive from Manchester city, we decided to make the most of our stay by hiring a car and whizzing out of the city early on Friday evening in order to avoid any weekend rush traffic. In hindsight, it was a decision well made.

Cruising along the motorway and taking in some beautiful scenery, we made it to Scarborough in no time. Often when staying somewhere a little off the beaten track you worry yourself about finding your lodgings,but Ox Pasture Hall didn't cause us an ounce of worry or stress and I've since found out that if you travel by train, a taxi fare from the station will only cost you about £7. Worth it, if you ask me.

Upon arriving, we easily found a parking space and were immediately taken in by the array of flora and fauna surrounding the hotel. Ox Pasture Hall has well kept gardens which appear to be tended by someone who understands how to make a garden look rustic, organic and a touch overgrown - but in designer, naturalistic way. Almost something you'd spot at the Chelsea Flower Show and award a gold medal to. With the autumn colours starting to peep through, it proved to be a warm and welcoming sight.

We unloaded our luggage and made our way to reception. Greeted promptly by Alan, he welcomed us to the hotel and took the time to show us to our room. A short walk through some courtyards, passing more beautiful landscaping and some flowing water features, Alan presented us with our home for the night. The staff at Ox Pasture Hall had generously opted for us to stay in one of their luxury suites. Impeccably clean and well presented, the suite felt like a self contained apartment. A home away from home. 

Part of the suite contains a dedicated living space complete with a flat screen TV, a soft two seater sofa and ample storage for all your clothing etc. Gasping for a cuppa I set about making some tea and dived straight into the supply of biscuits on offer. More than enough was supplied in the form of tea bags, milk, sugar and even hot chocolate which tasted sweet and not too powdery which can often be the case with those sachets. We were also supplied with two large bottles of water and as Robert, guzzles water like a camel, he certainly made use of it. 

The bathroom was stocked with fluffy towels and more than enough mini beauty essentials. It's normally standard to find a complimentary shower gel and shampoo in a hotel, however Ox Pasture Hall added a few extra touches which in my book go along way. Further supplies included cotton wool and buds, a sweet smelling body lotion, a soft soap and tissues. These little extras show thought and consideration to the guest and as someone who forgot to bring moisturizer and cotton wool with her, they proved to be more than handy. I'd go so far as to say that Ox Pasture Hall rescued me in my hour of beauty need.

The bathroom facilities felt clean, modern and like a real treat. The luxury suites come equipped with a spacious bath with room for two and a rain shower, powerful enough to wake you in the morning after your deep slumber. I had such a cosy and good nights sleep in their king size bed that I felt a little sad that I couldn't opt for a duvet day and just set up camp and watch TV for the day. That's the other thing, as well as providing a TV in the living area, another is provided in the bedroom. I felt spoilt.

As we prepared for dinner, Robert made use of their bath robes, two of which were supplied and it was refreshing to see that both an iron and ironing board were stored in the wardrobe. Rocking back up to reception to request an iron or ironing board or even both is often a little bug bearer of mine. Our suite supplied us with everything we needed in order to relax, prepare for dinner,sleep well and ultimately feel rested after a busy week of work.

Adding to the suites sense of calm was the view. Overlooking green pastures and grazing cattle, staying in this room you felt like you were in the middle of nowhere, lost in the countryside, truly getting away from it all. As the sun began to set and sky changed, we began to prepare for dinner. Our bellies rumbling, I had eyed up the menu in advance of our trip, so I knew we were in for something special. More on our delicious meal in part 2 of our visit.

The suite supplied on the evening was provided and paid for by Ox Pasture Hall. An invite to stay does not always result in a positive review, however on this occasion I was more than happy with the room supplied and service received and I would be happy to return to Ox Pasture Hall for a paid stay.