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WHAT better antidote following two days of intense concentration on a writing course, than a meal out with family. My hosts for the weekend, John and Kate, were more than happy to accompany me to try out one of their local pubs, the Four Crosses.
It was like walking into a big, sprawling old farmhouse oozing with character and history - a spacious open plan design accentuated with oak beams, traditional but tasteful furniture, flooring and soft furnishings conveying the feeling of comfort and being at ease. Being welcomed personally was so lovely evoking a homely feeling despite the place being a hive of activity. A family dinner in one corner; a private party in another; couples enjoying a romantic meal as well as the locals enjoying a pint by the bar around the corner isolated from the diners. Without mentioning the pool room....something for everyone without losing that all important personal touch. A little more than the traditional pub maybe without losing the community spirit -It's a comfortable meeting point, which could explain the origins of its name - The Four Crosses Inn. A neutral point of contact without being to far from the local villages and towns. As a very down to earth Mrs Gwenda Roberts, the Business Manager pointed out:
"This is a ‘tafarn' with good quality pub grub of the highest standards sourced locally giving good value for money working on an open seating, bums on chairs policy."
It was going to be a good night.....
Gin and tonics all around seemed appropriate to trigger off the relaxation and get into the swing of the evening. We settled down to study the menus including the specials. nd the wine lists and to enjoy a taste test with a difference - the company, the venue and county. Choosing wine and food is now becoming a very enjoyable hobby and believe it or not, I never get bored (although the running programme has stepped up slightly.)
The choice of starters was very interesting so we all trialled a variety of dishes. John, always the food traditionalist, went for the infamous prawn cocktail. Kate couldn't resist the char- grilled skewered prawns with sweet chilli dip and I went for the duck mini spring rolls served with hoi sin & plum sauce. Somehow, I always get swayed by the sauce accompaniment - it really gets the taste buds going.
With impeccable prompt service, our food was served all together in less than 15 minutes of ordering. Perfectly presented with perfect sized portions served with fresh shredded salad encompassing different aromas, colours, flavours and textures. to the usual bar meal choices.
Perfect timing for ordering of the wine. From a surprisingly good choice of reds, white, and Champagnes, we gave the Californian rose a go - Sutter Home White Zinafandel - light, fruity and refreshingly tasty and professionally presented. Just right for the evening and not too heavy thinking about the last day of my course. A thick head was not on the agenda. The objective was relaxation to inspire the writing and not encourage writers block with a headache.
Time for a natural break so I head to explore this refurbished old farmhouse with its original thick walls and solid oak beams stretching across the main living room. The conveniences, however, can always alter my judgement but this time, I was not disappointed. Spotlessly clean and fresh.
Pleased with our starters and yes, time to concentrate on the main course, which again had that "waw" factor. John, yet again the traditionalist, chose a medium to well done sirloin steak with all the trimmings - sautéed onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and peas. Kate and I went for the ‘sizzlers' - the sweet chilli chicken sizzler and being consistent, I chose the duck sizzler. They were dramatically served sizzling hot on a cast iron sizzler.
Again, with prompt service, our various dishes were served together. Consistently and perfectly presented with perfect sized portions served with fresh salad promising wonderful flavours and textures. Indeed, very good tasting food definitely adding to the buzz of the evening at this obviously very popular venue.
The sweet menu couldn't be ignored with a combination of traditional hot puddings served with custard, cream or ice cream and an amazing cold dessert selection on display in the fridge which were so tempting. John went for the toffee pudding with toffee Sauce whilst Kate and I decided to complete our meal with strong coffee (well, the wine had gone down nicely). However, we couldn't resist helping him out with his massive portion which was absolutely delicious...
It was the perfect way to relax and enjoy a Saturday evening - a traditional, atmospheric and a welcoming pub.
More importantly, the food was excellent. I would definitely recommend the Four Crosses Inn, near Menai Bridge.
Despite having homework to do for my course, it was well worth the effort of exploring a little bit on Anglesey.
