Close your eyes, take a deep breath and inhale the great scent of fresh, homemade goodness. One thing I love about the Alps is the crisp open air, the beautiful scenery but most of all, the cosy Alpine cabins with the open log fires, hot chocolate and incredible meals filled with cheese and love. This is one of the reasons why I love the Mountain Restaurant, the only difference is I don’t have to break into my savings and travel for hours to experience this as it’s right here in my home town of Melton.
As we all know, holidays have been a non event this year so a great way to get that vacation feeling and dive deep into an alpine atmosphere is to take a left at the roundabout on Asfordby Hill and head down the driveway to reach this beautiful, welcoming, chalet style setting and be greeted by the smell of freshly baked scones and a smile from one of the great team members. Although don’t expect to be offered excursions and ski slope passes, it will be more like a glass of wine or a fry up.
Let’s begin with something that deserves a place in the Guiness book of World Records for not just their size but also their taste… the scones. Although they are not your typical French Alp kind of food, they attract people from all across the country as thanks to great reviews, being given as gifts and just by word of mouth, they have developed a well earnt reputation. You won’t understand how soft and buttery they are until you’ve had one melt in your mouth! Freshly baked every morning, either fruit filled or cheese crammed they are a perfect pick me up treat. The only downside is the effect it will have on any diet you may wish to have because once you have tried one you’ll be wanting to go back for more!
Now you’ve got an insight into the greatness that is on offer, why not go the whole hog and delve into an afternoon tea. They are perfect if you have a special event coming up or even just fancy a get together with some family and friends. The atmosphere is ideal to just relax and have a laugh while having a feast fit for royalty in front of you. At such a reasonable price its hard to resist so I would urge anyone to consider treating themselves (or as a gift for a loved one) because, well, why not?
Sticking to the theme of the sweet stuff, have you seen the size of the cakes? There is simply no explanation needed. You have to see them for yourself; the huge variety of spectacular sponges will certainly be the main cause of the growth or your waistband but it is impossible to resist a slice of heaven! Believe me when I say the hardest part is trying to decide which flavour to go for! In need of a location for a coffee morning, business meeting or just some peace and quiet, with a drinks menu more attractive than Starbucks this is the ideal spot to head for even just a coffee!
Now you’ve hopefully worked up an appetite, I’ll move on to tempt you to the main course. There really is something for everyone. For just a light bite there is paninis, toasties and jacket potatoes or for those with a rumbling stomach there are mains such as scampi, fish so big it only just fits on the plate and even a full on Ploughman’s lunch. And I will not lie, the homemade Lasagne is such a delight!
In need of a destination for your Sunday roast? The smell of tender meat, Yorkshire puddings made fresh by the chefs and gravy so thick and flavourful it should be sold in bottles will have you in a daze.
But if you’re wanting a true taste of the Alps and a traditional French dish, the homemade Tartifeltte and Berthoud is a must try especially as you are highly unlikely to find it anywhere else in this country. The soul warming dish of potatoes, meat and the creamiest melting cheese will be sure to leave you in a food coma! Along with this, the freshly made pizzas are all named after French Ski resorts to fit in with the Alpine theme.
With vegetarian and vegan options, breakfast from 9:00am, daily specials, stunning salads for those that are on a health kick and with it even being dog friendly (although the rule on keeping paws on the floor is in place) there is no excuse for anyone to miss out.
So, you can still cure your travel cravings by imagining yourself on the ski slopes in the warm cosy atmosphere of a log cabin. The wooden decor, wintery vibe and hanging skis makes it feel like you’re on vacation and all the photos around the room tell a story of the amazing, friendly family that this beautiful little gem belongs to and will welcome you into. Either sitting outdoors on the new patio in the summer or indoors at the wooden tables with the roaring fire during winter, anytime is a perfect time for a vist. So wrap your heart around this destination and immerse yourself in the Alpine style of life while treating your tastebuds to a sensational delight.
Travel, Trek, Tour 