Cooking up a storm? A week of eating in Southern Cornwall.

The South West and particularly Cornwall bore the brunt of Storm Goretti and on Mr.SF, Dick and dog and l’s nigh on annual trip down to the Southern most working port in the UK, in the form of Porthleven, we saw plenty of evidence (downed trees etc) as to the damage the storm wrought.

Luckily by the time we got down there the storm had blown through and life was pretty much back to normal. The serious holiday job of stuffing my face was therefore not adversely affected.

Al fresco dining in the UK can be a tricky affair, especially in February, but when the weather is with us (regrettably rarely, but last summer was a doozy) eating outside in the UK can be perfect (between batting away marauding wasps and seagulls).

The Mussel Shoal, Porthleven

Literally on the water’s edge in Porthleven the Mussel Shoal is a joy when the weather is set fair, and quite sheltered when it isn’t,

with an ever changing seafood menu based on what is available on the day.

Of course, with the name of the place, I had to have the garlic butter laced king prawns and chips (£16.50), I missed the mussels at the top of menu and only realised when I moaned to my sister about a lack of mussels on the menu of a place called the Mussel Shoal and she was ” You didn’t read it properly, did you” (no I didn’t).

The potency of the garlic butter on my prawns was such that Mrs. SF decanted to the spare room that night after telling me I stunk. Good succulent prawns (cooked by someone who knows when they are doing) and decent crisp french fries

These where washed down with a can of their own Shoals Brewery pale ale.

Others had the Hanky Panky (£17.50),

a very generous portion of panko crumbed haddock fillet x 2 with fries and a chunky and nicely punchy tartare sauce. By no means cheap, but in terms of bang for you seafood buck it bested my prawn dish. Very nice cook on the fish.

A final dish in the form of a smoked haddock chowder (can’t remember exact price, but think around £16)

was replete with the smoked fish and brought together by a good creamy fish soup base Nice bread for dunking duty and plentiful veggie in the mix too.

Good quality seafood here and the fact that all the cooking is done from a kitchen in that little shack

on the harbour wall is frankly extraordinary.

Don’t know how they have sorted the seagull menace, but none bothered us.

Seaview Inn, Falmouth

I am a big fan of Verdant Brewery’s Seafood bar in Falmouth, but it is quite small. Oddly being a dog, Dick the dog doesnt much like other dogs. As such we needed a dog friendly place big enough so he wouldn’t see any others dogs and a quick internet search had me happen upon a traditional Falmouth pub taken over by Verdant doing the desi thing (of which I am a big fan based on a visit to one in Wolverhampton).

On the day and time of our visit, only the snack menu

and special were available (full menus is on from 5pm on Mondays to Thursday and all day Friday – Sun)

Notwithstanding the limited choice, there was plenty of interest and we ordered a selection from the snack menu and one from the specials board.

Starting the show was a cracking lamb keema scotch egg (£9).

Good crisp, but not oily, exterior gave way to a beautifully spiced keema lamb mince layer and then a nicely runny yolked egg. A punchy beetroot ketchup (with the zing of ginger) added nicely to the mix. We were told this was by far the place’s best seller and I can see why.

A mixed chaat platter (£13) had a vibrant colour, with red, green and yellow, and flavour to match.

Lots of nice textural contrasts, the chippea nasala gad a nice poke to it, with the only let down the slightly soggy poppadum shards.

I rarely order wings as the effort to reward eating wise ratio always seems a bit lean. All a bit faffy to eat.

Here the allure of the flavours of cumin, chaat masala and sweet chilli won me over

Good decision, as the skin was crispy and loaded with spicy flavour and the wings surprisingly meaty. Very moreish these and well worth the effort.

For the last dish we went off the specials board with the lamb momos.

Nice thin, but elastic, dough encased a blob of nicely flavoured lamb mince. Two quibbles, why 5 (I mean who gies out in multiples of 5, with there being were 4 of us I got two, same with the wings with my brother in law snagging the spare) and the tomato chutney and chilli butter could have done with a thwack more spice and heat.

Booze wise you have Verdant’s very good range of beers on tap and in can.

I had a Psych, which is Verdant’s low/no alcohol IPA (0.5%). Now I don’t drink alot of beer these days (volume seems to be a problem in my old age) and even less no or low alcohol beer, so I am not great judge, but if I hadn’t have known up front it was non alcoholic I don’t think I would have noticed. Worked very well with the spices in the dishes we ordered.

The evening/weekend menu is a bit more expansive,

with some nice sounding bigger options

This place makes for an excellent option in Falmouth and was great for us to refuel after a boggy yomp around Sithians reservoir,

which (after a good effort for his little legs) eventually defeated Dick the dog.

As he is nigh on 15, I plan in advance for when he needs a lift (he is a bit of a chunk mind).

Back in Porthleven, the Harbour Market offers baked goods and craft beers, as well as a rather good (informal) Thai cafe.

Feechi’s, Porthleven

A short but rather interesting menu had me torn between the khao soi and venison laab with the latter winning.

Good portion size for the price (£9), with a lip tingling level of heat, a pleasing combo of gaminess from the venison and earthiness from black pudding and nice aromatics from the accompanying herbs

Very good stuffed in a lettuce leaf or with (extra) sticky rice (£3.50).

My sister had the khoa soi (£12)

and it got the thumbs up as a hearty well spiced noodle dish.

A fried egg and cheese roti (£7.70) was also deemed very good by Mrs SF (no pic.).

Excellent spot this for a casual lunch

The Cove Cafe, Hayle

One of Dick the dog’s favourite beaches is Mexico Towans in Hayle, which is a huge expanse of sand 3 odd miles long,

and thus on a day when the weather was set fair ( if a bit blowey) we brought him here to run his little legs off.

After a bracing morning walk, we were in need of repaste and I had heard good reports as to the Cove Cafe,

which is just off the southern end of the beach, thus making it a good start off and finish point (the latter ideal for lunch purposes).

Nice looking menu,

from which I rather wish I had chosen the mackeral paté, crispy squid or the wild mushroom mac n cheese.

I was, however, rather bewitched by the drum smoker on the go outside

and thus plumped for the smoke pork baguette.

Nice enough, although the pork didn’t really exhibit much evidence of smoking.

What was really good were the accompanying leek aioli and a red pepper sauce. Both really punchy with bag loads of flavour, that lifted the pork from the otherwise slightly mundane.

Mrs. SF had the double cheese burger, which she really enjoyed.

Whilst the pork slightly disappointed, the red pepper sauce and burger showed that the kitchen here knows what it is doing and I think I just chose badly.

Drinks wise I was driving (as ever) so no booze for me but they seems to have a decent selection of booze, soft drinks and hot drinks.