One of the most memorable aspects of my visit to the Midlands has been food.
Early on in my journey I made a good discovery of a new coffee and toast, and English breakfast stop. I was in need of the toilet and a cup of coffee a stopped at the last service area on the A19 before it joins in the A1 A1M towards Leeds and Doncaster. My intention to was visit the service garage and make use of their facilities and well as enjoy a cup of coffee at the ubiquitous Coffee Nation machine which no longer provides a cheap hot brew. Alas the toilets were closed and the assistant suggested I went over to the Diner 168 for the coffee and use therefore of their toilets. This proved to be a bonus decision for I enjoyed the coffee pot which provided two medium size cups and two large slices of toast for £2.67.
Later I enjoyed my first of two meals at the same roadside restaurant, one the day of arrival and departure which offered two course meals for £8 and in both instances I settled for a piece of gammon with egg and an apple crumble with custard, followed by coffee with an apple and Mango J 20 to begin on one day and diet Pepsi or Cola on the other. This is exceptional value for well cooked basic food.
The surprise of the visit and which I will identify is the Pizza Hut near in the Leisure Park south of Mansfield. There is a giant multi screen cinema here, as well as Bingo Hall together with a supermarket and the usual range of out of town stores, but the on site provision for a meal is poor with the Pizza Hut a little distance away across the exceptionally busy A60 route into the town centre and only a KFC and a Mc D within the park and where the football stadium is also close by. Mansfield recently lost its League status and is now in the Conference fighting for a playoff place along with York, Oxford and Wimbledon all clubs especially the latter two which I wish better fortune.
The food is ubiquitous and I enjoyed some chicken wings covered with a spicy sauce followed by a small pepperoni pizza accompanied by a diet coke and an Americano with a side of milk. However what impressed me was the service on a full house evening with customers queuing beyond the door. There was an immediate welcome and taking of names to ensure an orderly flow with staff doing an amazing job serving and clearing tables but no one was rushed and I do not recall a situation where under such pressure the staff were so comfortable and attentive, and genuine. There were two birthday celebrations during the meal when the lights were lowered and everyone was encouraged to join in the singing of happy birthday. There was also a two for one meal voucher at the end of meal which others were already benefiting, purchasing larger than appetites could cope sized pizzas which were then boxed to take home for another day. The staff were also young and evidently working as a team which added to getting my vote for the customer service experience oft he year, in fact of many a year.
In terms of good food prepared from the best of local ingredients and served with style I returned to a village based restaurant in a former public house whose identity and location remains secret as it is always fully booked sp I do not want to add to the task of gaining a table by widening its popularity. I enjoyed a succulent prawn cocktail, a chicken breast and stuffing with roast potatoes and other vegetables, and a home made bread and butter pudding, with Merlot and Americano.
For my birthday I over indulged with a day over eating and drinking including two bacon rolls for breakfast although on other days I enjoyed almond croissants and Danish pastries. There was a crunchy salad with mixed vegetables and coleslaw, olives, lettuce, cucumber and peppered mackerel, with separate side dishes of prawns in shell and a soft peppered cheese on crackers. The main course was a large port chop with carrots and corn of the cob, all washed down with a whole bottle of Asti and lots of coffee and tea earlier in the day. I also have good memories of open roles with slices of ham, coleslaw and touches of other salads and of chocolate cake and Cheesecake, scones with cream.
I also cannot end this chronicling without mentioning the Tesco supermarket south of Mansfield which is the largest I have encountered anywhere in my travels. I ahd ventured in for a note book and a coffee but became so interested in what was on offer including men’s suits for as little as £25. Yes I will repeat that a suit for £25. I was also successful in getting some blue lever arch files although oft he plastic variety but they will serve my immediate purpose. The extend of the choice in foods was matched by the areas on books, periodicals, stationery, lap tops where the screens and keyboards are getting bigger and bigger, televisions, phones and electrical goods, as well as clothing and household goods. I became so engaged that I lost the sense of time and had to curtail my eventual shop without the coffee. I did remember the notebook but there was no time to make the notes.
Since the return I am constantly hungry which I means I will have to lose even more shortly if I am to achieve the target for the year.
Early on in my journey I made a good discovery of a new coffee and toast, and English breakfast stop. I was in need of the toilet and a cup of coffee a stopped at the last service area on the A19 before it joins in the A1 A1M towards Leeds and Doncaster. My intention to was visit the service garage and make use of their facilities and well as enjoy a cup of coffee at the ubiquitous Coffee Nation machine which no longer provides a cheap hot brew. Alas the toilets were closed and the assistant suggested I went over to the Diner 168 for the coffee and use therefore of their toilets. This proved to be a bonus decision for I enjoyed the coffee pot which provided two medium size cups and two large slices of toast for £2.67.
Later I enjoyed my first of two meals at the same roadside restaurant, one the day of arrival and departure which offered two course meals for £8 and in both instances I settled for a piece of gammon with egg and an apple crumble with custard, followed by coffee with an apple and Mango J 20 to begin on one day and diet Pepsi or Cola on the other. This is exceptional value for well cooked basic food.
The surprise of the visit and which I will identify is the Pizza Hut near in the Leisure Park south of Mansfield. There is a giant multi screen cinema here, as well as Bingo Hall together with a supermarket and the usual range of out of town stores, but the on site provision for a meal is poor with the Pizza Hut a little distance away across the exceptionally busy A60 route into the town centre and only a KFC and a Mc D within the park and where the football stadium is also close by. Mansfield recently lost its League status and is now in the Conference fighting for a playoff place along with York, Oxford and Wimbledon all clubs especially the latter two which I wish better fortune.
The food is ubiquitous and I enjoyed some chicken wings covered with a spicy sauce followed by a small pepperoni pizza accompanied by a diet coke and an Americano with a side of milk. However what impressed me was the service on a full house evening with customers queuing beyond the door. There was an immediate welcome and taking of names to ensure an orderly flow with staff doing an amazing job serving and clearing tables but no one was rushed and I do not recall a situation where under such pressure the staff were so comfortable and attentive, and genuine. There were two birthday celebrations during the meal when the lights were lowered and everyone was encouraged to join in the singing of happy birthday. There was also a two for one meal voucher at the end of meal which others were already benefiting, purchasing larger than appetites could cope sized pizzas which were then boxed to take home for another day. The staff were also young and evidently working as a team which added to getting my vote for the customer service experience oft he year, in fact of many a year.
In terms of good food prepared from the best of local ingredients and served with style I returned to a village based restaurant in a former public house whose identity and location remains secret as it is always fully booked sp I do not want to add to the task of gaining a table by widening its popularity. I enjoyed a succulent prawn cocktail, a chicken breast and stuffing with roast potatoes and other vegetables, and a home made bread and butter pudding, with Merlot and Americano.
For my birthday I over indulged with a day over eating and drinking including two bacon rolls for breakfast although on other days I enjoyed almond croissants and Danish pastries. There was a crunchy salad with mixed vegetables and coleslaw, olives, lettuce, cucumber and peppered mackerel, with separate side dishes of prawns in shell and a soft peppered cheese on crackers. The main course was a large port chop with carrots and corn of the cob, all washed down with a whole bottle of Asti and lots of coffee and tea earlier in the day. I also have good memories of open roles with slices of ham, coleslaw and touches of other salads and of chocolate cake and Cheesecake, scones with cream.
I also cannot end this chronicling without mentioning the Tesco supermarket south of Mansfield which is the largest I have encountered anywhere in my travels. I ahd ventured in for a note book and a coffee but became so interested in what was on offer including men’s suits for as little as £25. Yes I will repeat that a suit for £25. I was also successful in getting some blue lever arch files although oft he plastic variety but they will serve my immediate purpose. The extend of the choice in foods was matched by the areas on books, periodicals, stationery, lap tops where the screens and keyboards are getting bigger and bigger, televisions, phones and electrical goods, as well as clothing and household goods. I became so engaged that I lost the sense of time and had to curtail my eventual shop without the coffee. I did remember the notebook but there was no time to make the notes.
Since the return I am constantly hungry which I means I will have to lose even more shortly if I am to achieve the target for the year.
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