A Cornish Culinary Adventure- Part 3

Today, we promised to meet with my great aunt, who lives in a rather remote area of Cornwall, Portscatho. We took the King Harry Ferry across the water to avoid a long road trip around the peninsular. Upon recommendation from various friends and locals, we endeavoured to find the elusive Smugglers Inn which my mother repeatedly said was a ‘16^th century inn, with a great

reputation’, which is all well and good, if you can actually find the place!

We did however, drive past a very interesting pub called the Roseland Inn. With an outside seating area and pergola with vines creeping up the sides, this pub was a real find. Never mind gastro-pub, this was a fine dining experience. The proprietors pride themselves on sourcing local ingredients, and plan to hold art and craft workshops for local children in the very near future.

After ordering from the specials board, we were informed that three of our orders needed to be made again, as they’d run out of the steak and ale pie. Very disappointing indeed. Especially considering the ‘High as a kite’ ale in the pie was made within the microbrewery in the pub itself.

I decided to go for the fish and chips with homemade tartar sauce, and mushy peas. Upon talking to the one of the friendly owners in the adjoiing farm shop, I was informed that the resident chef had previously worked in a three rosette kitchen not far from the location itself.

That would explain the ‘nouvelle cuisine’ style menu, the starters of wood pigeon and goats cheese, stunning, but small in stature, complete with towers and drizzles. Not the kind of thing you’d expect in a country pub.

The fish itself was beautifully cooked, although a little greasy, the chips were nicely cooked and the peas had a good texture to them, with chunks of onion breaking up the green puree. The tartar sauce was fresh and zingy, with crunchy capers breaking through the herby dill.

My mother and I decided to share a dessert, chocolate delice with mandarin sorbet and honeycomb. It was simply delightful, rather like a posh jaffa cake!

Presented in a similar style to the starters, the delice was surrounded with a swirl of orange syrup which offset the deep brown chocolate of the dessert. Very rich and dense, the sharp tang of the orange cutting through the bitter pudding beautifully. The crisp, bubbly honeycomb brought some more textures to the table as we raised our spoons to fight for the last mouthful.

So, if you don't mind going a bit off the beaten track, this place is definately worth a visit. Get there early to avoid dissappoinment and do try some of their in-house real ale!