The Surprise

Earlier in the week Kerry surprised me by telling me we had an evening to ourselves, it was a great surprise. Now don't get me wrong, I love having the children around, life certainly isn't dull with them and all the clubs and bits they do. In fact I think its great. Its also amazing how Kerry managed to do it all on her own for so long, I know I wouldn't have been able to! Kerry being Kerry, not happy with the manic 1000mph life she lives at the moment took another step forward by taking on a 401 qualification at work (course, exam, more work etc) and going full time, which also started yesterday. So, we had some stuff to celebrate (I am amazingly proud of her) and an evening with no children.

I asked Kerry what she would like to do, and she started talking about going to the cinema etc and the normal stuff we would have done, however I didn't feel this was enough to mark this occasion, so started plotting and planning. My first port of call was The Boatyard in Leigh-on-sea, which is Kerry's favourite restaurant, but they were closed for a wedding, how inconsiderate! So I had some work to do.

I rummaged through some of her clothes working out the brands she wears and her size and went out and bought her some new underwear outfits. Got them boxed and presented nicely, grabbed some more bits and pieces, made a few frantic calls to some foodie friends of mine and started a red hot debate on the 'best' places to eat in Essex, food vs location vs service etc...

Finally we had a short list of 2 Le Talbooth in Dedham (The heart of Constable Country) and Carriages at Theydon Bois. Both highly recommended and both award winning restaurants. There are three reasons I chose Le Talbooth, firstly I preferred there website, secondly they answered the phone when I rang and third having used Google street view, I preferred the surroundings. So, everything was set, new outfits, check, restaurant booked, check, shopping done, check, tell Kerry we are going out and needs to get ready for 18:45 or we would be late, check. :o)

I got showered and shaved and liberally dousing myself in Kerry's favourite aftershave just as she walks through the door asking for the umpteenth time, where are we going? I smile and say out :o) Yes a dress is compulsory. She notices the new hair cut, the shave, the smell of the aftershave and smiles back. So far, so good :o)

I have to confess to being ~~very scared~~ a little nervous, firstly, I have never bought her underwear and secondly I have never been to this restaurant before. So, we go upstairs and on the bed is the gift box, I give it to her and hold my breath whilst she opens it. All is good as Kerry smiles. I head of downstairs to keep the children occupied whilst she gets showered and changed. The underwear fits well :o) so all is great and I finally ~~stop having a heart attack~~ start breathing again (well kinda, having swallowed a packet of decongestants, cold and flu pills and hay fever pills, I'm not sure if I have a cold or hay fever, but its not stopping me tonight!).

Kerry comes down after getting dressed and looks absolutely stunning! I run upstairs and get suited and booted and we are finally off. We drop the children at her parents (BIG THANK YOU LES AND ED) and we head out to Le Talbooth, its about an hours drive away and as we get closer the scenery changes, we drive past some big houses and some beautiful country (who would believe we are only a few minutes off the A12?)

We arrive and as we pull in are greeted by a gentlemen organising the car parking and as we wander round to the restaurant we are met by the manager, who advises us we are eating outside tonight as the weather is so nice.

I can not say enough about the restaurant, how nice the staff were, how good the service was, as for the food? It was absolutely stunning. Even the setting is stunning. The evening was perfect. I can not recommend this restaurant highly enough (and being the critical moaning person that I am, that's impressive).

Kerry ordered the Locally sourced asparagus and then had the Noisette of lamb with creamed basil polenta, lamb and vegetable tian, tarragon jus. Which was Divine. I started with the millionaire salad (seared duck liver, soft boiled egg, asparagus, truffle and langoustine) and followed with Pan fried loin of veal with cherry tomatoes, broad beans, peas, button onions and tarragon. Before our starter arrived the chef sent out two Waldorf salads topped with a Blue Cheese foam, with his compliments. All of the food was sublime, in fact perfect. We finished the meal with a selection of deserts, which included Strawberry shortbread, chilled rhubarb soup, Baileys souffle ~~more addictive than cocaine! Be warned~~, Tirramusu and an egg tart to share.
We washed all this down with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Brut Rosé

There are some pictures at the end of this post, which are well worth looking at, sorry they don't really do the scenery justice.

The evening was perfect, the scenery stunning, the food to die for, the restaurant staff amazing, but the best thing of all, was the company and the smile plastered on her face. I'm glad you enjoyed the evening Kerry, I love you and I am so proud of you. xxx