Spring Menu Tasting at The Stable Bristol

Never one to turn down the offer of free food, I got the chance to try out the Spring menu  at The Stable on Bristols harbourside. Specialising in pizzas, pies and ciders, I'm surprised I hadn't actually visited this place sooner!

 

For starters we tucked in to an amazing sharing board, full of Devonshire cured meats and West Country cheeses. The pickled cucumber was especially beautiful! 

Then it was next on to salads and pizzas. My favourites being The Big Jerk; Spicy jerk chicken with full punchy flavours and Billy the Kid; with goats cheese, spinach and roasted hazelnuts. All pizzas were wonderfully thin and crispy and generous in size. The salads were packed full of flavour, the butternut squash and feta cheese was a firm favourite in our table.

 

Next came cider tasting. With over 80 varieties on offer, I was surprised at how much knowledge the in house cider masters knew! We got to sample a selection of various types and although I'm no cider expert, I learnt a few things and found new favourites. 

 

As the evening ended, it was only right that it ended sweetly. The dessert pizza! All hail this simple yet heavenly slice of delight that has now got me ridiculously hooked. The thought of it made me shake my head. With the idea that pizza should only ever be savoury. WRONG! I'm now totally converted. Rich hazelnut chocolate sauce, mascarpone and toasted hazelnuts on a wood fired dough base is the way to win my heart. 

 

Have you tried The Stable yet? Check here to see your nearest location.

**Disclaimer; Although the meal was complimentary, all opinions are my own**

Bristol Cider Shop Launch

Last week I was fortunate to attend the launch of Bristol Cider Shop* in their brand new premises at the new Cargo development at Wapping Wharf.

Previously occupying their former shop on Christmas Steps since 2010, Bristol Cider Shop will now not only be selling their award winning, locally produced cider and perry but will now focus on food too. With the emphasis on food pairing and locally sourced produce. 

Working with their new neighbours, Lovett Pies, they aim to create their own pork and cider pie range. The new Shop also features a cider café, serving Cider related food by day and cider tasting in the evenings. 

With private tasting parties becoming increasingly popular, Bristol Cider Shop will now be able to cater tastings for groups up to 20 people at the very reasonable price of £20 per person. This includes 10 award winning ciders, Somerset Cider Brandy plus bread and cheese. I've already registered! 

It was so great to not only hear what was in the pipeline for The Bristol Cider Shop but also to meet
the producer of a particular cider I was drinking!

Certainly a new firm favourite of mine

 

I got to sample some amazing cheese such as Buffalo Gouda, Devon Blue and Ogalshield, local breads and Bishopston Supper Club chutneys and of course plenty of great ciders but by far my favourite was my first mulled cider of the year. Paired with a wee little gingerbread man, I was instantly put in the festive mood. I had no clue that the two went together so perfectly!

 

Thank you to Pete, Seb and the rest of the team for a wonderful evening and I'll be in to see you all soon x

*The shop was named the UK’s Independent Cider Retailer of the Year at the Drinks Retailing Awards 2015.