Sunday Lunch - The Fox and Roman Having visited The Fox and Roman a few weeks earlier and being pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food from a chain pub I was keen to return to try out their Sunday Lunch on my quest to find York's Best Sunday Lunch. If you visit their website there is usually a voucher on the homepage and I grabbed the £10 off a £40 spend. What's on offer? You are spoilt for choice on the Sunday Roasts: Sunday Lunch 28 day aged prime rump of beef Roast turkey Herb crusted loin of sweetcure pork Roast half chicken Mushroom, leek and cashew nut suet roly-poly (v) Vintage Sunday Roast Platter These are nestled amongst a full a la carte menu including steaks, fish and chips, and some classic pies. The final option on the Sunday Roasts list is the "Vintage Sunday Roast Platter" which can be ordered for two people to share and includes a couple of slices of the beef, pork, and turkey with stuffing and pigs in blankets. On the side is a Yorkshire pudding each, some "duck fat roast potatoes", seasonal veg, parsnips, and a large jug of gravy. What worked? Sharing from a platter brings a more homely feel to the meal and the huge jug of gravy was very welcome. The trio of meats were delicious, the turkey standing out as being full of flavour and cooked to perfection making up for the well-done beef, I suppose someone has to get the end slice. The Yorkshire pudding was just as I love them, fluffy on the inside with a crisp shell, nothing special but perfectly well made. If I had been at home I would have had at least three of them, so with just one each I had to ration it out. We had just enough room to share a desert and I wouldn't have wanted any larger portions. What didn't work? My mouth watered at the prospect of "duck fat roast potatoes", my mind conjuring images of spuds crisping off in bubbling duck fat creating a shell of tasty crunchiness encasing a fluffy, buttery centre. What arrived were limp, tasteless, waxy quarters with a blackened chewy outer layer. I probably wouldn't have...
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Pubs to Hide in During York Races (... or any weekend) Over 8 weekends every year the people of York see 30,000 racegoers descend on York each day. After their day of drink fuelled gambling fun is over they stream into town and fill up all the pubs. Well, most of the pubs. Once the dust has settled there are enclaves dotted around town that those in the know use as bolt-holes unaffected by the throngs outside, they remain steadfast in their quality and atmosphere. I'm not going to be able to list them all so this is a few suggestions within the walls, I think there are plenty of pubs to go to out of town so won't be covering them. I do welcome comments and suggestions though so if I've missed one off please get in touch and I'll keep the list up to date where I can. Ackhorne The Ackhorne is located right off the main artery into York from the racecourse but cannot be seen from Micklegate, so only those in the know will find it. Two large rooms with masses of seating and a beer garden out the back provide plenty of space to chill out, grab a pint, and escape the madness just around the corner. Blue Bell The Blue Bell will quite often display a "Private Party" sign outside on race days. This is usually only there to put off the large groups that roam town looking for anywhere to squeeze into. Pop your head in, and if there is space grab it while you can as the Blue Bell is tiny. Snickleway Inn The Snickleway Inn is protected on two sides by big pubs that draw in racegoers. At one end of Goodramgate is The Cross Keys, syphoning off anyone approaching from the Minster and a combination of The Golden Lion and The Old White Swan have sucked up the remaining drinkers who approach from town. The Snickleway Inn has plenty of small alcoves to sip a pint in peace. Pivni Tucked down Patrick Pool, Pivni is within earshot of the epicentre of the races chaos in The Quarter but manages to avoid the gaze of the masses and remain a charming craft beer hideout. The...
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