Blumen Hestontine on Monkey Island

Shortly after the new financial year starts we have our annual expedition to our accountant Rashmi in Holyport. Over the years, even though our income has decreased significantly, our accounts just keep on getting more complicated and we now have 3 lots to prepare for our end of year. When we were working Rashmi used to come in on a Saturday to meet us which always helped but now we try and visit on a Friday morning as Rashmi plays golf in the afternoon. We always try and have lunch on our way home and have never stopped at the same place twice until this year. Even though we have been doing this journey for many years, until last year we hadn’t realised how close Holyport was to Bray. Bray is the small village that I have mentioned before because of all the excellent restaurants there. The Roux brothers have the Waterside Inn (

http://www.waterside-inn.co.uk/) and Heston Blumenthal has the Fat Duck (http://www.thefatduck.co.uk) to name but a few. Last year Rashmi told us that Heston also had a pub which was much cheaper and easier to get in so we tried it. This year he told us that Heston had also bought another pub in Bray called The Crown and he had an interest in the Waterside Brassiere.

I tried to book a table at The Fat Duck about 5 times without success but we managed to get a lunchtime sitting at the Waterside for my 50th Birthday. This was incredibly good value for money for a 3 Michelin Star restaurant at £40 each for a 5 course lunch which turned into a 7 course one with all the bits and bobs that also came. The main expense came from the wine which started at £35 a bottle and most were over £100 and some as much as £2000 a bottle. This is an excellent restaurant and everyone should try it once. We had a little walk to the river to get a photo while we waited for the pubs to open and I had a little look at the menu outside. Still not bad at £41.95 for a 2 course set lunch or £56.50 for 3 courses. I also noticed that you could by wine by the glass starting at £8 which is better than buying a bottle. If you just have water that is unusually complimentary so for lunch its still attainable for most people.

When we first arrived in Bray looking for a parking space we spotted Heston talking to a man outside his pub, The Hinds Head (http://www.thehindsheadhotel.com) dressed in his chef’s suit which is next door to the Fat Duck. Unfortunately the camera was in Claries saddlebag and by the time I had parked and ran around the corner he was gone. We walked around to his new pub the Crown for a drink but they didn’t serve lunch for about an hour so we sat outside in the beer garden making the most of the best day this year. I took a picture of the menu so you can get an idea but we decided to go back to the Hinds head because Heston was probably working there today. Also I wanted to try his famous steak and kidney pudding. The prices aren’t cheap but much cheaper than the £150 a head for his tasting menu next door. The pudding was actually, Oxtail and kidney and was delicious and Claire tried the special of Pork T-Bone which came with his famous triple cooked chips and a micro salad. One problem with this place is that for most dishes you have to order the vegetables separately which bumps the price up. I went for the new potatoes and beetroot with horseradish which was served hot. Mmmmm yummy, can’t wait for next years new financial year to start.

Bray is a lovely little village on the Thames, a great day out with so many choices of food for your lunch. If you like Italian food then you also have the Caldesi which also has celebrity chefs and is supposed to be superb but you pay the same for lunch as you do dinner but you can do a cookery course there if you have time. While I was waiting at the bar for a drink a wedding party was talking and mentioned that they had their reception on Monkey Island at The Monkey Island Hotel which is also in Bray and is only accessible by bridge or boat (http://monkeyisland.co.uk/live/). This is where we stayed when we came to eat at the Waterside 5 years ago. Apparently it has recently been renovated so this might also be worth a look. The island has the Thames on one side, a tributary on another and I think a canal on the other side but the whole island is the hotel grounds and is very pretty; try it for a weekend. Maybe we will be back for my 60th if I last that long. Its only an hours drive on a good day from Milton Keynes; however, it took us 3 hours to get back so don’t use the motorways on a Friday afternoon.