Steve and Rupan

It was our leather anniversary last week (that's three years). We have had a full on week celebrating.

Starting on Friday 23rd August we headed to the Birmingham International Food Fair. Where we sampled Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Japanese Noodles and Indian Kebabs washed down with some German beer and Cocktails at Ginger's Bar. One particular cocktail tasted of roast lamb & mint sauce - very weird but tasty.

We set off early Saturday and headed down the M5 to Shepton Mallet and The Mulberry Factory Outlet. Rupan was in search of a new handbag - it being our leather anniversary. She was most disappointed and did not find anything she liked. Still we were spending the weekend in nearby Bristol and she was bound to find something she liked. Before heading into Bristol we stopped for lunch at The George Inn Croscombe.

After dumping our bags at the hotel in Bristol we decided to do a little more handbag shopping - yay! Rupan found a bag she liked but needed to see if it would fit her laptop - we would have to return tomorrow. Double yay! Now for a beer. We found a great bar near the hotel - The Beer Emporium. It had about a dozen real ales on tap. Tasty. After trying one or two we headed back to the hotel.

That night we had booked a meal at the Pump House. We both ordered the eight course tasting menu. Highlights were the Pigeon Pastrami, Blackberries & Beetroot and the Hand Dived Scallop, Smoked Potato and Chicken Wing. After, Steve had done some research and had booked us a table at The Milk Thistle for cocktails. This was very disappointing. The concept was good. You needed a reservation, you were buzzed in through a unobtrusive front door, the wood panelled rooms and large arm chairs were cool - modelled on an American speak-easy. However the service was terrible - very few cocktail menus and the service was bad - we only had one cocktail - and this took an hour.

Sunday morning we headed for a coffee at Full Court Press. The guy obviously loved his coffee and even tasted it before serving it. He would not serve it with sugar - this would ruin the flavour. It was very tasty though. Fortified with coffee we headed back the shops to try Rupan's laptop in the handbag she liked. Success and a purchase was made -yay!

Sunday afternoon we took the train to Bath. After a little look round we headed up to the The Royal Crescent Hotel where we had booked afternoon Tea. We ordered champagne before we had our afternoon tea. This was delicious - refreshing tea, yummy sandwiches and mouth watering cakes. Steve enjoyed a Gin & tonic in the garden before we headed back to Bristol.

Sunday evening we headed out to Clifton. We had drinks at Brace & Browns and Bar Humbug before munching on some tasty steaks at The Cowshed. To accompany our meal we settled on a cheeky little Lebanese Red.

We were up early on Bank Holiday Monday and headed over the Severn Bridge into Wales and onto Ross on Wye. We sat the banks of the Wye and watched the annual Rowing Regatta.

Wednesday 28th August 2013 our Anniversary - has it really been three years. Seems like longer what with spending a year in Australia and and both starting new jobs. Anyhow. Shane Ling a friend from Perth was over for an interview at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham and would be staying for a couple of days. We had mentioned that Birmingham had a number a Michelin stared restaurants. He was very keen to try them - well at least two of them. Our arms were twisted.

That evening we had booked Purnell's in town. We all decided to try Purnell's Tour - the nine course tasting menu. It was very good. The deserts we particularly yummy - Mint Choccy Chip & the Burnt English custard egg surprise, British strawberries, black pepper honeycomb and tarragon.

Thursday night we stayed local and went to Turner's. Again it was very good. Mr Turner himself was front of house.

So much food. But we had great weekend break and enjoyed meeting distant friends and eating great food. Back on the diet next week....