FABULOUS FRENCH NIGHT

A huge thank you to all our guests who joined us for a very succesful French night, which went on until the early hours (as ever!)

I'm pleased to report the lapin (rabbit) casserole went down a treat, as did our Confit of Duck. Fabulous!!

TURNING SEASONS, SAUSAGE WEEK, THE FRENCH ... AND THAT PINK EVENING!

NEW MENU
The trees are ablaze with colour, we've had our first high winds of the season, and the clocks are about to go back - it must be Autumn. So, in keeping with the turning of the seasons, we've launched our Autumn menu.

Alongside old favourites (homemade fish fingers and slow roasted half shoulder of lamb to name but two) we have some suitably warming new dishes - including Haggis Fritters, and Pheasant Bourguignon - dishes to warm the cockles!

The full menu can be seen on the website now.

BRITISH SAUSAGE WEEK - 3-8 November
Join us for lunch or dinner during Sausage Week and for just £10 try a sausage combination you would never have thought of:

• Venison & Red Wine
• Pheasant & Pear
• Cambridge Pork
• Chicken & Tarragon

The price includes mash and the amazing onion gravy made by chef Karl - bargain!

WINTER'S COMING
The weather is definitely on the turn - it may still be unseasonably warm, but the days are drawing in, and before long we will be in the depths of winter, which can only mean it's time for us to bring back our famous Steak & Kidney Puddings.

Our very special, home-made and properly steamed puddings are back on the menu from November 11th and are available every Tuesday (lunch and evening) right through until spring.

A CHRISTMAS REWARD
As you might imagine, it's good for us to get our Christmas bookings sorted out as early as possible. So, as an extra incentive to have your Christmas party with us - over and above the great food and drink, great atmosphere and great staff - we will give the party organiser a 20% off voucher to use here at the Maltsters any time in January or February, if you book before the 17th November. Get in touch to talk over any special requirements; the Christmas menu details and a booking form are on the web site.

OH LA LA
The ever popular French evening makes a return on 21st November, and is almost fully booked. Give us a call (01491 628 400) to reserve your place - £30 per head.

WEAR IT PINK
A huge thank you to everyone who turned out to support our "WEAR IT PINK" evening in aid of Breast Cancer. The evening was a major success and carried on until the wee hours.

We raised a fantastic £850 in aid of breast cancer research - Peter was absolutely delighted, eventhough it took two days to get the pink dye out of his hair!

FISHY OCTOBER

Treat yourself in October with our fixed price fishy menu - two courses for just £12.95 - available for lunch and dinner, Monday-Thursday starting next Monday, 6th October. Full details of the menu are here - a mouth watering bragain!


WEAR IT PINK
Don't forget our "WEAR IT PINK" evening in aid of Breast Cancer, on 26th October - full details and the menu are on the website.

OCTOBER'S ALE
Available throughout October we have Marston's "Pedigree". A classic English pale ale at 4.5%, which is still brewed in oak casks, it is the only beer left in Britain that is brewed using water from the actual Burton well!

CHRISTMAS
We know the trees are only just turning colour, but thoughts are already turning to Christmas... Our Christmas Party menu and booking form are now available on the website. Book early to avoid disappointment!

WEAR IT PINK AND ... CHRISTMAS ...

In the Pink
We're having a "Wear it Pink" evening in support of Breast Cancer Research. The wearing of pink is compulsory (there will be fines ...), there's a table quiz (entrance £5) and a raffle with great prizes. And on top of that, a wonderful "pink menu" - two courses for just £22, with £2 of that donated to the charity. 


Christmas
We know it seems a long way away, but people like to plan, so our Christmas party menu is now available. Two and three course options, available throughout December. Book your place and let us do the hard work!


More details about both are on the website -
http://www.maltsters.co.uk/seasonal_and_special_events.html

SCOTTISH FOOD AND DRINK FORTNIGHT, SEPTEMBER'S ALE

Scottish fortnight
 As you might have noticed, Scotland votes yes or no to independence on the 18th September. To mark the occasion we have decided to declare Scottish Fortnight, and we have put together a menu to show our love of Scotland and Scottish fayre - even if they decide they don't love us!!


The Yay or Nay menu
Starter
Shetland mussels in white wine & onions & garlic
Scotch broth made with lamb & neeps
Deep fried Haggis in breadcrumbs with rhubarb & whisky compote

Main course
Arbroath Smokie fishcakes with fresh herbs
Stovies - traditional meat stew with corned beef & potatoes
Kedgeree with smoked haddock & egg (derived from the Scots Guards in India)


It's a snip at just £13.95 for 2 courses (even the most stereotypical Scot would approve!) and it's available both at lunchtimes and evenings, Monday-Saturday from Tuesday 2nd - Thursday 18th September. Don't worry - Peter won't be appearing in a kilt!

And if the Scots do vote to stay in the UK, Peter is prepared to share a glass of Bushmills Irish Whiskey with any Scotsman (or woman for that matter) at his expense. (He's half Irish so it's Irish whiskey all the way!)


September's Ale
Available from 4th September we have Brakspear's "Pride of the River". A pale amber ale weighing in at just 4%, it's designed to quench the thirst of the oarsmen on the Thames - also works for those of us just living near the river!

HOORAY HENLEY ON TAP, AND SEAFOOD WITH WINE FOR JULY

Hooray Henley on Tap

Of course it’s Henley Regatta and Henley Festival during July, and so naturally our guest ale this month has to be Hooray Henley – it’s a good one for summer: a zesty blonde with a nice tangy, citrus overtone.

Seafood and Wine for Summer

And while all that is going on in the town, here in the country, every day except Sundays,  1st July until 1st August, you can take advantage of our three ‘Seafood and Wine’ offers - which are available lunch times and evenings.

Take your pick from any of the following, and enjoy a 125ml glass of chilled refreshing dry white wine from the Loire included in the price.  To tempt your taste buds, we have:

Moules Mariniere or à la Crème, served with skinny fries – featuring excellent Scottish mussels and a snip at £13.95.

Our delicious Fish Smorgasbord, at just £14.95, which includes Poached Salmon, Hot Smoked Trout, Herring Rollmop, Crayfish Tails, Marinated Anchovies and Smoked Mackerel.

Fresh Brixham Dressed Crab Salad for only £14.95 – and that’s for fresh crab that’s delivered to us from Brixham every day.

Seafood and chilled wine** – it’s always a great combination. And the forecast suggests at least a hint of summer during July too.

See you soon.

 

Peter and Helen

** Sorry, but we can’t substitute other drinks for wine during this promotion.

D-DAY EVENING

Our D Day themed evening on the 6th was an amazing night. As well as all the staff, some 80% of our customers came dressed appropriately. From the Home  Guard to General Charles de Gaulle; from General Eisenhower to a spiv selling watches and lacy stockings - it really was a brilliant turnout.  We also had a young 12 year old called Ben William, dressed as an evacuee from East London selling replica copies of the Evening Standard on 6th June 1944.

During the night we had a powercut and the air raid siren went off … and I then set off 20 thunderflashes outside, replicating the sound of bombs.  My father played the piano with all the wartime songs led by myself on the microphone which had everyone joining in - it was an amazing atmosphere

As for the dinner, well the Spam Fritters went down a treat as well as the Corned Beef Hash. I think we sold out of the 'My Mother-in-Law's Bread Pudding', complete with lumpy custard!

I thought it was appropriate at the end of the evening to play the 'Last Post', to remind everyone of those that lost there lives on that day.  The complete silence tha fell over the pub was a fitting end to a memorable evening.  Thank you to everyone who came, and of course to all the team who worked to make it possible.

The Publican's Morning Advertiser has carried a report of the evening - which you can read here.

THOSE COLONIALS ...

Haddock chowder ... burgers with Monterey Jack cheese ... BBQ pork ribs ... even Jumbo Chilli Dogs, and let's not forget the Boston Brownie ice cream - yes, that's right, for June we've some great tasting American dishes on special offer.

You can take your pick - one course for £11.00, two for £12.95 or three for £16.95, and this 'American Special' will be available Monday-Friday throughout June, lunch times and evenings.

Well, we figured it fits in with the D-Day anniversary - they did help out a bit!  (But of course we'll be keeping our regular, proper English dishes on menu too.)

As always, more details are on the web site.

D-DAY ANNIVERSARY

Our D-Day themed night on the 6th is now sold out, but be sure to look out for coverage in the Henley Standard, who've said they'll be coming along to take some photos.  They couldn't resist the thought of all the staff and at least some customers in period costume, nor the air raid shelter being built outside the front of the  pub!    We'll try and get some photos on the blog too.

If you're around on the 7th or 8th, the air raid shelter and all our themed decorations should still be in place so do call in if you can.  And before you ask, no, the staff will NOT still be in costume!

JUNE'S BEER

June's guest ale is Banks' 'Lion's Roar' - a good, creamy, smooth beer that you can happily quaff at just 3.8%.  It's a proper English ale - the sort that would have given American GIs the heebie-jeebies during the war!

MORE NEW TEMPTATIONS

Our main menu has had a few changes to make it even more tempting.  While they're in season we've added English Asparagus to the starter section, and there's Chinese Crispy Chilli Beef, served with egg noodles, newly available as a main course  - one we know is going to popular with some of our regulars!

See our "Food and Drink" page on the site for more details.

GOURMET BURGERS

Gourmet burgers seem to be the in thing at the moment and ours are getting lots of praise - which is always nice to hear!  Shortly, we'll be introducing some fantastic brioche burger buns, which should make the already very good really rather excellent!

THE LAST OF THE SCALLOPS

We're not long back from a brief trip to France and we now have the last of this season's scallops on the menu - being served wrapped in bacon and accompanied by French black pudding which we buy from a charcutier who's actually making it himself.  These won't be around for long ...  so come along very shortly!

D-Day Anniversary

We're holding a special 70th Celebration of D-Day event on the 6th June - with a war-time themed menu. At just £25 a head you also get the staff in costume for the evening! And what's more, we're offering a FREE week at Peter and Helen's farm cottage in Normandy this coming summer for whoever comes along 'best dressed' for the occasion. It's going to be a good evening - so book early.  Click here for more details.

Pudding Alert!

We have been making homemade doughnuts ... oh yes! So, watch out for these on the desserts board, and if that's not enough, Helen's also been busy preparing churros (fried dough pastry) with hot chocolate and caramel dipping sauce. These are seriously, quite dangerously, delicious!

A Cracking Vintage

While we were in the Barossa Valley during our recent Australian trip, we couldn't resist a wine and port tasting. Funnily enough, the 1967 vintage was an absolute cracker, the same year I was born!

Mussels For A Month

From the 1st-25th April, Monday-Friday both lunchtimes and evenings, you can indulge yourself with some gorgeous mussels.

Always popular, take your pick from Mariniere, A La Creme or Thai Spiced, all priced at just £11.95 and that includes skinny fries or crusty bread to go with them, and a 125ml glass of Muscadet wine too.  That has to be a bargain.  And as they'll be on offer the whole month, , you can always come back three times and savour them all!

For full details please visit our web site.

Don't Forget The Beer

April's guest ale is the Ringwood Brewery's Boondoggle, a nicely fruity blonde - that bit lighter, in tune with the lengthier, brighter days.

Proper Puddings

It has been said that the landlord gets all the praise, while the landlady does the hard work ...  Well, in an attempt to redress this inbalance, just a couple of photos to show you two desserts Helen's been making for customers lately.  The first is a salted caramel torte which, with 70% cocoa, gives chocoholics a real fix!  And the second is a tasty French dish call clafoutis, made with black cherries.  These are both real treats that you ought to come in and try.

PS: but while Helen does cook up a wonderful dessert, if you want a crêpes suzette flambéed to perfection, ask the landlord!

March is Pie and Pudding Month

Yes, you read that correctly - this year we're having a pie and pudding month.  Last year's 'pie week' just seemed too short.

With three great savoury pies and three puddings to complement them, at a bargain £10.95 for a main course or just £13.95 for two, we're running this offer Monday-Friday inclusive, lunch times and evenings.  As ever, the menu is available here.

March's Special Ale

March's guest ale is the ever reliable Brakspear's Special. It's just 4.3% so it's not too heavy. If you've had it before you'll probably be very pleased to hear it's back, if you've not - well, come in and find out why so many people agree that it is 'special'.

Setting The Place Alight

We hope not .. but you never know, as on Shrove Tuesday Peter will be out in 'front of house', providing flambéed pancakes, both traditional and alcohol-fuelled, all day.  Fresh pancakes are a real treat - come and join us on the 4th March.

A Real Reason To Be Cheerful

Of course we all have read that the economy is now wonderful, everything is bouncing back and there's no need to worry ever again. In case you don't quite believe everything you read, for February we've prepared a special 'Credit Crunch' menu.

For just £12 you get a cracking two-course meal, with a choice of three starters and three mains. And, given that one of the starter choices is the chef's soup of the day, there's even more variety than just six different dishes.

You can tuck in at lunch time, dinner time or both, throughout February, Monday-Thursday.

Tempt your taste-buds - click here to see the full menu.

A February Ale

Continuing with the monthly guest ales, for February we've Ringwood Brewery's 'Young Scrum-per'. They say it's 'blonde hoppy happiness' – we're keen to try it and see.  At 4%, and on the citrus side of the flavour range, it should go well with plenty of types of food, not least fish.  (And no, it's not a cider, which is what we first thought from the name!)

Fresh Fish

Something we keep meaning to mention (as it seems not everyone's aware of it) – don't forget that every Wednesday is our Fish 'n' Chip day – where we have fish delivered and served the very same day. Short of living in a port, you'll be hard-pushed to get fresher.  What fish?  As it should be, that's a variable, depending on what's been caught and what our fishmonger selects from the catch. What you can be sure of is that this is fish 'n' chips as it should be.

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve was a great success - and as always, a big 'thank you' to everyone who came along.  Here's to the coming year.

We had 50 for the dinner itself and then some locals came in too, to join in with Auld Lang Syne ... and Dancing Queen thereafter!  The resident DJ, known to himself as 'Mixmaster Blandy' but to everyone else as 'The Landlord', kept the music going until 2.30, when Frank Sinatra's 'New York' finished the night. 

I presume there were some serious hangovers the next morning - the last customers departed into the night at about 4.30 - but for once I behaved myself. We had 110
booked-in for New Year's Day so I had to!

 

A Dog Of Taste And Discernment

No, this is not a shaggy dog tale!

One of our customers decided to take his dog out for a walk in the morning, before coming along to the Maltsters to meet up with an old friend for lunch.  In the course of
the walk the dog vanished. He shouted himself hoarse trying to find it but had no luck. Very reluctantly, he gave up the search and went home to prepare to come along to the pub.

In the meantime, we were opening for lunch and found a stray dog in the car park.  We 'phoned the number on the collar and, as you might have guessed, found ourselves speaking to our dog-less customer. It seems the dog had simply decided to get to the pub ahead of its owner - showing all the good sense you'd expect!