Exciting new restaurants open in London all the time.
Somerset however is a different matter.
Most of the new restaurants opening are chains moving down from the big cities, choking the little independents out of business and homogenising the highstreet.
The bright side of this of course is that your really sit up and take notice when something special comes along.
Stage One opened at Kilver Court a few weeks ago and I can safely say that it is a glittering diamond of something special just outside a fairly grey background of an old prison town called Shepton Mallet.
The restaurant is decked out in old film sets.
Even the tables have been salvaged from old Hollywood blockbusters.
Phoebe played train conductor while Fred got ready to attack his charcuterie board.
The menu was designed by head chef Simon Davis and features locally sourced, sustainable goodness.
I went for baked camembert (you already know how much of a fan I am of this little pool of joy!)
Phoebe went for winter vegetable soup.
My main was deliciously juicy free-range chicken, mash, buttery kale & crispy parsnips.
...I was pretty excited about it.
Phoebe plumped for the venison pie
Fred's enviable chorizo flat bread was rapidly demolished before I could take any pictures.
Hopefully this picture of Mrs Napkinhead will make up for it...
There are two things I can never resist on a pudding menu.
Crumble & sticky toffee pudding.
Stage One had both... so we had both!
We spent our afternoon finishing our Christmas shopping at the emporium and took a sneaky look around the Mulberry factory shop.
Phoebe bagged a bag & I dragged myself away from a delicious cashmere coat... 75% off!
If you're in The South West I seriously recommend a trip.
They're open every day except Monday, and it's worth booking a table (personally I would ask for one next to the train).
Booking line: 07768 930380
Your foodie posts always make me so hungry! This place looks pretty special
ReplyDeleteOh my! Everything looks SO good! Maybe I will go here for my birthday in Feb :)
ReplyDeletelove your gleeful face as you look at your food! I'm much the same!
ReplyDeletelooks delicious !
ReplyDeleteWow this place looks amazing, seasonal food & plenty to play with while you wait. My kind of restaurant!
ReplyDeletewww.cagneyandlace.com
Nom nom nom!Happy Thursday ♥
ReplyDeletexo
Anastasia
http://natbeesfashion.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.etsy.com/shop/NatbeesFashion
Rose, where did you grow up in Somerset? I am also from Somerset and now living in London. There are not many of us around up here...
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always
Photos of the new cashmere coat please!!!
ReplyDeleteI simply love your food posts. This one did make the breakfast burrito (which is quite good) I'm currently dining on seem painfully inadequate though. Lesson learned - don't eat while reading The Londoner.
ReplyDeleteMr. Napkinhead was the best part of this post.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! They all must've seen The Holiday! Great post as always Rose, it put a smile on my face!
DeleteOh hey Fred ;)
ReplyDeleteStage one is to die for! Your so right about the lack of newbies around here though, le sigh! For most it was an exciting moment when KFC opened in Yeovil. Oooh life in the shires!
ReplyDeleteModels & Macaroons - My Fashion Blog
Jimmy and his Girl - Vintage & Jewellery Blog
So cool, I love restaurants that are not part of big chains. I'm a serous foodie and I like trying new things, the dishes you have look awesome. You know I have actually heard many times that londoners are not known for their food, but you are proving otherwise. I have tried making your chicken wraps and those turned out fantastic, when I told my italian husband they were from a london girls blog he was quite shocked. Way to prove the stereotype wrong!
ReplyDeletewww.caseyslife365.blogspot.com
um ALL looks delicious! your food posts never fail lady!
ReplyDeletexo,Taylor
iLikeMyClothesTaylored.blogspot.com
I always love your recommendations because all the places have a great personality
ReplyDelete:-)
You have the best food posts! I'm so hungry now! haha Seriously, though, my husband and I are hoping to visit London next year, so your blog is definitely good inspiration. :)
ReplyDeleteKeep calm and carry lipstick.
Dear Londoner,
ReplyDeleteI have just found your blog and spent the whole afternoon going through your posts...they are very entertaining!
I thought I'd ask some adive over something. I am at school (last year) and I broke up with my boyfriend a while ago, but I really like my boyfriend's good friend. I know that sounds werid.
HELP??? I know I'll have to wait but how do I get him to like me??
Thanks and you are a great role model. I love you!
xx
im sure you can help with this one.....
DeleteHi Anon,
DeleteTHANKS PHOEBE!
I wouldn't worry about it too much, people date their ex's friends all the time.
Don't let a failed relationship stand in the way of a possibly great one.
Obviously it's important to establish that this boy likes you too, otherwise it might be a bit tricky. But I'd just start chatting to him like he was any other guy and take it from there.
I've been on a few dates recently with a guy who's pretty good friends with one of my exes, we just don't talk about him or bring it up and I haven't told anyone (OTHER THAN MISS WATSON). Not because I'm ashamed, just because I didn't see any point in creating drama until we knew if it was going to work or not.
Talking of Miss W, I'm pretty sure she can chime in with some advice too. Her last boyfriend was an ex of mine and she's cuuurreeennttlllyyy dating another of her exboyfriend's best friends!
Apparently we all fish from a fairly shallow pool in London!
xxx
YUM! Looks so cosy and cute in there too!
ReplyDeletewww.tinytwisst.blogspot.com
Everything looks soooo good! I can't even begin to choose what I would have had out of what you guys ordered.
ReplyDeleteI love baked Camembert! Yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of any kind of melted cheese...did you know though that the French never have baked camembert - it's an English thing! I think they should thank us for improving it...
ReplyDeletehttp://singleinparis.blogspot.com/
Is the Napkinhead thing big there now? I remember the first time I ever saw it was in the movie The Holiday, where Jude Law did it for his on-screen daughters. It was adorable, but I didn't realize it was actually a 'thing'!
ReplyDeleteWow something actually nice near Shepton (not the way I usually say the name).
ReplyDeleteUsed to play hockey for them after leaving Wells......reall didn't think they could attract something nice.
Will visit next time we are visiting my parents near Sometton....
Thanks for the tip! :)
Oh my! The puddings look delicious! x
ReplyDeletepeoniesandlilies.com
Looks delicious! haha, you and your resturants! :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to get to review this place for Crumbs Magazine, but it's impossible to get there from Bath easily via public transport, so I had the misfortune of having to miss out :(
ReplyDeleteLove the photos! X
ReplyDeleteRose, I absolutely cannot believe that you eat the way you do and stay the size you are. You posted the AntiDiet and I really loved it, but I'm struggling to see how if anybody ate the same food as you do that they would remain slim. What is this strange phenomenon? Fast metabolism?
ReplyDelete