I had an amazing evening at the Maids Head Hotel this week - a showcase of their food and wine, done very imaginatively.
The Courtyard was transformed from a restaurant area into a wine tasting trail - but with a catch - the wines were disguised - whites looked like red, some that are usually serviced chilled were warm and some reds were chilled - just to keep us guessing.
On each table we had a wine taster and had to pick which one of the three wine choices we thought our taster came from, and then had a parcel of food to complement the wine.
Amazing how different the wine tasted after each morsel.
The food was lovely. We sampled a whole range of delicacies such as a mini piece of battered fish on a potato base, served on a square of newspaper. Just a few mouthfuls to tempt us. Then there were mini burgers, what looked like scotch eggs, but turned out to be delicious pumpkin savouries. Each of these was served in turn to complement each wine as we moved around each table.
There was a cookery demonstration of scallops with a mango and chilli sauce, but my favourites were the desserts - bite sized pieces of cheesecake that just melted in your mouth, strawberry on shortbread, a spoonful of sorbet, and then honey and mead jelly served in a little glass. Perfect.
The Maids Head is one of the oldest hotels in the UK and the bar and restaurant area gives you plenty of spaces to enjoy your food - whether you choose the informal bar, the main restaurant or the more private area just off the restaurant, which seats about 10 people and is perfect for a cosy dinner party.
Many of us at the wine tasting didn't know each other beforehand, but the nature of the event meant that everyone got chatting.
Christine and Linzi and their staff from the Maids Head did an excellent job of making sure everything ran smoothly and finished on time. It was an excellent evening - one of many that we've had at the Maids Head.