Double dating French style; tastetest Andrew Gilpin at Paysanne, Deganwy.I'D never really wanted to go "double dating" with past girlfriends before. Their pals either hated me, were immensely boring or usually there was some sort of combination of both. But as I'd known my new girlfriend's sister and boyfriend for years (they even helped trick her into going out with me) I thought I'd give it a try. What could possibly go wrong? Well, not much as it happened because we played it safe and went for a restaurant which came highly recommended. We'd all heard good things about Paysanne in Deganwy, and if there's one thing the French are know for - apart from 'Allo 'Allo - it's food. Oh, and romance, although there were certain nuances about double dating I didn't get. Should you sit across from your partner (yes) and should you show off by trying to fit a whole bread roll in your mouth (no). Paysanne, as it turned out, was perfect for a dinner among friends. It looks deceptively small from the outside, but once inside there was enough space to ensure you weren't on top of the next table. We went in midweek and there were just the right amount of people in the place not to make it noisy, though I can imagine it gets a bit more hectic when full. Opening the menu I was pleased with the choice but a little disappointed it was a set menu, especially when "supplements" rear their head and you don't really know where you are when the bill comes around. I knew what I wanted for starters though, the Frenchest thing on the menu. I was dared to try to snails - I must admit it was me who did most of the daring - but as I'd never tried them I fancied the six escargot served out of their shells with shallots. The garlic sauce Noun 1. garlic sauce - garlic mayonnaise aioli, aioli sauce sauce - flavorful relish or dressing or topping served as an accompaniment to food was excellent and I used all the remaining bread mopping it up. The actual snails tasted a little bit like mushrooms, if that's not doing them a disservice. After the waiter asked me if I'd enjoyed them, I replied: "They were nice and not once did they make me physically sick" - I offered him that line for any future promotional material but somehow I doubt he'll take me up. Faye actually had mushrooms - with bacon and stilton - while Marcus went for chicken and Jenna the soup of the day Soup of the Day is the loosely scripted 2006 internet phenomenon that told the story of one man who is dating three women at the same time. Each of the 19-episodes of the story was its own 4-6 minute self-contained viral video. The entire series can be seen at [1] [2]. (keep up with everything, because I'll be testing you later). The mains were equally interesting. I plumped for guinea fowl guinea fowl (gĭn`ē), common name for any of the seven species of gallinaceous birds of the family Numididae, native to Africa and Madagascar. , which I've now seen on the internet. It's one of those birds you can't believe exists because it's so crazy looking, like someone was having a laugh when they came up with it as an idea. . Paysanne, 147 Station paysannedeganwy. 01492 But it looked massive on the plate, wrapped in bacon and bathed in a rich plum sauce... nouvelle cuisine it was not. Marcus went for what was my second choice, the selection of four mini fillets of fish with a choice of sauce. The fillets are decided on what is caught earlier in the day but usually consist of the likes of salmon, bass, hake, escolar, plaice plaice: see flatfish. plaice Commercially valuable European flatfish (Pleuronectes platessa). At most 36 in. (90 cm) long, the plaice normally has both eyes on the right side of the head and four to seven bony bumps near its eyes. , brill or grey mullet. Jenna went for the pork in another rich sauce while Faye had chicken served with lemon and tarragon tarragon (târ`əgŏn), perennial aromatic Old World herb (Artemisia dracunculus) of the family Asteraceae (aster family), of the same genus as wormwood and sagebrush. . After that, a few beers (pints of mild for the ladies For the Ladies is a extended play by Machine Gun Fellatio. The extended play was released in 2002. Track listing
They had all the favourites, including cotta cot·ta n. pl. cot·tae or cot·tas A short surplice. [Medieval Latin, of Germanic origin.] , lemon tart and fresh fruit pavlova, which rounded off the evening well. In fact it was as successful as I could have imagined. Absolutely nothing went on fire. We knocked double dating on the head though. Now if we meet up, Marcus and I disappear to watch the football, while the girls talk about shopping, make-up and ponies (probably). It's what nature intended. the bill set 3 course menu x4 pounds 96 beers x2 pounds 4 rose wine x2 pounds 35 total pounds 135 the facts open tue-fri from 7pm, sat from 6pm service very efficient and slightly eccentric disabled access toilets and restaurant on one level parking easy parking in village centre overall good food and good value - recommended considering were set Rd, Deganwy(co. uk, 582079) panna CAPTION(S): The homely surroundings of Paysanne perfectly compliments the fine French food served there |
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